Configurator
Configurator enables Gropyus to quickly and transparently generate a development project that is simple enough for decision making yet also precise enough for city approvals, production and construction.
The tool
A web platform powered by a machine learning algorithm. A step-by-step guided flow to help our users to secure projects.
My role
Leading all design-related topics and research initiatives end to end.
The team
Product manager, product designer & researcher, three full-stack software engineers and two data scientists.
Target group
Our internal property developers, a team with no architectural background nor specific technical competencies.
Problem statement
Business goals
The need to innovate internal processes, reducing time spent on client conversations during project acquisition and cutting costs by leveraging technology over manual labor, became the driving force behind the development of this exciting and challenging internal product.
Target audience
Our Property Development team depends on Execution Architects to turn feasibility studies into production-ready designs. With a growing pipeline and ambitious goals, this approach isn’t scalable without hiring more drafting architects, consequentially increasing production costs.
Our process
From the iterative aspect of a double diamond process model, I wanted to highlight some of the methodologies I had the privilege of applying during this project.
Design process
model
Double diamond
Stakeholder interviews
Through targeted conversations, we clarified stakeholder expectations, surfaced user needs, and mapped the workflows critical to the Configurator experience.
Qualitative research
Dozens of stakeholder and user conversations
Property Developer
Ester
❝ I want to evaluate sites and create projects autonomously, saving a lot of time and beating the competition.❞
Property Seller
Konrad
❝ I want to know Gropyus is a serious buyer or partner, because they have a clear idea what they want to build and can move fast.❞
Property Developer Lead
Alice
❝ I want to have clarity on project development, and supervise while meeting management expectations.❞
User flow
Instead of diving into the user flow, I wanted to highlight how fascinating it is to see how knowledge evolve over time.
Site map
I created this sitemap to outline the steps for building a development project with the Configurator. It was key to simplifying and communicating a complex user flow, refined over time through extensive qualitative interviews.
Site & Buildable areas screen
On this screen, users can upload a floor plan from the seller or authorities to ensure accurate measurements when drawing site or buildable areas. Then they can add criteria for each drawing to ensure that the algorithm can generate relevant and competitive solutions.
Usability testing
As the feature evolved from supporting only buildable areas to also including site areas, the complexity of associated criteria increased. To identify the most intuitive approach, we tested two alternative solutions with users.
Moderated
usability testing
3 participants
Flow A:
In this approach, users start by drawing a generic polygon. They can then refine its settings and assign it as either a site area or a buildable area, depending on their needs.
Flow B:
In this version, users choose upfront whether to draw a site area or a buildable area. Each option has a clear visual identity, and settings are adjusted directly within the drawer based on regulatory criteria.
Select options & deep dive
Once all required inputs are defined, the algorithm generates three optimised options. Each is built from thousands of design combinations drawn from our building cluster system and shaped by the defined site and buildable areas.
Project page
All created projects are stored on the homepage, making them accessible at any time. This lets users revisit earlier work, incorporate client feedback, or review and download specific project data whenever needed.
Key learrnings
Always prioritise the needs, goals, and pain points of the user. Regular user testing and feedback loops are crucial to refine designs.
User-Centered Design:
Embrace iterations... design, test, and refine continuously. Flexibility and adaptability are key to responding to user feedback and changing project requirements.
Iterative process:
Effective communication with cross-functional teams (developers, product managers, stakeholders) ensures alignment and smooth implementation of design solutions.
Cross-functional Collaboration:
Early prototyping helps in visualising ideas and identifying usability issues before development, saving time and resources.
Prototyping and Testing:
Keep thorough documentation of design decisions, iterations, and user insights to maintain clarity and continuity throughout the project lifecycle.
Documentation: