ANGELA.
PRODUCT | BRAND | MOTION GRAPHIC
JRCS CO. LTD
INDUSTRY
Maritime
TIMELINE
2023-2024
TEAM
project manager | designer (me) | software developers | hardware engineers
SERVICE
UIUX design | design system | responsive design
Data prioritization for improved work flow
JRCS Co. Ltd. is a leading provider of automation and power management systems. This company has supported over 8,000 vessels—including cargo ships and large tankers. Known for their advanced alarm monitoring technology, JRCS offers seamless access both onboard and from shore.
Their latest innovation, OPS, is their next-generation maritime monitoring system featuring state-of-the-art displays, real-time data visualization, remote control capabilities, and customizable interfaces tailored to each user’s needs. By delivering critical information clearly and quickly, OPS enables crews and shoreside managers to respond faster, manage complex operations more efficiently, enhance safety, reduce downtime, and streamline workflows both at sea and ashore.
What prompted this project? (The problem)
JRCS sought to expand into new markets and serve a more diverse range of clients. However, their previous monitoring systems were built for specific vessel types and configurations. This in turn limited their flexibility to adapt to operational, and technology, advancements and narrowed the potential customer base.
The artful solution: Give the power to the users
A more adaptable solution was needed, one that could be easily customized to meet the unique operational needs of various vessels and fleet structures. OPS was developed with user-level customization in mind, enabling organizations to tailor the system to fit their specific workflows, operational priorities, and onboard environments.
Understanding the users: Grounding customization in real needs
To ensure the solution aligned with real-world workflows, we conducted interviews with three companies, each working on a different vessel type with distinct system configurations. Our goal was to understand how monitoring operations varied across roles and environments.
Key insights include:
Vessel systems are extensive and specialized, with monitoring responsibilities divided among multiple engineers.
A chief engineer oversees all operations at a high level and relies on reports from individual engineers for in depth context regarding certain situations.
Shoreside managers also actively monitor real-time data to support onboard operations remotely.
In some cases (especially in Japan), engineers rotate responsibilities or job titles, further emphasizing the need for adaptable tools.
One of our key solutions, designed to address diverse user needs while aligning with business goals, was to introduce a customizable dashboard.
This empowered users to select which data and system elements, within the entirety of the monitoring system, appeared upon login, enabling each role to tailor the interface to their specific responsibilities and priorities.
Drawing on my experience with previous JRCS products, along with research into competitor solutions, I developed the information architecture, universal to majority of vessels, that defined the range of customizable element options available to users.
Initial ideations
With the foundational structure and key information in place, I moved into early screen ideation and created initial mockups to visualize the customizable dashboard experience.
With so many new concepts ideated, we conducted usability testing early in the process (including QA test automations). I focused on the overall flow and core functionalities.
This allowed me to validate interaction patterns and make informed adjustments to both the design and feature concepts before moving into more detailed iterations.
Customizable Dashboard Overview
As previously mentioned, the dashboard empowers users to pull data from across the entire alarm monitoring system and prioritize which information is displayed. This flexibility allows users to configure the interface around their role-specific tasks, focusing only on the data most relevant to their daily operations.
Scalable Design System
As the team’s designer, I established the application’s design system, ensuring consistency across components while staying true to JRCS’s established product branding.
While the initial development targeted a default screen size tailored to the console setup, I proactively defined responsive breakpoints. This approach ensured that, should customers request alternative screen sizes, the interface could adapt smoothly without compromising the utility.
Development handover: Components
In addition to establish the responsive design, the design system also included necessary components, and their specific states.
Impact and Takeaways
We tested the efficacy of this feature using multiple case scenarios and found the dashboard page to be useful across various use cases. Tasks completion rate was 100% with little to no error. Test automation done by QA was also optimal.
We focused on converting complex data into visually engaging and easily digestible content, ensuring that users could access vital information quickly and effectively.
We greatly considered the parameters in which the hardware supports the design. This included understanding the functionalities of physically engaging with the screen as well as the positioning of the screen in congruency to the user within the engine room.
This project called for a thorough understanding of the hardware components that the alarm system was composed of. As a result, consistent collaboration amongst the software and hardware engineers was essential for success and ensuring effective communication throughout the development process.
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