Thermo Fisher Scientific

Overview

In the realm of life sciences research, maintaining consistency and reliability in experimental outcomes is paramount. I lead the UX redesign for Thermo Fisher Scientific’s iMATCH™, a groundbreaking Sera Lot Matching tool designed to streamline the process of finding the best match for researchers’ serum lots. With iMATCH™, researchers can swiftly identify the ideal serum lot for their experiments, whether by providing their Gibco FBS lot number or answering a few quick questions, thus enhancing experimental reproducibility and minimizing reagent-related challenges.

Challenge

The landscape of scientific research often grapples with the variability inherent in reagents, particularly in serum lots. Researchers face the daunting task of sifting through numerous options to find the most suitable match for their experiments. This variability introduces inconsistencies that can significantly impact experimental outcomes, leading to wasted time, resources, and unreliable data. Addressing this challenge necessitated the development of a user-friendly solution that would simplify the serum lot selection process and promote research consistency.

Solution

iMATCH™ emerged as the solution to the complexities associated with serum lot selection. By leveraging advanced algorithms and user-centric design principles, iMATCH™ offers researchers a seamless experience in identifying the optimal serum lot for their specific research needs. Whether researchers input their Gibco FBS lot number or respond to a series of targeted questions, iMATCH™ swiftly analyzes data to recommend the most compatible serum lot. This innovative tool not only expedites the selection process but also ensures consistency across experiments, ultimately elevating the quality and reliability of research outcomes.

Design Process

1. Research Phase

Comprehensive market research and user interviews were conducted to gain insights into researchers’ challenges and preferences regarding serum lot selection.

2. Ideation & Conceptualization

Brainstorming sessions led to the development of iMATCH’s intuitive interface and functionality, prioritizing user simplicity and efficiency.

3. Wireframing & Prototyping

Iterative wireframing and prototyping phases allowed for the visualization and refinement of iMATCH’s design, ensuring optimal user experience and usability.

4. Iterative Design

Continuous user testing and feedback loops informed refinements to iMATCH’s design, enhancing its effectiveness and user satisfaction.

Design Exploration

In the early design exploration phase for Thermo Fisher Scientific’s iMATCH™ Sera Lot Matching Tool, we sought to enhance user experience by exploring a drag and drop feature for the Specifications step. This feature would enable users to customize their search criteria by rearranging and prioritizing specifications such as Endotoxin, Hemoglobin, pH, Total Protein, Performance Growth, Performance Cloning, and more, allowing them to find their ideal match with greater precision and efficiency.

The drag and drop feature was proposed as an initial option during the design phase based on its potential to offer users flexibility and control over their search parameters. Through iterative prototyping and user feedback sessions, we implemented the drag and drop functionality, observing how users interacted with the interface and gauging their preferences and challenges.

However, after several rounds of usability testing and feedback collection, it became evident that the drag and drop feature did not meet the desired level of usability and user satisfaction. While the feature offered customization options, it introduced complexity and cognitive load for users, particularly those less familiar with the drag and drop interaction paradigm. Users reported difficulties in accurately arranging specifications and expressed frustration with the process, which detracted from the overall user experience.

Results & Impact

The implementation of iMATCH™ has yielded significant results in optimizing research consistency and efficiency. Researchers now benefit from a streamlined serum lot selection process, reducing the time and effort required to find the ideal match for their experiments. Moreover, iMATCH™’s contribution to minimizing experimental variability has led to more reliable data and improved reproducibility across research endeavors. Client feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with researchers praising iMATCH™ for its user-friendly interface and invaluable role in driving research consistency.

Signed Out

Users have the ability to click on a chip element to display match results, facilitating easy comparison between the target parameter and the best match. This feature was designed to enhance user efficiency by providing a compact summary of match results directly on the results page. Upon completing the matching process, users could interact with the Match Results Chip to access detailed information about the best match. By simply clicking or tapping on the chip, users could open a drawer to reveal comprehensive data, including specifications, compatibility metrics, and other relevant details.

This approach streamlined the process of evaluating match results, allowing users to quickly assess the suitability of each match without navigating away from the main interface. The drawer functionality ensured that match details were easily accessible yet unobtrusive, preserving the overall clarity and simplicity of the user experience.

Furthermore, to access customer-specific pricing and availability information, users were prompted to sign in to their accounts. This added layer of authentication ensured that users received accurate and personalized pricing details based on their account status, enhancing transparency and trust in the purchasing process.

Signed In

Users will have the ability to click on an availability element to show all serum products that matched their selected criteria. This included catalog number, unit size, price, and availability status. By enhancing transparency, we allowed users to make informed decisions about their order.

To further streamline the purchasing process, users were given the option to add desired items to their cart directly from availability drawer. By simply selecting the desired quantity for each product and clicking the “Add to Cart” button, users could efficiently compile their order without navigating to separate product pages or checkout processes.

Mobile

In designing the mobile experience for the iMATCH, we prioritized a responsive design approach, ensuring seamless adaptation to various screen sizes and resolutions. We streamlined navigation with a hierarchical structure and optimized layout for clarity and readability. Touch-friendly interactions, such as large, tappable buttons, were implemented to facilitate effortless navigation. Through rigorous testing and iteration, we refined the mobile interface to provide users with a seamless, intuitive, and efficient experience when accessing and utilizing the iMATCH tool on their mobile devices.

Conclusion

In conclusion, iMATCH™ stands as a testament to the power of strategic UX design in addressing complex challenges within the scientific community. By prioritizing user needs and leveraging innovative technology, iMATCH™ has revolutionized the serum lot selection process, empowering researchers to achieve greater consistency and reliability in their experiments. As research continues to evolve, iMATCH™ remains committed to supporting researchers in their quest for scientific excellence and discovery.