VergeSense
VergeSense offers industry-leading workplace analytics, helping facility managers understand how people use their spaces. These insights were limited to individual buildings, and to assess utilisation across entire real estate portfolios, we set out to build a new, overarching feature — Portfolio view.
As Lead Product Designer, I designed the new feature, rebuilt the design system, and validated design directions with Fortune 100 users. The new release of VergeSense brought along record revenue growth, and a generous funding round.
Landscape
Most office spaces are overallocated and underutilised, leading to considerable losses in commercial real estate transactions. Reliable workplace analytics require on-site sensors and intelligent software to distil captured data into actionable insights.
However, leaving a laptop in the office is not equivalent to somebody using it. Precisely distinguishing objects from people, VergeSense brought unparalleled accuracy to facility managers, facilitating space allocation and planning.
Photo: Density
Challenge
VergeSense generates utilisation reports for buildings, individual floors, and spaces. The new, overarching dashboard would then pull historical trends, outliers, and suggestions based on existing data across all buildings. As the first designer on the team, I was helping shape it.
In parallel, I was auditing the current solution, rethinking the way we visualise data, and finding ways to visually uplift the otherwise monotonous experience — the last of which was mostly to keep stakeholders happy.
Discovery
The VP of Engineering, the VP of Product, the Product Owner, and I held discovery sessions discussing hardware capabilities, industry conventions, and the way customers use VergeSense. I would then follow up with open-ended directions and ideas.
Our main goals were defining usable aggregate metrics from existing data, identifying gaps in the current solution, as well as capitalising on our ability to distinguish objects from people in space. We called these objects "signs of life". I think that's cool.
Distributed between California, Massachusetts, and Croatia, Zoom sessions and their recordings were the basis of our workflow.
Information architecture
While the existing flows were solid and followed the tree structure of building-floor-space, the all-but-uncommon wall of metric cards somehow struggled with both information overload and excessive negative space.
This put focus on introducing visual hierarchy between components, constructing sections, and utilising negative space to our advantage.
To help us stand out and "uplift our visual experience", I proposed implementing an interactive map, using smooth transitions to navigate between locations.
In the Portfolio view, the map would facilitate comparing geographical regions and identifying outliers at a glance. The users would select buildings by clicking on their pins, drilling down all the way to individual floors and spaces — provided we could successfully integrate floor plans with the map.
Prototyping
After much iteration around data points and visualisation, we invited our Engineering team to the table, helping us assess how viable combining a map library with floor plans really was.
I would then construct a design language for the floor plans and the map. And with a green light from Engineering, we were ready for these next steps.
We limited ourselves to 2D maps, bringing along the challenge of navigating between different floors and distinguishing them.
Design language
Earlier in 2020, we worked with West on brand identity development. I quite enjoyed the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and visual design, and this collaboration sparked a genuine passion for branding, as evident in future projects.
These efforts were focused on brand positioning, visual identity, and the industrial design of VergeSense sensors.
However, the team wanted the same brand guidelines applied to the new VergeSense app.
As they were more suited to print design, they didnt translate well onto screens, and I took it upon myself to bridge the gap between print, web, and user interface.
Despite pushback, I campaigned moving the map to the right, citing left-to-right scanning and cognitive load.
Validation
I wrote a usability testing script around the new dashboard and map interactions. After building an interactive prototype in Figma, we organised 7 sessions with existing customers across different real estate portfolio sizes.
I led these sessions with moderation from our Product Owner. All customers being US-based, the testing was done remotely with their screens and faces recorded. I tweaked the script as we went, and analysed the material myself.
The feedback largely pointed to visual shortcomings on the map component — legibility, contrast, and visually balancing the dashboard to the left.
These were all easily adressed, and the map implementation was very well received. It was only at this point that I started building out the design system.
The final Portfolio view layout.
Change of plan
Towards the end of 2020, our stakeholders had moved the deadline for Portfolio view from Q3 2021 to Q1. Implementing the map was not viable within the new timeline, and neither was rebuilding components with the new design system.
I was then asked to deliver a new solution that would carry the same functionality, built on top of the existing app.
Ensuring no effort went to waste, my solution was compatible with both the existing platform and our future plans.
This, then, represented the first version of Portfolio view, deliverable in time. The rest of our efforts defined the future of design at VergeSense.
The list view carried a lot of the map's weight. It would still remain a feature after implementing the map.
Planned
Another feature we were developing was Live mode. In contrast to historical data and analytics, we would give our users a look into their spaces' performance in real time and great detail. This, too, was postponed.
We also ideated on environmental insights; air quality, temperature, and access to natural light, as well as a new, predictive AI model for workplace planning, scenario simulation, and decision-making.
Delivery
The last-minute changes wouldn't have been possible without an eager team with pristine communication. We were creative in prioritising and cutting corners. I supported the engineering team continuously and hands-on. And to help alleviate some pressure, we welcomed another designer to the team.
I conducted testing impromptu with team members from Sales and Marketing, and delivered new screens for the VS Installer app — used by VergeSense technicians on-site.
Result
We launched Portfolio View in Februrary 2021, meeting all deadlines and requirements. In light of this, VergeSense raised $60 million in Series C, experienced a 4x growth in year-on-year revenue, and doubled its customer lineup.
