Kicks Lab

Three questions to the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
The primary user experience challenge was overcoming the high cognitive load associated with professional engineering data. Translating abstract, highly technical simulation metrics from Ansys into an intuitive visual system for adolescents required significant structural scaffolding. The interface had to replace intimidating jargon with relatable descriptors while preserving data fidelity. Designing a diagnostic failure loop that reframes failed test results into clear, actionable design roadmaps was critical to maintaining high user engagement.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
A significant low point occurred when early testing revealed that students resorted to mindless trial-and-error clicking when given immediate access to materials. This challenge led to an instructive turning point with the implementation of the dedicated planning phase. Forcing users to formulate a hypothesis before prototyping significantly improved intentionality. The personal highlight was validating this new framework through extensive playtesting with over forty students, observing a dramatic shift from disengagement to active data-driven analysis.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
In the next five years, the goal is to expand the platform into a comprehensive educational suite, scaling the engine-to-interface pipeline across diverse primary and secondary school curricula globally. The project aims to become a standardized tool for gamified vocational training, bridging classroom learning with actual industry practices. Professionally, the team intends to remain at the intersection of product design and emerging technologies, spearheading intuitive interfaces that democratize complex engineering software.