Research Projects
My time at Vihara Innovation Network (formerly CKS), was where I learnt the art of research. Between 2007-10, I worked as a researcher in various capacities on a wide range of projects. Here are some of the highlights.
✈️ Indian Cultural Understandings of Flying
CLIENT
Boeing
MY ROLE
User Researcher
TIMEFRAME
2007-08
SKILLS EXPLORED
#Air Travel Ethnography
#Travel Documentation
#Expert Interviews
#Spot Interviews
#Analysis & Workshopping
#Personas
#Opportunity Themes
CHALLENGE
To understand Indians’ perceptions of air travel and predict trends 10 years into the future.
Air travel was experiencing a boom in India (2008), and we worked with Boeing over a period of 12 months to gather insights to help them design an aircraft experience best-suited for Indians.
Along with bus and train travel documentation, in-flight ethnography was conducted involving photo documentation along with spot interviews with travelers and cabin crew.
I was part of a 3 member team who flew on 14 flights within 2 weeks. We flew on every airline across the length and breadth of the country.
Our research generated opportunity themes to help inform the design of the aircraft cabin for the context of Indian travel. We presented our findings at the Boeing facilities in Everett, WA. I was lucky enough to get a tour of the Boeing factory where I saw the 787 Dreamliner ✈️ being assembled.
📱 Life Tools: UX Evaluation of Mobile Services
CLIENT
NOKIA
MY ROLE
Research Lead / Project Manager
TIMEFRAME
2008
SKILLS EXPLORED
#UX Evaluation
#Usability Testing
#Task-based Testing
#Mobile Services
#Project Management
#Multi-site Leadership
CHALLENGE
To evaluate the usability of soon-to-be launched informational services focused on Agriculture, Education and Entertainment.
Nokia Life Tools was a suite of subscription based information services for multimedia mobile users in emerging markets. We were provided with phones including beta versions of the apps with functionality limited to the purposes of the study.
Considering the target audiences, we planned to evaluate Education and Entertainment services within “Urban Informal” locations and Agricultural services within “Rural Remote” locations.
I was the research lead for this study where we conducted usability tests simultaneously across China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and Pakistan.
I designed a task-based testing script that allowed users to navigate through specific sections of the service. We collated our findings across countries to reveal common patterns and suggest enhancements.
We presented our final findings at the Nokia offices in Farnborough, England.
🎨 2010 Color Trends Forecast for India
CLIENT
Asian Paints
MY ROLE
Research Lead / Project Manager
TIMEFRAME
2009
SKILLS EXPLORED
#Trend Mapping
#Visual Documentation
#Color Workshops
#Expert Panels
#Visual Themes
CHALLENGE
To forecast color trends in India based on emerging societal culture and lifestyle choices.
Since its inception in 2003, ColourNext by Asian Paints is the only annual color trend forecast of its kind in India. I was the research lead for the 2010 version. This extensive undertaking spanned across institutions and professionals and involved expert interviews and creative forums and workshops.
Research methods included Sociologist Interviews, space visits, trend walkthrough, collaborative studio workshops and style leader panels.
The highlight was a photographic journey across India documenting colors in peoples’ homes, the martketplace and privately owned lifestyle spaces.
We worked with multiple design professionals who work extensively with color to define stories, themes and palettes that are representative of India.
