Pall - Next Generation Process Filter (NGPF)
Increasing the amount media substrate within filter cartridges posed an opportunity to improve an already poor handle.
Mapping Workflows/Task-flows, Use & User Patterns, Interaction Points, and Areas of Opportunity within the entire product lifecycle, revealed where “Design” could impact and improve the overall product experience. - way more than the original request.
Petrochemical > Food & Beverage > Ultra-Pure semiconductor manufacturing
The creation of User Personas & Organizational Hierarchy - assisted the team members to putting a “personal face” to the product. These personas allowed focus to be centered on removal/installation/ and disposal tasks as the greatest opportunity for improvement.
traditionally sales/marketing efforts eyes were focused on the
Process Engineer/Alex role, the individual responsible for determining the qualifications/specifications. Research indicated the PE interaction with the product is minimal, often ordering by a numeric sequences, or product ID’s, never seeing, touching, or having an understanding of its physical attributes.
TaskFlow Sequence & Time on Task Analysis - detailed description of steps needed to perform a SUCCESSFUL filter change out proceedure. These studies allowed for further understanding of pre & post tasks that affect interaction points with the product. Packaging, MSDS data sheets, OOBE, QR code, & product labeling were area of improvement implemented drawn from this research.
3D Printed Prototypes
Testing Grip Strength, Applied Force, Push/Pull/Twist actions, and Transport scenarios with representative users under simulated conditions. Findings informed clear characteristics for success, resulting in V2 that improved grip security, reduced physical strain, and supported safer handling—while remaining fully compatible with existing manufacturing and assembly processes.
The final concept, incorporated Pall branding & Product ID capabilities, enabling product verification before removal, an added safety benefit
I applied human-centered design methods to improve a mission-critical filtration component used across diverse industriess.
My role focused on understanding & improving the full product lifecycle experience. I created user personas and organizational hierarchies to align cross-functional teams around real operator needs, and conducted time-on-task and task success analyses to better understand pre- and post-installation behaviors that influenced usability.
Based on these insights, I developed 3D concepts and printed prototypes, which were evaluated through usability and user preference testing with representative users under simulated conditions. Resulting in a redesigned handle that improved grip security, reduced physical strain, and supported safer handling—while remaining fully compatible with existing manufacturing and assembly processes.