Cisco / Linksys
I joined Cisco/Linksys through an acquisition of a home networking company I was with for the prior 1 1/2’ish years named Pure Networks. Initially, I worked on both Cisco and Linksys home networking products, then Linksys was spit out into a separate business unit, and I led design for Linksys product experiences until acquired by Belkin in 2013.
Designed the industry-first cloud-based easy-setup router and network management software
Linksys Smart Wi-Fi
CHALLENGE:
All Linksys routers came with a CD for setup, but CD drives were becoming obsolete in laptop computers.
The Cisco Connect software only showed network visibility and status at home, and users wanted to monitor their home networks when away from home.
Both mainstream and expert users felt limited in functionality and wanted to choose their level of engagement with more advanced features.
Product management, engineering and design each faced difficulties with duplicate workstreams to manage two separate tailored experiences, one for mainstream and one for expert product experiences.
GOAL:
Innovate and streamline the setup workflow. Create a single, easily accessible browser-based portal that supports both mainstream and expert demographics where users could securely login and choose their level of engagement in managing their home networks.
PROCESS:
UX research / Design iteration, Design socialization, Cross-functional collaboration
ARTIFACTS:
I designed Linksys Smart Wifi UI, component library, and pattern libraries
Comprehensive Cisco Connect Cloud style guide (under NDA)
OUTCOME:
Easy Router setup experience using a USB device and a browser-based network management tool called Linksys Smart Wi-Fi.
Access enabled to user’s home networks while away from home.
Users could set Linksys Smart WiFi up and forget it or choose the level of engagement in more advanced management of their home networks.
Linksys Smart Wi-Fi combined with a refreshed Easy Connect router setup, provided a consistent visual language for both setup and management software.
Paved the way for IoT home networking ecosystems by lowering the technical bar for everyday people and enabling cloud-based home network management with very little technical knowledge.
One design, one code base, one team
Linksys Smart Wi-Fi CD Setup flow
MY ROLE:
User research, Design, illustration, Documentation, Design socialization and cross-collaboration with Product Management, Support, Engineering, ID ODM, and Marketing teams.
Managed UX design for device setup software
At Cisco, I managed device setup and software design for all Linksys and Cisco consumer product offerings, and partnered cross-functionally to implement. I created a strategic framework that scaled across all product offerings, and involved the creation of realistic illustrations, wiring diagrams and design for the setup software and (in box) Quick Setup Guides. This workstream supported 25+ products, mainly routers, but also including extenders, access points, gateways, cameras, network storage devices and media hubs.
Designed the industry-first easy-setup router and network management software
Valet router setup / Cisco Connect software
CHALLENGE:
Setting up a Linksys router required 7 to 12 steps and over 20 minutes, often leading to frustration and failure. Users found the process tiring and untrustworthy, with with little user education. Extra network management features were buried in the confusing router admin portal, and required the router's IP address to be entered in a browser for access.
GOAL:
Simplify the setup process from 7-12 steps to 3 easy steps. Create networking management software that caters to both mainstream and expert users to users.
PROCESS:
UX research / Design iteration, Design socialization, Cross-functional collaboration
OUTCOME:
Easy Connect Setup, a three step CD-setup process to get connected to the internet with near 100% success rate.
The router setup was coupled with network management software, Valet software for mainstream users and Cisco Connect for expert users.
The software experience provided focus on the most-used functionality for that demographic and included friendly informative networking language.
This easy router setup and following hassle free network management experience, providing an approachable, educational and empowering UI, were industry-first paradigms.
Click for and animated .gif of Cisco Connect Router Setup
“Cisco’s foolproof setup lets anyone get the ValetPlus up and running in a few minutes.”
MY ROLE:
User research, Design, illustration, Documentation, Design socialization and cross-collaboration with Product Management, Support, Engineering, ID ODM, and Marketing teams.
Redesigned Network Magic - 5.5 update
CHALLENGE:
Network Magic was a home networking software product designed intended to build trust and provide security, as users prioritized these concerns. However, its user interface was outdated, resembling a light blue version of Microsoft Windows 4 from 1996. Its features aimed to help less technical users but did not appeal to more advanced users.
GOAL:
Enhance the product to attract technical users with a professional and modern design, while making networking tasks easier for less technical users.
PROCESS:
UX research / Design iteration, Design socialization, Cross-functional collaboration
OUTCOME:
Network Magic 5.5 product update included a number of feature enhancements.
More robust notification and task discoverability system.
Full re-skinning of the application that included an overhaul of all iconography.
MY ROLE:
Design, illustration, Design socialization and cross-collaboration with Product Management, Support, Engineering and Marketing teams.