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How do I re-design Photoshop to make it more intuitive for both beginners and pros alike?
This project was aimed at creating a simple and intuitive user interface for Photoshop which would enable beginners to navigate the software easily, without the need for external help or training.The main goal was that people who are adept at Photoshop should be able to use the wide range of tools offered by the program but this should not serve as a hindrance for new users.
Through the process of secondary research and contextual inquiry, I gathered interesting insights and found patterns that I then translated into design concepts.
![]() The final design concept | ![]() Contextual inquiryI watched and recorded a beginner(who has never used Photoshop before) complete a set of tasks that were involved in creating a Christmas card. | ![]() Social ModelAnalysed different factors that influenced the person's thinking & workflow. |
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![]() Flow of User experienceAnalysed the buttons that were used to complete tasks - necessary and unnecessary | ![]() Problems facedHindrances, interruptions and inconsistencies that disrupted user experience flow | ![]() The new interface- simple and intuitive |
![]() | ![]() Visualization of layersThis layout solves the confusion about 'layers' as it depicts them more intuitive visuals and simple language. It is also easy to spot the important tools, which are grouped together based on their inter-dependency. | ![]() This layout shows the simplicity of the new design, which is adaptable to the user. For a beginner, it offers the minimal tools sets and simple visuals for clarity and for professionals it allows for the option of customizing tool-sets. |
Process..process..process
I went through iterations of ideas, showed it to the people, got their feedback and then incorporated it into the final design. It seems eveyone has a problem understanding layers! :)

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