Julong Design

Going from 0-1 and beyond

I led the design of Simwave Academy from 0-1, from analysis to synthesis, designing to prototyping, and preparing documentation for developer handoff. The end-to-end, insight to execution is what defined my role as a UX Designer, eventually also onboarding new designers. Simwave Academy supports the learning journeys for both educators and students and helps reduce the risk of unpreparedness and accidents on board.

Going from 0-1 and beyond

I led the design of Simwave Academy from 0-1, from analysis to synthesis, designing to prototyping, and preparing documentation for developer handoff. The end-to-end, insight to execution is what defined my role as a UX Designer, eventually also onboarding new designers. Simwave Academy supports the learning journeys for both educators and students and helps reduce the risk of unpreparedness and accidents on board.

Going from 0-1 and beyond

I led the design of Simwave Academy from 0-1, from analysis to synthesis, designing to prototyping, and preparing documentation for developer handoff. The end-to-end, insight to execution is what defined my role as a UX Designer, eventually also onboarding new designers. Simwave Academy supports the learning journeys for both educators and students and helps reduce the risk of unpreparedness and accidents on board.

Hybrid education as the future of maritime training

Hybrid education as the future of maritime training

Hybrid education as the future of maritime training

Pivoting to online education

With a founding team of 7 we rapidly defined, executed, and iterated on balancing both user needs, business goals, and technical constraints. Delivering a well-received MVP for Simwave’s ‘Learning Management System’ later grew out to become a full-stack collaboration ranging from web-based application development to branding, and product strategy to internal tools. Moving from on location training to self-guided, eventually blended (hybrid) forms of learning.

Pivoting to online education

With a founding team of 7 we rapidly defined, executed, and iterated on balancing both user needs, business goals, and technical constraints. Delivering a well-received MVP for Simwave’s ‘Learning Management System’ later grew out to become a full-stack collaboration ranging from web-based application development to branding, and product strategy to internal tools. Moving from on location training to self-guided, eventually blended (hybrid) forms of learning.

Pivoting to online education

With a founding team of 7 we rapidly defined, executed, and iterated on balancing both user needs, business goals, and technical constraints. Delivering a well-received MVP for Simwave’s ‘Learning Management System’ later grew out to become a full-stack collaboration ranging from web-based application development to branding, and product strategy to internal tools. Moving from on location training to self-guided, eventually blended (hybrid) forms of learning.

Architectures maps, graphs for pitches, and flowcharts

Architectures maps, graphs for pitches, and flowcharts

Architectures maps, graphs for pitches, and flowcharts

Making high-pace design decisions

The Elearning system embodied a diverse set of advanced features; offline compatibility on vessels, content management systems, PDF generators, crew analytics, and flexible roles & permissions to name a few. To maintain pace and velocity, I visualised and documented most work within the team. This proven continuous process allowed for truly iterative work, enabling future collaborators through testing, feedback loops, and design guidelines.

Making high-pace design decisions

The Elearning system embodied a diverse set of advanced features; offline compatibility on vessels, content management systems, PDF generators, crew analytics, and flexible roles & permissions to name a few. To maintain pace and velocity, I visualised and documented most work within the team. This proven continuous process allowed for truly iterative work, enabling future collaborators through testing, feedback loops, and design guidelines.

Making high-pace design decisions

The Elearning system embodied a diverse set of advanced features; offline compatibility on vessels, content management systems, PDF generators, crew analytics, and flexible roles & permissions to name a few. To maintain pace and velocity, I visualised and documented most work within the team. This proven continuous process allowed for truly iterative work, enabling future collaborators through testing, feedback loops, and design guidelines.

Monitoring, user management, and administration

Monitoring, user management, and administration

Monitoring, user management, and administration

Designing the manager-side

From the dialogue with Simwave’s clients (and early adopters) the need arose to monitor crew members—also because training demands an admirable investment from their side. That’s why, in the end, I spend close to a year on designing the manager-side, including; Insights, Course-, Assessment-, User, and Settings management to help management grasp where crew is in their learning journey.

Designing the manager-side

From the dialogue with Simwave’s clients (and early adopters) the need arose to monitor crew members—also because training demands an admirable investment from their side. That’s why, in the end, I spend close to a year on designing the manager-side, including; Insights, Course-, Assessment-, User, and Settings management to help management grasp where crew is in their learning journey.

Designing the manager-side

From the dialogue with Simwave’s clients (and early adopters) the need arose to monitor crew members—also because training demands an admirable investment from their side. That’s why, in the end, I spend close to a year on designing the manager-side, including; Insights, Course-, Assessment-, User, and Settings management to help management grasp where crew is in their learning journey.

Assessment reports, course certificates, and flyers

Assessment reports, course certificates, and flyers

Assessment reports, course certificates, and flyers

Developing components for print

One of the early side-challenges was working with my engineers to translate static HTML-components to PDF’s (i.e. pixels to ink on paper). This included text, tables, graphs, charts, and other visual assets. After five iterations of printing, measuring and ocular assessment with my in-house designers, we defined the canvas and parameters to make content work on paper. As a result flyers, reports, and certificates could easily be provided to clients.

Developing components for print

One of the early side-challenges was working with my engineers to translate static HTML-components to PDF’s (i.e. pixels to ink on paper). This included text, tables, graphs, charts, and other visual assets. After five iterations of printing, measuring and ocular assessment with my in-house designers, we defined the canvas and parameters to make content work on paper. As a result flyers, reports, and certificates could easily be provided to clients.

Developing components for print

One of the early side-challenges was working with my engineers to translate static HTML-components to PDF’s (i.e. pixels to ink on paper). This included text, tables, graphs, charts, and other visual assets. After five iterations of printing, measuring and ocular assessment with my in-house designers, we defined the canvas and parameters to make content work on paper. As a result flyers, reports, and certificates could easily be provided to clients.

Navigating simple bite-sized lessons and quizzes

Navigating simple bite-sized lessons and quizzes

Navigating simple bite-sized lessons and quizzes

Thinking from a didactic-perspective

To ensure the system suited different learning styles, I collaborated with experienced Simwave lecturers and the content team to foster a more didactic approach and shape a consistent tone of voice from a content perspective. The course material took a flurry of shapes; by doing (i.e. practical exercises), by seeing (i.e. lesson materials), by listening (i.e. lecture audio).

Thinking from a didactic-perspective

To ensure the system suited different learning styles, I collaborated with experienced Simwave lecturers and the content team to foster a more didactic approach and shape a consistent tone of voice from a content perspective. The course material took a flurry of shapes; by doing (i.e. practical exercises), by seeing (i.e. lesson materials), by listening (i.e. lecture audio).

Thinking from a didactic-perspective

To ensure the system suited different learning styles, I collaborated with experienced Simwave lecturers and the content team to foster a more didactic approach and shape a consistent tone of voice from a content perspective. The course material took a flurry of shapes; by doing (i.e. practical exercises), by seeing (i.e. lesson materials), by listening (i.e. lecture audio).

Contributing to thousands of users

The final product is used by thousands of monthly users. Design helped accelerate to a viable business proposition—defining front-office and back-office processes from scratch, implementing feedback loops, and building teams within the organisation (development, content, design). Honestly, one my proudest projects; besides design and technology also from a didactical perspective—crew members are learning, resulting in safety on sea.

Contributing to thousands of users

The final product is used by thousands of monthly users. Design helped accelerate to a viable business proposition—defining front-office and back-office processes from scratch, implementing feedback loops, and building teams within the organisation (development, content, design). Honestly, one my proudest projects; besides design and technology also from a didactical perspective—crew members are learning, resulting in safety on sea.

Contributing to thousands of users

The final product is used by thousands of monthly users. Design helped accelerate to a viable business proposition—defining front-office and back-office processes from scratch, implementing feedback loops, and building teams within the organisation (development, content, design). Honestly, one my proudest projects; besides design and technology also from a didactical perspective—crew members are learning, resulting in safety on sea.

Learnings

What I’ve learned is the importance of product ownership; early defining and scheduling activities while developing digital products and services from 0-1. In order to balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints you need to continuously empathise and align with different stakeholders and disciplines. Whether it be through sparring, interviews, focus groups, pitching ideas, check-ins or having other feedback mechanisms in place. Collecting input is crucial to inform product decisions, ensure quality, and focus on delivering tangible results.

Learnings

What I’ve learned is the importance of product ownership; early defining and scheduling activities while developing digital products and services from 0-1. In order to balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints you need to continuously empathise and align with different stakeholders and disciplines. Whether it be through sparring, interviews, focus groups, pitching ideas, check-ins or having other feedback mechanisms in place. Collecting input is crucial to inform product decisions, ensure quality, and focus on delivering tangible results.

Learnings

What I’ve learned is the importance of product ownership; early defining and scheduling activities while developing digital products and services from 0-1. In order to balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints you need to continuously empathise and align with different stakeholders and disciplines. Whether it be through sparring, interviews, focus groups, pitching ideas, check-ins or having other feedback mechanisms in place. Collecting input is crucial to inform product decisions, ensure quality, and focus on delivering tangible results.