Catalyst - Lab Inventory Management System
Catalyst - Lab Inventory Management System
Catalyst - Lab Inventory Management System
Co-Founder and Product Designer
Co-Founder and Product Designer
Co-Founder and Product Designer
ROLE
Product Designer
TIMELINE
Aug 2023 - Dec 2023
SKILLS
Product Design
UX Research
UI/UX Design
Branding
Entrepreneurship
Pitch Development
Tools
Figma
Procreate
ROLE
Product Designer
TIMELINE
Aug 2023 - Dec 2023
SKILLS
Product Design
UX Research
UI/UX Design
Branding
Entrepreneurship
Pitch Development
Tools
Figma
Procreate
ROLE
Product Designer
TIMELINE
Aug 2023 - Dec 2023
SKILLS
Product Design
UX Research
UI/UX Design
Branding
Entrepreneurship
Pitch Development
Tools
Figma
Procreate
Product Summary
Product Summary
Product Summary
Catalyst is an AI-optimized platform that streamlines and optimizes inventory management for research lab.
The product was created in LavaLab, USC's premier startup incubator.
Catalyst is an AI-optimized platform that streamlines and optimizes inventory management for research lab.
The product was created in LavaLab, USC's premier startup incubator.
Catalyst is an AI-optimized platform that streamlines and optimizes inventory management for research lab.
The product was created in LavaLab, USC's premier startup incubator.
THE PROBLEM
THE PROBLEM
THE PROBLEM
Cluttered inventory management in labs impedes scientific progress
Cluttered inventory management in labs impedes scientific progress
Cluttered inventory management in labs impedes scientific progress
Many researchers are still using pen-and-paper, spreadsheets, and email chains to manage inventory. These forms of cluttered inventory management impede progress and prevent researchers from progressing towards finding cures to change lives.
Many researchers are still using pen-and-paper, spreadsheets, and email chains to manage inventory. These forms of cluttered inventory management impede progress and prevent researchers from progressing towards finding cures to change lives.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Onboarding
Users can upload their existing inventory data from a CSV, TXT file, or manual input for a smooth onboarding process
Users can upload their existing inventory data from a CSV, TXT file, or manual input for a smooth onboarding process
Users can upload their existing inventory data from a CSV, TXT file, or manual input for a smooth onboarding process
Dashboard
View insights on lab inventory, purchase requests, AI recommendations, and stock notifications at a glance.
View insights on lab inventory, purchase requests, AI recommendations, and stock notifications at a glance.
View insights on lab inventory, purchase requests, AI recommendations, and stock notifications at a glance.
Inventory
Track your inventory and order history in a concise and clear table. Users can request individual or multiple items to be reordered
Track your inventory and order history in a concise and clear table. Users can request individual or multiple items to be reordered
Track your inventory and order history in a concise and clear table. Users can request individual or multiple items to be reordered
Requests
Monitor and manage all user requests with integrations to top lab suppliers.
Monitor and manage all user requests with integrations to top lab suppliers.
Monitor and manage all user requests with integrations to top lab suppliers.
USER RESEARCH
USER RESEARCH
USER RESEARCH
For Catalyst, we interviewed and met with lab workers from USC and small biotechnology startups. With 20+ user interviews and prototype testing, lab researchers and managers all reported similar pain points in their work. We identified three main pain points in their lab inventory tracking workflows.
For Catalyst, we interviewed and met with lab workers from USC and small biotechnology startups. With 20+ user interviews and prototype testing, lab researchers and managers all reported similar pain points in their work. We identified three main pain points in their lab inventory tracking workflows.
For Catalyst, we interviewed and met with lab workers from USC and small biotechnology startups. With 20+ user interviews and prototype testing, lab researchers and managers all reported similar pain points in their work. We identified three main pain points in their lab inventory tracking workflows.
1
Inventory Management Systems are Outdated
Inventory Management Systems are Outdated
Inventory Management Systems are Outdated
2
Requests are Difficult to Track
Requests are Difficult to Track
Requests are Difficult to Track
3
Orders Have Long Delivery Times
Orders Have Long Delivery Times
Orders Have Long Delivery Times
USER PROFILES AND FLOWS
USER PROFILES AND FLOWS
USER PROFILES AND FLOWS
Catalyst is centered around two distinct user profiles: Researchers and Lab Managers. This allows a straightforward information structure that allows the request and approval process to be facilitated.
Catalyst is centered around two distinct user profiles: Researchers and Lab Managers. This allows a straightforward information structure that allows the request and approval process to be facilitated.
Catalyst is centered around two distinct user profiles: Researchers and Lab Managers. This allows a straightforward information structure that allows the request and approval process to be facilitated.
Researchers
Researchers
— View Inventory
— Basic Data Visualization
— Make Inventory Requests
— View Order History
— Message Other Users
— View Inventory
— Basic Data Visualization
— Make Inventory Requests
— View Order History
— Message Other Users
— View Inventory
— Basic Data Visualization
— Make Inventory Requests
— View Order History
— Message Other Users
Lab Managers
Lab Managers
— All Researcher Features
— Administrative View
— AI Recommendations
— Approve/Reject Requests
— Advanced Data Visualization
— Place Orders
— All Researcher Features
— Administrative View
— AI Recommendations
— Approve/Reject Requests
— Advanced Data Visualization
— Place Orders
— All Researcher Features
— Administrative View
— AI Recommendations
— Approve/Reject Requests
— Advanced Data Visualization
— Place Orders
DESIGN PROCESS
DESIGN PROCESS
DESIGN PROCESS
With other competitors already existing in the market, besides our unique AI recommendation and inventory optimization, one area where my team wanted to differentiate was in user experience and interface. When approaching the visuals as the sole product designer on this project, my main focus was answering "How might we make the complicated inventory of research laboratories both modern and easily navigable?" The challenge lied in ensuring that all of this extensive and constantly updated data could be represented through not only list views but in data visualization as well with compatibility with the various visual assets coming from external medical resources.
With other competitors already existing in the market, besides our unique AI recommendation and inventory optimization, one area where my team wanted to differentiate was in user experience and interface. When approaching the visuals as the sole product designer on this project, my main focus was answering "How might we make the complicated inventory of research laboratories both modern and easily navigable?" The challenge lied in ensuring that all of this extensive and constantly updated data could be represented through not only list views but in data visualization as well with compatibility with the various visual assets coming from external medical resources.
With other competitors already existing in the market, besides our unique AI recommendation and inventory optimization, one area where my team wanted to differentiate was in user experience and interface. When approaching the visuals as the sole product designer on this project, my main focus was answering "How might we make the complicated inventory of research laboratories both modern and easily navigable?" The challenge lied in ensuring that all of this extensive and constantly updated data could be represented through not only list views but in data visualization as well with compatibility with the various visual assets coming from external medical resources.
Moodboarding
I began the design process with basic moodboarding to research common design choices for inventory management systems and propose design features for my developers and PM.
I began the design process with basic moodboarding to research common design choices for inventory management systems and propose design features for my developers and PM.
I began the design process with basic moodboarding to research common design choices for inventory management systems and propose design features for my developers and PM.
Logo Development
As lead product designer for the project, one of my responsibilities was to create the branding for Catalyst as well. The idea for the logo came about from the idea of a centralized place to intake information and convert it to progress. I focused on keeping the logo scalable, modern, and minimalist.
As lead product designer for the project, one of my responsibilities was to create the branding for Catalyst as well. The idea for the logo came about from the idea of a centralized place to intake information and convert it to progress. I focused on keeping the logo scalable, modern, and minimalist.
As lead product designer for the project, one of my responsibilities was to create the branding for Catalyst as well. The idea for the logo came about from the idea of a centralized place to intake information and convert it to progress. I focused on keeping the logo scalable, modern, and minimalist.
Design System
For the core design system, I established that the project would use Lato as the primary font with white and grey as the primary colors with the blue from the logo as the accent color. Additional colors were also selected for inventory status indication, a key function of our platform.
For the core design system, I established that the project would use Lato as the primary font with white and grey as the primary colors with the blue from the logo as the accent color. Additional colors were also selected for inventory status indication, a key function of our platform.
For the core design system, I established that the project would use Lato as the primary font with white and grey as the primary colors with the blue from the logo as the accent color. Additional colors were also selected for inventory status indication, a key function of our platform.
Initial Prototype
Our timeline for Catalyst was very restrained. We had about 4 weeks from generating the idea for the product to pitching to investors. Thus, I had to dive right into high fidelity prototypes to give my developers enough time to create a working prototype for our demo.
Our timeline for Catalyst was very restrained. We had about 4 weeks from generating the idea for the product to pitching to investors. Thus, I had to dive right into high fidelity prototypes to give my developers enough time to create a working prototype for our demo.
Our timeline for Catalyst was very restrained. We had about 4 weeks from generating the idea for the product to pitching to investors. Thus, I had to dive right into high fidelity prototypes to give my developers enough time to create a working prototype for our demo.
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
After conducting user feedback and consulting designers working on other projects within my organization, I rapidly iterated to generate our final prototype. After multiple drafts, I generated a simplified design that was not only less visually cluttered but also met the needs of my developers.
After conducting user feedback and consulting designers working on other projects within my organization, I rapidly iterated to generate our final prototype. After multiple drafts, I generated a simplified design that was not only less visually cluttered but also met the needs of my developers.
After conducting user feedback and consulting designers working on other projects within my organization, I rapidly iterated to generate our final prototype. After multiple drafts, I generated a simplified design that was not only less visually cluttered but also met the needs of my developers.
Pitch Deck
Pitch Deck
Pitch Deck
As Catalyst was being pitched to venture capitalists and potential investors, our pitch deck was key to the success of our product. I worked extremely closely with our PM to develop a pitch deck that displayed our product both aesthetically and clearly. We spent 20+ hours practicing and honing our pitch to be "pitch-perfect" for those 10 minute on stage.
As Catalyst was being pitched to venture capitalists and potential investors, our pitch deck was key to the success of our product. I worked extremely closely with our PM to develop a pitch deck that displayed our product both aesthetically and clearly. We spent 20+ hours practicing and honing our pitch to be "pitch-perfect" for those 10 minute on stage.
As Catalyst was being pitched to venture capitalists and potential investors, our pitch deck was key to the success of our product. I worked extremely closely with our PM to develop a pitch deck that displayed our product both aesthetically and clearly. We spent 20+ hours practicing and honing our pitch to be "pitch-perfect" for those 10 minute on stage.
FINAL TAKEAWAYS
