ProtoSpace

Spatial design superpowers for NASA spacecraft teams

Xr
product
prototyping
ux
design system
branding

ProtoSpace is an immersive visualization tool that helps people find and fix issues with CAD models earlier in the process. Teams of engineers at NASA and John Hopkins APL rely on ProtoSpace to collaborate on spacecraft designs, years before physical assembly.

My Role

As a part of a lean product team, I wore many hats. My responsibilities included:

  • Prototyping & refining complex UIs touching AR, web, & mobile

  • Conducting user research to inform product strategy

  • Rolling out a design system to simplify UI development

  • Updating our brand identity for growth

Measureable Outcomes

92%

reduction in time-to-join group sessions

5 s

average time-to-align holograms, using new UI

95%

of users resolved headset issues on first try, without support

User onboarding experience for HoloLens 2

Tutorial designed to help new users interact with holograms via gaze and hand input

I designed an intuitive interaction paradigm for aligning holograms by simply looking at a piece of paper. This hands-free approach allowed new users to quickly join collaborative sessions and resolve alignment issues without training.

I designed an intuitive interaction paradigm for aligning holograms by simply looking at a piece of paper. This hands-free approach allowed new users to quickly join collaborative sessions and realign their headset without training.

Engineers import their CAD models into the ProtoSpace web app to prepare for an immersive design review in AR. The team can view the model with a HoloLens headset or by joining the session remotely from their web browser.

Members of NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft team use ProtoSpace to facilitate an immersive design review years before assembly begins.

Credits

Product Manager

Sasha Samochina

Design Team

Rob Ray, Christian Gimber, Rob Tapella, Christiahn Roman

Development Team

Ben Neurnberger, Sam Berndt, Jeff Pamer, Laura Mann

Awards

Winner

JPL Software of the Year ('21)

Finalist

NASA Software of the Year ('21)

Credits

Product Manager

Sasha Samochina

Design Team

Rob Ray, Christian Gimber, Rob Tapella, Christiahn Roman

Development Team

Ben Neurnberger, Sam Berndt, Jeff Pamer, Laura Mann

Awards

Winner

JPL Software of the Year ('21)

Finalist

NASA Software of the Year ('21)

Credits

Product Manager

Sasha Samochina

Design Team

Rob Ray, Christian Gimber, Rob Tapella, Christiahn Roman

Development Team

Ben Neurnberger, Sam Berndt, Jeff Pamer, Laura Mann

Awards

Winner

JPL Software of the Year ('21)

Finalist

NASA Software of the Year ('21)

Credits

Product Manager

Sasha Samochina

Design Team

Rob Ray, Christian Gimber, Rob Tapella, Christiahn Roman

Development Team

Ben Neurnberger, Sam Berndt, Jeff Pamer, Laura Mann

Awards

Winner

JPL Software of the Year ('21)

Finalist

NASA Software of the Year ('21)

Credits

Product Manager

Sasha Samochina

Design Team

Rob Ray, Christian Gimber, Rob Tapella, Christiahn Roman

Development Team

Ben Neurnberger, Sam Berndt, Jeff Pamer, Laura Mann

Awards

Winner

JPL Software of the Year ('21)

Finalist

NASA Software of the Year ('21)