Case Study: Ddesin - Architectural Project Management SaaS Solution

The Challenge

When I joined the Ddesin project in January 2021, the primary challenge was to develop a comprehensive SaaS solution for managing architectural projects within an architecture agency. The business goals were clear: streamline the workflow, improve project version control, and enhance user experience for both technical and non-technical staff. Our customers faced several pain points, including handling large file sizes (up to 1-2 TB), a need for a unified platform for diverse file types (.dmg, .png, voice messages, texts), and maintaining high-quality rendering with minimal quality loss.

Your Role and Team

As the product manager and UI/UX designer, my role was pivotal in steering the project's direction. I led a team of developers and designers, ensuring that our efforts were in line with the project's vision. My responsibilities involved understanding existing workflows, identifying pain points, and designing intuitive solutions.

Research

To address these challenges, I conducted comprehensive research, which included:

1. User Interviews: Conducted to understand how teams managed their workflows prior to this system.

   Why chosen: To gain direct insights into user experiences and challenges.

   Results: Revealed a need for a simplified, yet powerful platform that could handle diverse file types and large sizes.

2. Competitor Analysis: Reviewed similar platforms to identify gaps and opportunities.

   Why chosen: To position Ddesin competitively in the market.

   Results: Helped in shaping a unique value proposition for Ddesin, focusing on ease of use and comprehensive file management.

Pain Points

Our research highlighted several key pain points:

1. Large File Management: Users struggled with uploading and managing large files.
2. Version Control: There was a need for an efficient system to control and select project versions.
3. User Interface Complexity: Users required a clean and minimal design for ease of use, despite the complex functionalities.

Feature and Product Ideas

Based on these insights, we brainstormed various features:

• Unified Platform: A single solution for all file types and project details.
• Version Control System: To easily manage different project versions.
• Intuitive Design: A minimalistic yet functional interface catering to all user types.

Advantages: Improved user experience, efficient project management, and reduced time on project administration.

Disadvantages: The complexity of integrating various file types and maintaining performance with large file sizes.

Validation and Prototyping

We employed several methods for validation:

• Simple Prototypes: Tested various UI/UX designs.
• User Interviews: Gathered feedback on prototypes to refine the design.

Why chosen: To ensure the product met user needs and was intuitive to use.

Final Design

The final design included:

• Responsive UI: A clean and minimalistic interface with a simple dashboard.
• Enhanced File Management: Support for large files and diverse formats.
• High-Quality Rendering: Ensuring minimal quality loss in architectural renderings.

We used imagery and interactive prototypes to showcase the design's effectiveness.

Conclusion (Results and Learnings)

Ddesin was successfully delivered in December 2021. Post-launch metrics indicated improved workflow efficiency and user satisfaction. Quotes from users praised the platform's ease of use and powerful features. Personally, I learned the importance of balancing technical functionality with user-friendly design. Future goals include further optimization for larger file handling and incorporating more user feedback for continuous improvement.