Maritime simulation training anytime, anywhere
Client: Kongsberg Digital
Aug 2021 - Nov 2022
K-Sim Connect revolutionizes maritime training, making it affordable and accessible worldwide. The project aimed to balance innovation with industry rules, creating a user-friendly experience throughout the whole ecosystem. This ecosystem included a simulation environment, web portal, and cloud back-end. The outcome is a global platform fostering collaboration and enhancing maritime education.
The challenge
Simulation training only available to a few
Simulation training is proven to be one of the most efficient ways to learn new skills. Even though training simulators have existed for years, they have only been available to a few. The challenge was to open access, ensuring affordability and simplicity. Navigating industry regulations, the project aimed to innovate while staying compliant. Striking this balance meant creating a user-friendly experience, using tech, industry know-how, and user-centered design.
Workshop facilitations
Testing the site simulators
Testing the design system on different screen sizes
Approach
Working on multiple aspects of the ecosystem in parallel through close collaboration
The K-Sim Connect ecosystem consists of three interconnected parts: 1) The K-Sim simulation environment, where the students work. 2) A web portal for students and instructors to organize, share and plan simulation training. 3) A cloud native simulation back-end, where simulators are launched on demand.
We began by working on the Instruments and K-Sim Connect Portal. These initial projects followed a typical design process, beginning with the gathering of stakeholder insight and a thorough breakdown of the user needs. We also explored competitor systems and industry standards and regulations. This was followed by rapid concept development with internal stakeholders and real users, testing, implementation and quality assurance.
By being flexible and working together closely, we could work on multiple aspects of the ecosystem in parallel. Regular check-ins, team demos, workshops and feature assessment enable rapid development of concepts and products as well as updates to the underlying design systems and back-end.
Creating wireframes for the web portal
Illustration of the frontstage, touchpoints and backstage
Illustrating the K-Sim Connect ecosystem with the “K-Sims”
Co-creating the web flow for teachers and students
Outcome
Turning K-Sim Connect into an intuitive global training hub
The cloud based K-Sim Connect platform was created to deliver high quality, affordable maritime simulation tools to schools and institutions around the globe. This innovative digital ecosystem provides students and instructors with access to world class training from anywhere, at any time.
The collaborative efforts led to significant improvements in the portal's structure, visual aesthetics, and mobile responsiveness. Overall, the project transformed the K-Sim Connect web portal into an intuitive hub where students and instructors could effortlessly organize, monitor, share, and plan their simulation training activities.
Maritime instruments and applications, in the web-based framework Panorama.
New web portal for students and instructors to organize, share and plan simulation training.
Impact
Fostering global collaboration and inclusive education
Building this new cloud based ecosystem has resulted in not only the launch and successful adoption of multiple products and services globally but also increased collaboration between institutions and regulators worldwide. With the new ecosystem as a foundation, we were able to explore various business strategies to make sure the products and services were more inclusive and available for everyone. The portal provides users with a streamlined educational experience and a place where they can collaborate and share resources. This in turn improves the quality of education for all. The platform also reduces the need for specialized on-site employees and expensive hardware.
Contribution
My contribution and responsibilities
“A core member of the team since 2021, Adelin was a designer responsible for supporting the development of complex systems and flows within the ecosystem of K-Sim. With his key contributions, Adelin's work greatly enhanced the usability and visual appeal of the K-Sim Connect web portal for simulation training. His work focused on intuitive user experience and effective information hierarchy. Adelin's expertise also contributed to the development of the mobile version, ensuring a seamless user experience across devices.”
Facilitate co-creation workshops with stakeholders
Concept creation and development
Wireframes and workflows, simplifying complex systems
Detailed UI and visual design
Designing for cross-platform experiences
New web portal, using the K-Sims as visual elements
Mobile version of the web portal
Reflections
The importance of understanding the broader user experience
Navigating the complexity of this vast ecosystem highlighted the importance of understanding the broader user experience. Every small design choice had ripple effects across the platform. Close collaboration, both internal and external, proved crucial. Building internal pride and motivation, onboarding internal stakeholders through key presentations, visuals and storytelling enabled us to create great products and services that will stand the test of time.