Dell Data Protection is a suite of enterprise security management tools. In my 2nd engagement with the program, I collaborated with the principal usability engineer on a mobile app that automatically authenticates users and unlocks their systems when they are in close proximity to their workspace.
DDP | ST Mobile
What I did
- Collaborated with the UX team lead and visual designer to design the app’s layout, architecture, and features including first-use walkthrough screens and coach marks, mobile and desktop screens during the pairing sequence with the desktop client, and the mobile app’s menus
- Moved our designs into two Axure prototypes representing both the mobile and desktop experience
- Incorporated high fidelity comps into the mobile prototype, matched the app’s behavior with Axure, and demo’d it on a Nexus 5
- Developed a usability test using the Axure prototypes together to perform all core tasks including pairing devices and user authentication
- Managed a usability contractor who conducted the test and worked with him to produce the report
- Worked with both Dell and 3rd party developers to iterate additional designs for both mobile and desktop in an Agile environment with Axure and Balsamiq prototypes as deliverables
- Managed a mobile design plan, seeking out and engaging both visual designers and developers to target select form factors and asset generation workflows and develop the app in Android and iOS 6 and 7
Outcomes
While I was part of a larger UX team led by Principal Usability Engineer Liz Pratt, our collective efforts inspired these results:
- Axure prototypes began replacing functional specs as design teams’ deliverables to development
- Dell chose several UX-based design and feature recommendations over price when rebuilding and marketing the product
- Dell Data Protection went from what many considered ‘bloatware’ to a best-in-class security offering
- In 2014, Dell Data Protection became Dell End User Computing’s Most Successful Software in 2014, up 400% from 2013
