IBM Supply Chain Intelligence Suite (SCIS)
Craft designs for the award-winning Supply Chain Intelligence Suite (SCIS) that empowers users expedite time-to-resolution and make informed business decisions.
During the 20-month internship journey, I delved into a variety of projects within the newly-launched IBM Supply Chain Intelligence Suite (SCIS).
Juggling multiple projects under tight schedules taught me how to craft user-friendly design solutions that also align with business goals in an ever-evolving industry landscape.
While my work remains confidential under NDA, for the curious minds out there, feel free to keep scrolling. This case study provides a glimpse into my journey at IBM.
Please reach out to me via my email if you have any questions regarding my work.
Position
UX/UI Design Intern
Timeline
May 2022 - Present
Tools
Figma, UserZoom, Mural
So, what did I do at IBM?
Design: Crafting end-to-end user experiences within tight deadlines
With Figma and IBM’s Carbon design system, I have created 10+ solutions across 3 distinct product areas, within Supply Chain Intelligence Suite (SCIS).
During the second half of my internship, I took the lead on a proof-of-concept (POC) project that involved close collaboration with a top-tier industrial client. The goal was to visualize and streamline the product supply chain mapping progress across multiple tiers.
As the sole designer on the project, my design resilience faced a true trial.
Throughout the 2-month timeframe, I utilized design artifacts such as personas, user flows, user stories and mockups to ensure that the design goals were well-aligned with the overarching project goals and internal team’s product goals.
To effectively communicate how users would navigate the interactive experience, I presented iterative designs to clients while meticulously documenting each design decision. All the projects resulted in 100% client satisfaction rate and boosted the business outcomes.
Top: Snapshot from IBM Supply Chain Intelligence Suite demo Bottom: Feedback from team members
Making memories with humans at IBM
What has truly made this experience shine is the honour of working alongside many exceptionally talented and kind-hearted humans. I have soaked up tons of mentorship from IBMers of all levels, and collaborating with them was an absolute blast – Each person's unique strengths complemented the others, creating such a unique experience.
Above everything else, their brilliance has truly inspired me to consistently challenge my comfort zone and thrive as a designer.
Involvement in Coaching and Mentoring
As part of the "IBM Developer Jumpstart," a three-month product development program, I took on the role of design coach for a team of developers. I guided them towards crafting user-centric experiences, I also emphasized the significance of storytelling and aligning business values with the product concept. The team won the 1st place among 10+ competing teams.
Additionally, I participated in the IBM STEM 4 Girls initiative, where I mentored a team of young girls, approximately 13 years of age, over a three-day period.
In both experiences, I stood as the sole designer in teams made up of non-designers. These experiences taught me how to convey design concepts in accessible ways.
IBM North America Intern Hackathon
Participating in a 2-day IBM North American intern hackathon, I teamed up with a cross-functional team to design a mobile app focused on rescuing surplus food to support food-insecure households. As the only designer on the team, I took the challenge of individually creating 20+ screens with IBM’s Carbon design system within 1 day.
Our project was recognized with an honourable mention in the Equitable Access category among 62 competing projects. Working with other interns made the experience incredibly enjoyable and fulfilling!
My takeaways
Tame complexity with B2B design: It's been a humbling journey, filled with steep learning curves just to start making any contributions. Learning how to ask the right questions to catch up with the cross-functional team has been a major lesson, and it takes even longer to truly contribute to the product success by understanding the ever-changing industry landscape, how our products fit into the larger picture, and most importantly, how users will find values in what we provide. It’s truly rewarding to learn how to transform complexity into simplicity, creating design impacts that can last.
Trust others, but most importantly, trust yourself: This is so much easier said than done. As designers, it’s very easy to work in our own bubbles disconnect from other stakeholders. It’s a delicate art to foster transparency and make design a co-creational process. The first step is to appreciate the expertise of others and, even more challenging, have confidence in my own design expertise. As the only intern, working in a team of experienced experts is intimidating. I had so much imposter syndrome that made it hard for me to speak up. Recognition from my team really helped me overcome the struggles and made me realize how my unique values shone through the collaborative efforts. This is a journey I'm still on, continuously striving to improve.
Embrace the constraints: Constraints and limitations are an everyday reality in UX design. These can stem from technical limitations, managing a tight schedule, or navigating intricate political dynamics. While it can be frustrating, these challenges have helped me develop a strategic mindset and taught me how to define scope earlier in the discovery phase. They also sparked my creativity, motivating me to craft user experiences that can adapt and evolve over time.
Use visuals to tell a story: Design value is much beyond moving pixels. Nonetheless, visuals is a powerful tool in promoting a shared understanding among cross-functional teams. By translating abstract concepts to something concrete, it enabled me to capture attention during meetings, obtain timely feedback, and ultimately give a remarkable boost to overall efficiency!
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