Edid

The aim was to improve the interaction with digital tools and develop innovative solutions to make them more efficient and user-friendly. We focused on the image editing software Lightroom Classic, as we recognized that various problems occur when editing images here.

ROLE:    CONCEPT, RESEARCH, PROTOTYPING, UI/UX DESIGN

LOCATION & YEAR: SCHWÄBISCH GMÜND, 2023 

COLLABORATOR: BICH TRANG VU THI, JENS RIESENBERG 

Overview

My team and I first looked at which physical devices have a virtual connection in everyday life. We analyzed potential areas for improvement and looked at how interaction with digital programs could be made easier. Our investigation led to four main problems in Lightroom Classic:

• difficulty recognizing and aligning straight lines in the image.
• Problems with precise placement of image corners.
  
• Frequent inaccuracies in the rotation function, making it difficult to accurately align photos.
• Limitation to a one-third grid in Lightroom.

User Research

In our research, we investigated various objects to facilitate the cutting and alignment of images, from magnifying frames to VR glasses. We then created paper prototypes, including an adjustable frame and a prototype made of polystyrene, cardboard and wooden skewers with guide lines for precise alignment of the image section. Based on these ideas, we developed our functional prototype.

Usability Testing 

During testing, we found that some rotary knobs were unclear and needed visual feedback.Certain expectations regarding functions such as brightness and zoom were also not met. Operating the prototype led to uncomfortable sitting postures and unwanted reflections occurred. The white color of the pucks was distracting, but their movement was rated positively. The parallax error of the guide lines led to a discrepancy between the visual alignment and their actual positioning.

Result

Our design prototype focused on avoiding the parallax error and enabling more precise visual alignment. This is achieved by using rods with a high-gloss black metal, which have a triangular shape.The main housing is made of space-grey aluminum for a robust look. The pucks are covered with rubber-like material to provide a comfortable feel and a non-slip grip. 

Each puck has its own screen for additional information and visual feedback. The application includes three knobs for adjusting brightness, rotating the image and switching images. The pucks allow precise alignment of the image corners and can be rotated to adjust the image accordingly. The knobs can be placed on either side of the product and are suitable for left-handed users.