Building Ubuntu's System

Briinging to life an OS already used by of millions. Defining a huge system with new patterns & interactions that didnt exist prior

Briinging to life an OS already used by of millions. Defining a huge
system with new patterns & interactions that didnt exist prior

Briinging to life an OS already used by of millions. Defining a huge system with new patterns & interactions that didnt exist prior

Overview

Ubuntu is an already popular open-source platform used by millions of people globally. Was exciting to work on designing a mobile OS. I worked on the core product defining the patterns, visual UI, principles, motion UX & language for 8 apps including the platform. The project had received lots of public attention i.e TechCrunch, BBC, and ZDNet & won multiple awards including being a winner at the Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona.

Ubuntu is an already popular open source platform used by millions of people globally. Was exciting to work on designing a mobile OS. I worked on the core product defining the patterns, visual UI, priciples, motion ux & language for 8 apps including the platform. The project had received lots of public attension by i.e TechCrunch, BBC, ZDNet & won multiple awards including being a winner at the Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona.

Ubuntu is an already popular open-source platform used by millions of people globally. Was exciting to work on designing a mobile OS. I worked on the core product defining the patterns, visual UI, principles, motion UX & language for 8 apps including the platform. The project had received lots of public attention i.e TechCrunch, BBC, and ZDNet & won multiple awards including being a winner at the Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona.

What was involved

Wireframing
Process flows
Screen flows
Workshops
Agile
UI Visual Design
UX Motion Prototyping

Wireframing
Process flows
Screen flows
Workshops
Agile Sprints
UI Visual Design
UX Motion

Role, client & duration

Lead UI/UX Product Designer
(during 2013-16)
Ubuntu OS
Agency - Canonical

See phone in action

Challenges

Defining new patterns to compete with the likes of already highly used platforms like iOS & Android offers. Defining a visual UI that is used like by all of the 'smart traditionalist' target market.

Defining new patterns to compete with the likes of already highly used platforms like iOS & Android offer. Defining a visual UI that is used like by all of the 'smart traditionalist' target market.

The Goal & Solution

Create a mobile OS that is open source and offers the key features Ubuntu desktop offers. The solution to making it work is to consistently keep the community in the loop of what we are doing to get their thoughts before release.

Ubuntu Walkthough Motion UX

I created this UX motion video to present the Ubuntu Touch to the community you can also see the impact the video got on youtube here

The Visual Principles

It was important to understand the design principles to have consistency in the design. When working on any of the Ubuntu products or style guides these were referred back to.

The Design Philosophy

The OS revolved around a paper metaphors. It was referred to as ‘suru’ which has been derived from a Japanese term meaning the art of origami.

Consistency & Design principles

Using drop & inner shadows to visualise hirarchy, darker & lighter shades to communicate depth & paper folds to give that origami look and feel.

The Platform Key

In the video above you can see the main gestures of the phone was 4 edge swipes on the platform find out more
Bottom edge: Management of dash (2nd right)
Left edge: Launcher/dock (3rd right)
Right edge: App switcher (far left)
Top edge: Indicator activity (far right)

Understanding the Ubuntu Users

Before designing a solution I needed to sync with the researchers to understand exactly know who we designing for. The data was already gathered from existing users & it pointed out the 3 key insights below.

25-35 yo demographics

Mostly Andriod users

Used by developers

Discovery - persona

Knowing who will be the target users in Ubuntu was key to the solution, the product was aimed at different personas but the most common was the 'smart traditionalist' demographic.

Knowing who will be a target users are in Ubuntu was key to the solution, the product was aimed at different personas but the most common was the 'smart traditionalist' demographic.

Introducing platform patterns

The gestures when building the product for edge swipes were key, The below example was to acknowledge exactly how the edge gestures would work. This was done to not overwhelm the user with an overwhelming function. to understand more about this gesture see this article here.

Pattern introduced to the Browser

The bottom edge gesture required motion prototyping to explain to the Ubuntu founder how it will work with the Browser & the purposes behind it in a sprint meeting with developers.

Browser history & tabs

There were key functions that needed design such as, browsing tabs, history, private mode, downloads & settings/options, some of which you can see below.

Right edge (tablet & mobile)

The founder wanted to experiment with the tablet OS which shows two apps at the same time & how you'd switch between them, I had to plan how this would work & how the visual will look with a prototype to show a UX interaction journey in a sprint presentation.

The founder wanted to experiment with the tablet OS which shows two apps at the same time & how you'd switch between them, I had to plan how this would work & how the visual will look with a prototype to show a ux interaction journey in a sprint presentation.

Wireframing & planning

Understanding the interactions & functions of the feature.

Iteration, presentation & visualisation

Putting a video together to communicate in meetings how this feature would work before we go ahead & build it.

Aggregation Scopes, what is it?

Scopes was an addition to the OS dashboard it allowed users to see content that is focused on their interests like Music, Videos, Films & Photos. They can add any scope they desire & attach this to the dash. Below is an example of 3 different scopes

Scopes was an addition to the OS dashboard it allowed users to see content that is focused to their interests like Music, Videos, Films & Photos. They can add any scope they desire & attach this to the dash. Below is an example of 3 different scopes

Understanding the IA

There are two different types of scope Aggregation which are shown above & branded, this is a specific client wanting a branded Scope on Ubuntu i.e Soundcloud they could customise it with their branding but with the Ubuntu design principles. I needed to understand how branded scopes would be accessed & the function.

There are two different types of scopes Aggregation which is shown above & branded, this is a specfic client wanting a branded Scope on the Ubuntu i.e soundclound they could customise it with their branding but with the Ubuntu design principles. I needed to understand how branded scopes would be accessed & the function.

There are two different types of scope Aggregation which are shown above & branded, this is a specific client wanting a branded Scope on Ubuntu i.e Soundcloud they could customise it with their branding but with the Ubuntu design principles. I needed to understand how branded scopes would be accessed & the function.

The Management of them all

With many versions of Scopes, it was difficult to manage. I was tasked with finding a way how users can manage scopes both aggregated and branded via the dash. This was a challenge as some wanted branded Scopes to have priority

With many versions of Scopes it was difficult to manage. I was tasked into finding a way how users can manage scopes both aggregated and branded via the dash. This was a challenge as some wanted branded Scopes to have priority.

Wireframing & screen flows

Creating a typical screen flow from the wireframes of a user installing a scope on the Ubuntu store and managing it.

Presenting Iterations of the solution

Below shows different different versions of how the bottom edge scope management could work. I had to then present this to the founder.

Bottom edge (mid ver - final)

Below shows the different UI of the bottom edge design, in the end the version in the middle was the one that was selected to be created on the OS.

Outcome

The device was fully built & developed & had thousands of users purchasing the phone & using it. The platform won multiple awards such as best of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona How after some time the founder of Ubuntu decided to discontinue the phone to focus on other areas.

The device was fully built & developed & had thousands of users purchasing the phone & using. The platform won multile awards such as best of Mobile World Congress in Barcelona How after some time the founder of Ubuntu decided to discontinue the phone to focus on other areas.

Key Learnings

Not to present too many versions to founders & keep the interactions & designs simple so it doesn't take to long to develop. Getting all internal feedback earlier before it is presented in bigger agile sprints.

Not to present to many versions to founders & keep the interactions & designs simple so it doesnt take to long to develop. Getting all internal feedback earlier before it is presented in bigger agile sprints.

Strive to build successful digital products through evidence — based design

GET IN TOUCH

Don’t be a stranger, contact me below anytime. I'm always interested to hear about new projects.

+447935187068 STUDIO@BEJANPAUL.CO LINKEDIN

+447935187068 STUDIO@BEJANPAUL.CO

LINKEDIN