Affymetrix
Chromosome Analysis Suite

Zaudhaus was asked to review an existing application that had most of the functionality already built - but needed help to streamline the basic user interface and visual information presented. We spent some initial effort restructuring the filter controls in the left pane and then the bulk of our energies re-visualizing different data elements in the center. We also worked to define how they should extend their newly-created corporate identity into the product.
Year Built: 2009
Project duration: 4 months, ongoing
Zaudhaus role: Strategy, Workflow, Wireframing, Visual Design,
Site: http://www.affymetrix.com

Services
Interface Design & Client Software UI design

Industries
Biotech, Application Interface Design
STATS
RELATED
CHALLENGE + SOLUTION
The Challenge: Affymetrix presented us with a current working prototype for the Cytobrowser and asked very clearly - for us to help improve it's usability and overall visual branding - to be more in line with corporate identity. Very quickly, we explained that this Java application needed a bit more than just a facelift. There were specific architectural / organizational problems with the way the interface was being presented. Additionally, there were , indeed, visual design flaws that made the density of information very complicated to understand.

We worked to first reorganize the interface and focus on some of the controls and panes that were in the UI - to better provide a framework and foundation that we could build a better visual design on top of. After several rounds of functional design, we moved on to visual design - working with Affymetrix's new corporate identity and exploring both a dark background and light to showcase and make the dense information more legible for doctors. Much time was spent in this phase - working to isolate key pieces of visual information - show different ways to present that information - and then work to ensure it could interact with the other data types. In the end, the user can customize elements of the visual design for their liking - however, two preset views are set for both light and dark viewing.