OLYGOS: Developing a Product to Assist Genetic Analysis with Algene, LLC.

Role: UX Researcher/Consultant & Developer

Context: Freelance Project

Period: 2018-2020

Background

The mission of Algene revolves around utilizing Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCRs) to manipulate plant genes, particularly algae, for the production of resources intended for human consumption. Algene is committed to researching and modifying algae genes to yield pharmaceuticals like digoxin, morphine, and THC.

Within the gene manipulation process, the analysis of DNA's genetic makeup involves the use of primers. These primers play a crucial role, and their precise sequence is determined using various online tools known as "Multiple Primer Analyzers," "Oligonucleotide Properties Calculators," or simply "PCR Calculators." These tools take input genetic sequences and sample conditions, generating primer sequences for scientists to use in their experiments.

However, the current state of PCR Calculators poses challenges, including confusing user interfaces, fragmented resources, and concerns related to corporate interests. Matt, vice-CEO of Algene, recognizing these issues during his tenure as a phytologist, observed that existing websites felt outdated and cumbersome. Moreover, certain platforms seemed designed to benefit larger genetics companies at the expense of scientists in smaller labs, promoting the sale of proprietary PCR sequences.

As an undergraduate, Matt found himself relying on these PCR Calculators for his coursework. He expressed a desire for tools that could simplify and enhance the completion and understanding of scientific tasks, emphasizing the need for user-friendly features that cater to both effectiveness and educational value.

The Solution

Based on these observations, our objective became evident: to develop a new PCR calculator explicitly tailored for the needs of professional scientists. Simultaneously, we aimed to provide tools that would support undergraduates conducting genetics lab work, fostering a better understanding of their tasks. Additionally, our vision was to seamlessly integrate the final product with Algene's primary brand while establishing a distinct identity, akin to the relationships between Microsoft and Xbox or Google and Youtube. After careful consideration, we settled on the name Olygos.io for our version of the PCR Calculator.

Research Phase 1: Secondary (Product Competitor) Research

I split the research process into two phases: product research on the best features of existing PCR calculators and a quantitive/qualitative survey of a poll of Rutger's University genetics students.

During the product research phase, to give me a better idea of what features should be kept, improved upon, or designed for our final project, I asked the company to provide examples of the current PCR websites they were using.

We ended up examining several different websites, picking and choosing key features that we could keep and improve upon in our product.

We also analyzed the flaws and pitfalls of each of the existing products

Product Comparison: Thermo Fisher Multiple Primer Analyzer

Pros

Cons

Offers some contextual information
Clear field to fill out
Simple enough UI

Lacks accessory info for new users
Hard to access, trapped in sub layers of website
Lacks all the Primer information in one place, uses a separate calculator for TM calculations

Northwestern University Oligocalc

Pros

Cons

Offers great educational detail, as expected from a top university
Offers many options for power users
Focused, no products to push

Looks "outdated"
Visually complicated input, despite simple style
Offers unnecessary deatail to some extent

Product Name:
Thermo Fisher Multiple Primer Analyzer

Pros

Cons

Offers some contextual information
Clear field to fill out
Simple enough UI

Lacks accessory info for new users
Hard to access, trapped in sub layers of website
Lacks all the Primer information in one place, uses a separate calculator for TM calculations

Product Name:
Northwestern University Oligocalc

Pros

Cons

Offers great educational detail, as expected from a top university
Offers many options for power users
Focused, no products to push

Looks "outdated"
Visually complicated input, despite simple style
Offers unnecessary deatail to some extent

Product Name:
Berkeley University Oligo Calculator

Pros

Cons

Very simple, clean UI
Highly functional
Does not waste the user's time

Lacks almost any educational content
Lacks many features of other products
Visually EXTREMELY outmoded/boring

Product Name:
Thermo Scientific TM

Pros

Cons

Offers contextual information
Clear field to fill out
Simple enough UI

Lacks accessory info for new users
Hard to access, trapped in sub layers of website
Lacks all the Primer information in one place, uses a separate calculator for TM calculations

Product Name:
New England BioLabs Tm Calculator

Pros

Cons

Information is presented in a more effective, fractured manner
Clear inputs, offers the option of two primers and "batch mode"
Clean UI

Lacks accessory info for new users
Lacks some features and sliders that power users may enjoy

Product Name:
Sigma Aldrich PCR Master Mix Calculator

Pros

Cons

Most information output of all examined productions
Offers many external resources

Most cluttered UI
Information Overload
Not the most relevant for students

User Research

(Concept Validation)

We conducted user research in the most direct manner possible: collecting direct feedback and opinions of the potential users of the product. We sent two surveys to a group of people who fit a set of personas. That list consisted of scientists, Rutgers alumni, and friends of the Algene team. The first survey received eight responses, while the second got 13! We also gave participants the option to fill an open ended response on their opinions of oligo calculations, which was greatly appreciated and highly useful.

The first survey was brief with only four questions, while the second was slightly more comprehensive with eight questions. Both surveys contained questions spit into four categories for data collection purposes.

How users feel about their current experience
How users feel about their past experience (past experience/ improving new user onboarding
How users feel about learning/trying a new platform
How the user experience could be improved

Key Findings

100%

85%

95%

90%

100%

Survey Completion Rate

Would Find it Useful

Feel Their Current Experience Could Be Improved

Are Interested

Are Willing To Try It

Based on our research and responses we got from potential users, we felt even more confident about pursuing the creation of a new PCR/oligo calculator product. It's clear that within this relatively niche market of users, there's a growing sentiment of dissatisfaction, or at least self-awareness, towards the status quo of currently used products.

It was also surprising to learn that most users would NOT find a mobile version of this product useful, since the context of this type of work is in the proximity of a work computer. Nonetheless, it was something that we're interested in experimenting with, but it was good to know that we did not have to waste any development time on mobile, which is rare these days.

Design (Low-Fi Layouts)

After product research, it was time to move on to development. I designed a few mockups of the final product's user flow, and discussed with the team which design they felt would be more suitable to their brand moving forward. Since the company is very new and very small, I was given a lot of agency for the final design than would have at a more established business.

Using the data provided, I designed three low-fidelity wireframes that would reflect the user flow of the final product. After passing the designs to the team at Algene, I explained the concepts and asked them which design they felt would best achieve their goals. Of the three team members who had a say, all three of them agreed upon using the 3rd concept wireframe, although it will be subject to change of course.

Concept 1 (Horizontal Layout)
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Concept 2 (Vertical Layout)
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Concept 3 (Hybrid Design)
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User Flow

We decided upon three use cases of Olygos that we needed to cater the product to:

To make it easy for users to input and do PCR calculations,
To provide educational resources for students in college biology classes
To direct users to and promote brand awareness of the main Algene site.

From there, I designed an ideal user flow to better help the team visualize and understand to product we were working on. User flows are essential for uncovering new areas of opportunity and further designing solutions to achieve the project goals.

Personas

Interface, Style, and Branding

Final (Beta) Products and
Limited User Testing

Algene as a startup has yet to launch fully, but the Olygos project is fully functional and nearly developed. In the interest of consistency, the calculator won't be hosted until Algene's main website is developed too. We are also currently in talks for partnerships with public and private lab groups and would prefer to host the website after those talks are settled. In the meantime, enjoy these beta screenshots of how the product will look.

Olygos Current, Beta Layout
(Click To Enlarge)

Mobile Layout, Alpha
(Click To Enlarge)

We've yet to do a major test on the usability, but based on limited anecdotal evidence (the opinions of the 3 Algene Geneticists who helped me develop this project), the usability of this project is promising -- far better than any competitors on the market. We're also the only PCR/Oligo calculator with a responsive mobile version of the application, although that version still needs a bit more polish before product launch. The three members have been using the product to complete their work, and have so far reported no issues, and they far prefer using the product to other competitors. Of course, their bias from plenty of angles within this small sample size, but this still both promising and exciting towards the future of this product.
‍
In the future, before the product fully launches, we will be sure to do at least one usability with a more significant, less bias, number of users to fully validate our project. Fortunately, as of right now, all the members of the company are highly satisfied, so I've done my job of satisfying the client. Stay updated with this page to see how we faired satisfying the actual users.

Future Developments and Considerations

This project should be out of beta and available for public use before the end of 2021. There have been some minor complications at the Algene company that I am not at liberty to discuss. Stay tuned to this article to see how this story ends!

But for now, this has been my favorite project I've worked on so far. So much so that I've made it the top post on my portfolio section. Before I fell in love with design and psychology, I had a passion for biology and chemistry. This project has been my opportunity to merge both these worlds, and I am grateful to the people at Algene for giving me this opportunity.

Again, this project is only 95% percent completed, but I still have plans for how to best put the finishing touches on it before launch. Experimenting with more styles in an "A/B Testing" format would be ideal, but I don't think we have the time or resources to do that with me being the sole freelance designer on the team.

Still, more usability testing, research, and analytics would uncover additional pain points and lead us to make better design decisions. Before launch, I would like to do one more survey based on users we've already surveyed and ask their open-ended opinions of the product so far. 90% of our users surveyed said they were interested in the project, and 100% said they were willing to try it. We've yet to take advantage of those statistics, and we would be remiss not to do so before the product launch.

This project taught me a lot about working directly with users and with small, start-up-sized teams. The lessons I learned here are ones that I'm sure I'll take with me for the rest of my design career.

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Hi, I'm Jiano 👋🏾

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With over seven years of experience in freelance, internships, and professional research design, I apply behavioral science and systemic design thinking to address real-world challenges. As a designer, my objective is to craft seamless end-to-end user experiences through digital transformation. I find joy in working in UX, and I am driven by the belief that human-centric design has the power to enhance our world.

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