IBM Cloud is Recognized at the 2018 Spark Design Awards
Two products from IBM Cloud are featured at this year’s Spark Awards for their outstanding achievement in UX design
The IBM Cloud design team is excited to cap off our year with another win for our products. We are proud to announce that IBM Immersive Data(previously IBM Immersive Insights) has been awarded the Spark Bronze Award for Digital Design, and IBM Cognos Analytics for Storytelling has been named as a finalist in the Spark Award Digital Design category. The Spark Awards are an international design competition with a mission to promote better living through better design. These awards accept thousands of submissions worldwide throughout the year.
We are so excited to be featured by the Spark Awards for the second year in a row. Honors and achievements like this allow us to display the importance of design in our products and how it can make a difference in all enterprise software.
IBM Immersive Data
IBM Immersive Data is a data exploration tool that uses AR technology to help users explore their data and communicate findings in new ways. The AR technology takes data visualizations to a new level, making data exploration a more multi-faceted, collaborative process. The AR software allows users to view their data in 3D through a headset, creating powerful visuals, and the opportunity to discover the full potential of their data in a way that 2D visuals may not allow. The AR technology allows for multiple users to use the tool at the same time, allowing for teams to communicate easier throughout the data exploration process.
This is one of the first projects that explore how to apply AR to data and enterprise use, as well as how to design for these uses. Designing for augmented reality is a unique challenge as this technology is in a young stage and is constantly evolving. The designers ventured into new territory as they had to create their own rules and guidelines for the design since was very little precedent for the type of work they were doing. This project displays the skill and talent the designers contributed in order to create an engaging user experience.
“Augmented Reality will open physical barriers and will transform the way we analyze information. We are empowering the user to visualize complex information in a simple way. “ — David Townsend, Design Director, IBM Analytics
IBM Cognos Analytics Storytelling
IBM Cognos Analytics is a data exploration and presentation tool powered by augmented intelligence that enhances the workflow and productivity of business users. The tool enables users to create compelling visualizations and make decisions with self-service analytics, and also offers the scalability of data governance that big businesses demand.
The Storytelling component within IBM Cognos Analytics gives users the tools to present their data in a narrative context. The Storytelling features include detailed visualizations, infographics, and animations that can be used to display the story behind the numbers. This is a key part of IBM Cognos Analytics as users are able to effectively communicate the big picture that the data contains, when this message often gets lost or misinterpreted by business stakeholders.
“On behalf of the Cognos Design team, we are truly humbled to have received the nomination and value this as a significant achievement in our quest in revolutionizing the BI market. “ — Cale Vardy, IBM Cognos Analytics Design Principal
Applications of Design
I’m thrilled to see these two products recognized for their achievements in design. These achievements display how much user experience has an impact on shaping the uses and potential of emerging technologies. AI and AR are both fast-evolving technologies and are constantly changing in how involved and impactful they can be in users’ lives. User experience design is relevant not only for established software products like IBM SPSS Statistics as they are updated and redesigned, but also for shaping uses of technology that are yet to be adopted and setting a new standard of software.
Award Winners:
IBM Immersive Data:
- Design Director: David Townsend
- Design Lead: Alfredo Ruiz
- Design Team: Ben Resnick, Jenna Goldberg, Christian Fritsche, Dimitri Hoffmann, Jan Hassel
IBM Cognos Analytics Storytelling features:
- Design Principal: Cale Vardy
- Design Lead: Yasmine Taha
Arin Bhowmick (@arinbhowmick) is Vice President, Design at IBM based in San Francisco, California. The above article is personal and does not necessarily represent IBM’s positions, strategies or opinions.
