BRIX
BRIX is a SaaS platform built for Coffrages Synergy, a construction company facing the challenges of a fast-paced, dynamic industry. The app was designed to facilitate communication, streamline operations, and ensure continuous training for frontline workers, ultimately driving efficiency and safety in construction projects. BRIX connects administrators and content creators via a desktop admin panel, allowing them to fuel the mobile app used by all employees, especially field workers.
Problem statement
In the construction industry, companies face significant challenges in fostering effective communication between management and desk-less workers, managing the dynamic nature of dispatch to various construction sites, and implementing efficient user management and operational processes. Traditional methods often result in inefficiencies, including slow operations, difficulty in ensuring regulatory compliance, and delayed updates on critical information. These issues increase workplace accidents and lower engagement with training initiatives, highlighting the need for a more integrated and responsive solution.
Solution statement
BRIX offers a comprehensive digital platform that strengthens team cohesion by promoting a sense of belonging and empowering employees to take ownership of the corporate image. It improves communication with real-time updates, direct messaging from leadership, and quick dissemination of information. The platform streamlines training with easy access, optimized scheduling, and better adherence to programs. BRIX boosts operational efficiency by minimizing time spent on planning, task assignments, and timesheet entry, while enhancing document management without additional license fees. It also ensures compliance with CNESST and union standards and simplifies administrative management by integrating pay stubs for easier access.
Client : Coffrages Synergy
Deadline: 2 yrs
Role : UX Lead
PMM: Scrum
Innovation group
We approached BRIX using the Scrum framework, ensuring a flexible and iterative development process:
The project was broken down into epics, user stories, activities, and tasks organized in a backlog.
Each phase of the project followed a defined deadline, with sprint reviews and retrospectives conducted to track progress and identify areas for improvement.
MVP Development: The project roadmap spanned 2 years and included 4 MVP releases, allowing for rapid iteration and user feedback integration.
Creating BRIX’s Identity, Branding, and Tone
We designed the BRIX brand to embody its core mission of empowering workers and administrators through smart, friendly, and professional communication, micro-training, and operational management. The brand features a primary color scheme of red and white, reflecting a clean and impactful aesthetic. Our approach was minimalist to ensure flexibility, allowing BRIX to be easily adapted as a white-label solution and seamlessly branded for other companies.
Design system development
We built the BRIX design system from the ground up, specifically tailored to integrate seamlessly with the Vue.js framework. Over a span of two years, we meticulously developed and continuously refined the system to ensure it was both flexible and scalable.
Component Design: Every element was crafted to be responsive and functional, allowing for smooth integration within the Vue.js environment.
System Evolution: As BRIX evolved, the design system was dynamically updated to accommodate new features and functionalities, maintaining consistency across various platforms and supporting a reusable component library.
Collaboration & Communication
As the Design Lead for BRIX, my role extended beyond design to encompass research, meetings, and testing, ensuring a comprehensive approach to the project:
Stakeholder Meetings: I conducted regular meetings with stakeholders to align on project objectives, collect feedback, and manage expectations effectively.
Developer Collaboration: Worked closely with developers to ensure our design system was in harmony with technical constraints. I led tech reviews and refined designs based on their input.
Usability Testing: Orchestrated multiple rounds of usability testing with field workers and administrators. I analyzed their feedback and iteratively incorporated it into the design to enhance user experience and functionality.
User Research, Persona Development, and Iterations
Our user research for BRIX was a continuous process conducted over two years, focusing on each module, asset, and feature to ensure comprehensive understanding and alignment with user needs. We utilized a range of research methods, including competitive analysis, quantitative studies, and qualitative feedback, to build detailed personas representing our diverse user base:
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Administrators: Focused on managing operations, distributing content, and ensuring compliance.
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Content Creators: Tasked with developing training modules and updating operational content.
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Field Workers (specifically for mobile app): Required quick access to training materials, communication tools, and operational updates.
Each persona guided the development of user flows, wireframes, and prototypes. We engaged in multiple iterations, driven by ongoing usability testing and stakeholder feedback, to refine the design and ensure it was both intuitive and effective in meeting user needs.
Just a little part of our research & discovery :)
Upon completing our research, we developed personas and user flows to answer the essential question, "Who are we designing for?"
These tools provided valuable insights into users' expectations, concerns, and motivations, allowing us to fine-tune our design strategy.
To create this product, we started by aligning business objectives with user goals and then developed a primary architectural plan. This plan was refined through the "HMW" statements, which aimed to address user needs while considering the tasks and technology required.
These "How Might We?" statements were specifically tailored to meet the needs of the Bella persona, with a focus on achieving business goals:
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How might we assist Bella in discovering retro-style ideas based on her preferences?
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How might we enhance Bella's experience of buying and selling second-hand clothing to make it more accessible and user-friendly?
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In her search for sustainable brands, how might we enable Bella to easily grasp this value through the information architecture?
From Sketches to Final Prototypes:
A Collaborative Journey
The design process for BRIX was far from linear—it was an ongoing, dynamic collaboration. We kicked things off with paper sketches, brainstorming ideas with the product owner, and refining the core features together. These early drafts sparked discussions that led to rapid iterations, honing in on the key functionalities.
Next, we transformed these sketches into wireframes, perfect for usability testing and also for presenting to the team for feedback. This sparked another round of iterations, ensuring the flow and interactions made sense. With each version, we refined the user experience, ultimately moving toward high-fidelity prototypes.
Event analytics
Courses & collections
Newsfeed calender view
Micro-training creation!
The high-fidelity prototypes were then shared with stakeholders, where we further fine-tuned the design based on their input. We didn’t stop there—technical reviews were held to evaluate feasibility, alongside time and cost estimations, which prompted a few more tweaks.
The high-fidelity prototypes were then shared with stakeholders, where we further fine-tuned the design based on their input. We didn’t stop there—technical reviews were held to evaluate feasibility, alongside time and cost estimations, which prompted a few more tweaks.
Finally, after rounds of improvements, the design was polished and handed off to developers for implementation, ensuring alignment between design and development. This iterative, collaborative approach kept the project dynamic and adaptable from start to finish.
Licence & certificates
Roles & permissions
What is the Impact of BRIX?
BRIX is set to make a significant impact on the construction industry by revolutionizing how frontline workers and administrators communicate, operate, and train. Some key impacts include:
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Improved Communication: BRIX enables real-time communication between management and field workers, reducing miscommunication and improving on-site coordination through newsfeeds, notifications, and chat features.
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Enhanced Training: With micro-training and gamification, workers can access training modules quickly and conveniently, resulting in faster onboarding, skill improvement, and better safety compliance.
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Increased Efficiency: The integration of business rules tailored to the construction industry, along with operational tools like online pay stub access and APIs for system integration, ensures that companies can streamline their operations and improve overall efficiency.
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Boosted Team Morale: By creating a sense of belonging through continuous engagement and communication, BRIX helps cultivate a stronger team culture and higher employee satisfaction, ultimately reducing turnover rates.
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Return on Investment: With its emphasis on efficiency and safety, BRIX guarantees a measurable return on investment, helping construction companies save time, resources, and effort while achieving their project goals.
Other projects
Key Learnings: Beyond the Design
Soft Skills & Collaboration
Communication was at the heart of this project. Whether it was aligning with stakeholders, brainstorming with developers, or conducting usability tests with field workers, clear and open dialogue kept everyone on the same page. My role as a UX lead required not just the ability to design but also to facilitate collaboration across departments, ensuring that all voices were heard and considered in each iteration.
Patience & Iteration
The iterative nature of the BRIX design process taught me the importance of patience. Each round of feedback, whether from users, team members, or stakeholders, led to new insights and challenges that required thoughtful revisions.
Startup Challenges
Working on BRIX within a startup environment came with its own unique set of challenges. There was constant pressure to deliver within tight deadlines while maintaining a high level of quality. I had to be adaptable and think on my feet, finding creative solutions when resources were limited or timelines shifted. This experience gave me a deep understanding of how to balance ambitious goals with the reality of time and budget constraints.
Empathy & User-Centric Design
At its core, BRIX was about solving real-world problems for real people. By maintaining a close connection with our users, from initial research to final usability testing, I developed a deeper sense of empathy and a user-centric design approach that drove every decision. Listening to users’ pain points and needs wasn’t just about gathering data—it was about ensuring that the final product would make their lives easier and more efficient.