Qualcomm

As Senior Design Staff, I lead the development of user-centric design strategies, leveraging a Design Thinking mindset to deliver best-in-class product experiences. I analyze user needs, define task flows, and propose information architecture to meet product requirements, creating wireframes, prototypes, and visual assets to communicate design visions effectively. I oversee all aspects of user experience, including driving high-efficiency interface designs, managing diverse creative teams, and fostering a culture of prototyping and usability testing. As a User Experience Evangelist, I represent end-user needs to internal teams, fleet customers, and channel partners, ensuring empathy and user focus across all touchpoints. I partner with Product Management and Development to build innovative solutions that enhance the driver experience and simplify back-office operations. By establishing UX standards and promoting human-centered design principles, I drive simplicity, elegance, and efficiency throughout the organization. Additionally, I mentor and grow a world-class UX team, enabling them to deliver compelling experiences that improve fleet efficiency and create seamless user interactions.

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Case Study: Qualcomm – Redefining the Developer Experience

Introduction
Qualcomm powers some of the world’s most advanced technologies, yet developers often face challenges navigating its complex ecosystem of tools, APIs, and documentation. I spearheaded the redesign of Qualcomm’s Developer Network (QDN), transforming it into a streamlined, intuitive hub. My work focused on improving the end-to-end developer experience, simplifying workflows, and driving engagement by ensuring the platform was not just a resource but a launchpad for innovation.
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Problem Statement

Developers are a key audience for Qualcomm, driving innovation across industries using its technologies. However, the existing Developer Network was cluttered, difficult to navigate, and lacked cohesive guidance. This hindered adoption, reduced satisfaction, and created barriers for developers trying to utilize Qualcomm’s cutting-edge solutions.

My goal was to reimagine the QDN experience, making it intuitive, accessible, and actionable for developers at all skill levels.

Research and Insights

I conducted in-depth research to understand the challenges developers faced when interacting with QDN:

1. Key Pain Points Identified:
    • Complex Navigation: Developers struggled to locate relevant tools, APIs, and documentation due to the platform’s fragmented structure.
    • Overwhelming Content: The sheer volume of information was intimidating, with little guidance for beginners or clarity for advanced users.
    • Disjointed Workflows: Integration between tools and resources was inconsistent, requiring developers to jump between platforms.
 
2. Research Approach:
    • Conducted stakeholder interviews with internal teams to identify strategic priorities.
    • Observed developers using the platform to uncover usability pain points.
    • Synthesized findings into actionable insights, prioritizing improvements that addressed both developer needs and Qualcomm’s business goals.

Solution Design

I designed an improved Developer Network experience, focusing on clarity, usability, and integration:

1. Simplified Information Architecture
I restructured the platform, organizing tools, APIs, and documentation into logical categories and intuitive pathways. This ensured developers could quickly find what they needed, whether they were exploring for the first time or diving deep into advanced topics.

2. Guided Workflows
To address the overwhelming content, I introduced tailored entry points based on user roles and experience levels. For example:
    •    Beginner Onboarding: Step-by-step tutorials and curated toolkits helped new developers get started quickly.
    •    Advanced Pathways: Direct access to APIs, SDKs, and advanced integrations for experienced developers.

3. Enhanced Tool Integration
I worked to create seamless workflows between Qualcomm’s various tools and resources, allowing developers to move effortlessly from exploration to implementation. This included:
    •    Consolidating fragmented tools into a unified dashboard.
    •    Introducing API playgrounds for developers to experiment without committing to full integration.

4. Developer-Centric Design
I incorporated UX best practices to improve usability, including:
    • Clean, responsive design optimized for desktop and mobile.
    • Search enhancements, allowing developers to quickly locate relevant resources.
    • Contextual help and troubleshooting guides embedded within workflows.

Driving Cross-Functional Collaboration

This project required close collaboration across teams:
    • Engineering: I worked alongside developers to ensure that proposed workflows and design improvements were feasible and scalable within Qualcomm’s technical constraints.
    • Product Management: I aligned closely with product managers to prioritize features and ensure the redesign met business objectives.
    • Marketing & Documentation Teams: I partnered with content teams to streamline and rewrite technical documentation, making it more accessible and developer-friendly.
    • Stakeholders: I regularly presented progress and gathered feedback to ensure the redesign addressed both user needs and internal strategic goals.

Impact Delivered

Key Results Post-Redesign:
    • Increased Engagement: Page views and session duration on QDN increased by 40% within the first three months, indicating improved usability and relevance.
    • Reduced Bounce Rate: The bounce rate dropped by 25%, signaling that developers were finding value in the platform and staying engaged longer.
    • Improved Developer Satisfaction: Post-launch surveys showed a 30% increase in satisfaction scores, with developers praising the platform’s clarity and ease of use.
    • Accelerated Adoption: Time-to-first API call reduced by 50%, reflecting the effectiveness of the onboarding experience and streamlined workflows.
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