Autodesk Alias is a professional CAD software primarily used in automotive and industrial design. This project, "Alias SubDivision Simplified: A Guided Learning Odyssey," embarked on a journey to enhance the adaptability and comprehensibility of SubDivision Modeling for the student users in India. Initiated from an internship at Autodesk, it unfolded under the guidance of mentors from National Institute of Design.
The project's foundation rested upon thorough research, aiming to unearth the hurdles faced by students while navigating Alias SubDivision. It delved deep into the intricacies of this powerful software, identifying areas of complexity, usability challenges, and pain points for users, primarily design students. The research phase employed user-centered methods, engaging with students through interviews, surveys, contextual Inquiry, workshops, and user feedback. This approach identified usability challenges and pain points in Alias SubDivision, not only providing product-specific but also systemic insights.
After defining the problem statement using techniques like Affinity Mapping and Competitive Benchmarking, the project embarked on creative problem-solving. It generated numerous ideas and design concepts to simplify the onboarding experience for SubDivision Workflow. Prototypes and mock-ups were created, refined through feedback from stakeholders, faculty mentors, industry experts, and users. Each design iteration was evaluated against practicality, impact, and feasibility.
The culmination of this effort resulted in a simplified Subdivision Workspace and an Onboarding Guided Tour to enhance the learning experience of SubDivision for students and increasing adaptability.
Throughout the project, the importance of user research and empathy in design became evident, highlighting the value of collaboration and iterative design. The project's outcomes resonated with mentors and the Alias design team, emphasizing the role of research in refining design solutions. Several proposed concepts were incorporated into Alias 24.0, underlining the project's success and its impact on design.
