dan rotondo

dan rotondo

dan rotondo

Nexus Dashboard Sustainability

UX/UI

Sustainability Design

SaaS

UX/UI

Sustainability Design

SaaS

UX/UI

Sustainability Design

SaaS

Overview

Digital carbon footprints are skyrocketing, with data centers and internet traffic contributing significantly to global emissions. Our customers, facing increasingly stringent regulations and growing pressure to address their environmental impact, lacked crucial tools within our solutions to properly understand and manage their data’s footprint.

Goal

To empower Cisco customers with visibility into their environmental impact, providing actionable recommendations for reducing their carbon footprint

Role

Product Design Lead

Key Stakeholders

Product Design team, UI Design team, Product Managers, UI/UX Leadership

Background

Data centers and internet infrastructure contribute significantly to global carbon emissions. As regulatory pressures and consumer awareness of environmental impact increase, Cisco customers needed tools to measure and manage their sustainability performance. Inspired by a team member's presentation on sustainable design, I proposed incorporating sustainability features into our upcoming project. The idea resonated with leadership, leading to a dedicated initiative.

Process

Understandig the need

To understand customer needs and expectations, we conducted multiple user research studies, including one at Cisco's premier customer and partner event, Cisco Live. The reasearch we did included: - In-depth interviews with customers from various industries and sizes. - Usability testing to evaluate the effectiveness of potential design concepts. - Surveys to gather quantitative data on customer preferences and priorities. Through this research, we identified key pain points and preferences related to sustainability, such as: - A desire for transparency and accountability in environmental impact. - A need for actionable recommendations to reduce carbon emissions. - A preference for easy-to-understand visualizations and data.

Outcomes

Making the idea a reality

Based on our findings, we designed a sustainability analysis feature that provides users with: Real-time carbon footprint data calculated using a third-party data source integrated into Cisco's products. This data is presented in a clear and intuitive format, allowing users to easily understand their environmental impact. Personalized recommendations tailored to individual usage patterns and environmental goals. These recommendations offer actionable steps that users can take to reduce their carbon footprint, such as optimizing network configurations, upgrading to energy-efficient hardware, or adopting renewable energy sources. Interactive visualizations that help users visualize their carbon emissions over time. These visualizations include charts, graphs, and maps, making it easy to identify trends and track progress toward sustainability goals. A comparison feature that allows users to benchmark their performance against industry standards and peers. This feature provides valuable insights into best practices and helps users identify areas for improvement. In addition to feature development, I collaborated with Cisco's Sustainability Legal team to ensure compliance with regulations and provide accurate legal disclaimers.

Expanded impact

The successful development and implementation of the sustainability feature required strong collaboration and alignment across various teams within Cisco. I worked closely with engineers, designers, marketers, and legal experts to ensure that the feature met both technical and business requirements while adhering to industry standards and regulations. I also contributed to the development of Cisco's Product Development Methodologies (CPDM) for sustainability UX. By incorporating sustainability into the design process from the outset, I ensured that all future products would be developed with environmental impact in mind, further strengthening the company's commitment to sustainability.

Key Learnings

This project demonstrates the transformative power of UX design in addressing pressing environmental challenges. Design can go beyond aesthetics to create meaningful solutions that drive positive change. By working collaboratively with diverse teams, we were able to leverage our collective strengths and overcome challenges. Sustainability is an ongoing journey, and this project serves as a foundation for future innovations. By continuously refining our approach and adapting to evolving needs, we can continue to make a significant impact.