Best design practices to limit the cognitive load on operators during manual tool loading on industrial CNC machines - 2024
Overview
This research project was conducted as part of my UX Design master’s program over one semester, in collaboration with two Swiss industrial companies. The goal was to design user interfaces for CNC machines to minimise the cognitive load on operators during manual tool loading.
The "Situation Awareness-Oriented Design" (SAOD) model was used to understand operator activity and propose tailored design recommendations. The project addressed a critical issue in the industry: overloaded CNC machine interfaces, which can lead to errors.
My role in this project
As a UX researcher, I:
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Conducted contextual interviews and task analyses with industrial experts.
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Developed a theoretical model of operators’ cognitive goals.
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Created a list of 15 design best practices aimed at reducing errors and improving "Situation Awareness."
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Designed and delivered a high-fidelity interactive prototype illustrating the implementation of the recommendations.
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Collaborated closely with two companies to ensure the relevance and applicability of the findings in an industrial context.
Project duration
1 semester (academic research project)
Key skills mobilised
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User research in industrial contexte (contextual interviews, hierarchical and goal-directed task analyses)
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Definition of design criteria based on qualitative data
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High-fidelity prototyping
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Cross-disciplinary collaboration with industrial partners