Kara Lam Portfolio

Warehouse Automation Portal

The client wanted to modernize their legacy warehouse execution system into a scalable, intuitive platform that supported diverse warehouse environments, automation technologies, and user roles. The goal was to reduce complexity, improve real-time visibility, and enable a more productized, role-based experience.

Role:

Lead UX Designer

Industry:

Logistics

Tools Used:

Figma, Mural

The problem

What wasn't working?
The existing software was overly complex, non-intuitive, and relied heavily on custom development. Users reported issues with cluttered UIs, inconsistent terminology, limited real-time visibility, and a steep learning curve.

Who was affected?
Warehouse operators, admins, and managers across industries like e-commerce, logistics, and medical devices struggled with inefficiencies, frequent training needs, and poor visibility into operations.

Why was it important to solve?
The business needed to shift from a highly customized service model to a scalable product offering. The solution had to support next-gen warehouse technology (e.g., robotics, automation), improve operational efficiency, and remain competitive.

“[The current interface] can be cluttered and overwhelming due to numerous options… Simplicity and ease of use must be prioritized” – Patrick, Project Manager

“There is a need for better dashboards and real-time insights... [the current software] is not intuitive for new users.” – Kyle, Operations Lead

My process

Discovery & Research

Stakeholder workshops to define goals, fears, and metrics for success, resulting in a vision statement
8 user interviews across various roles (e.g., PMs, admins, trainers, operators)
Feature prioritization workshop to align scope with business goals
Review of legacy system to audit current pain points and critical functionality

Solution Vision Statement

"The [Warehouse Automation Portal] is a highly intuitive, modern and efficient Warehouse Execution System that adapts to diverse industry needs. Its user-centric interface prioritizes real-time data visibility and role-based customization to streamline workflows and provide actionable insights. The trusted system leverages thoughtful navigation patterns and context-sensitive help to reduce complexity and minimize training requirements, ultimately empowering its users to seamlessly manage warehouse operations."

Design & Prototyping

Created a modular design system supporting personalization without full customization
Developed high-fidelity mockups for critical tasks like order orchestration, inventory management, and alert triaging
Delivered an interactive prototype that reflected the 3 key user journeys from the existing personas: Commissioner, Operations Manager, & Administrator

Impact & lessons learned

What did I learn?
1. Deep stakeholder alignment up front reduces downstream design risk.
2. Role-based design is essential when dealing with complex enterprise systems.
3. Customization demands are often symptoms of missing core flexibility.

What would I do differently?
1. Involve more floor-level warehouse users earlier in prototyping.
2. Begin validation sooner with interactive prototypes to reduce midstream rework.

Key Takeaways
1. Productization efforts benefit from upfront UX strategy to avoid legacy pitfalls.
2. Cross-department buy-in (engineering, support, operations) is crucial for scalable UX design.

Impact Statement

Delivered an intuitive design system and interactive prototype that addressed key user journeys, significantly reducing the system’s learning curve and setting the foundation for scalable product development.

Warehouse Automation Portal

Warehouse Automation Portal

Warehouse Automation Portal

The problem

The problem

The problem

What wasn't working?
The existing software was overly complex, non-intuitive, and relied heavily on custom development. Users reported issues with cluttered UIs, inconsistent terminology, limited real-time visibility, and a steep learning curve.

What wasn't working?
The existing software was overly complex, non-intuitive, and relied heavily on custom development. Users reported issues with cluttered UIs, inconsistent terminology, limited real-time visibility, and a steep learning curve.

Who was affected?
Warehouse operators, admins, and managers across industries like e-commerce, logistics, and medical devices struggled with inefficiencies, frequent training needs, and poor visibility into operations.

Who was affected?
Warehouse operators, admins, and managers across industries like e-commerce, logistics, and medical devices struggled with inefficiencies, frequent training needs, and poor visibility into operations.

Why was it important to solve?
The business needed to shift from a highly customized service model to a scalable product offering. The solution had to support next-gen warehouse technology (e.g., robotics, automation), improve operational efficiency, and remain competitive.

Why was it important to solve?
The business needed to shift from a highly customized service model to a scalable product offering. The solution had to support next-gen warehouse technology (e.g., robotics, automation), improve operational efficiency, and remain competitive.

My process

My process