When I joined Oasis Protocol, the company lacked a formalized design process, and user feedback mechanisms were sparse. My challenge was to establish a robust product design department, create an effective feedback loop, and foster a user-centric culture within the organization.

Upon joining, I conducted a series of discovery meetings with key stakeholders to understand the existing workflows, pain points, and expectations. It was clear that the lack of a formal design process, and insufficient internal and user feedback were major bottlenecks.

To address these challenges, I introduced the double diamond design process. The implementation of the Double Diamond process at Oasis Protocol brought numerous benefits. It facilitated better communication and collaboration between the design and engineering teams, aligning goals and expectations effectively. The process encouraged the exploration of a wide range of ideas before narrowing down to the best solution, balancing creativity with focused problem-solving. Moreover, it provided a structured workflow that helped manage design projects efficiently and ensured that all critical aspects of design were addressed.

To introduce the Double Diamond process, I conducted workshops and training sessions to familiarize the entire company with this approach. Detailed documentation and visual aids were created to illustrate each stage. I integrated the latest design systems and tools to streamline workflows, developing a cohesive design system that was adopted by both the product and engineering teams. This resulted in improved communication and well-organized design artifacts. Additionally, collaborative solutions like Figma were set up to facilitate seamless collaboration between designers and engineers.

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Furthermore, a comprehensive feedback loop was essential for enhancing product development. Internally, I conducted regular one-on-one interviews with team members to gather detailed feedback and understand their pain points and suggestions. Bi-weekly feedback sessions were organized where team members could discuss ongoing projects, share insights, and address any challenges. Regular user testing sessions were implemented to validate design decisions and gather real-time feedback. A dedicated Slack channel, and Github issue reports were created for continuous and accessible communication.

Externally, engaging with the community and ambassadors was crucial. I conducted recurring one-on-one interviews, distributed feedback forms, and conducted polls to gather valuable insights from the external community. User data was tracked anonymously to gain actionable insights into user behavior and preferences, helping to inform design decisions. These efforts led to a 350% increase in user feedback for the Block Explorer product over six months, providing invaluable insights that informed our design decisions.

Leading product exploration and research was a key aspect of my role. Internally, I led brainstorming sessions to explore new product features and enhancements, encouraging cross-functional collaboration to generate diverse ideas. Prototypes for proposed features were developed and tested to gather feedback and refine designs.

Externally, extensive user research was conducted to understand the needs and expectations of the target audience. This included surveys, interviews, and usability testing. Market trends and competitor products were analyzed to identify opportunities for innovation and differentiation. Collaboration with engineering teams was crucial to translating user needs and research findings into functional and technical requirements.