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End-to-end UX/UI design for Datatecnics, a Manchester-based startup focused on AI and data science innovation in the water utility sector. I led product design from initial greenfield concept, through MVP to commercial release.
Type
Enterprise B2B Saas
Role
Sole UX/UI Designer
Team
Developers, Data Scientists, Engineers, Company CEO
Aging, buried infrastructure makes it difficult for water networks to effectively manage their assets like critical mains, pipes and hydrants. With hundreds of thousands of assets in every network, traditional management tools lack the precision and scalability that modern utilities and regulators require.
Users
Strategic Asset Managers and Planners in water utilities
Problems
Fragmented tools requiring multiple platforms to complete a single task
Unintutive software and limited data visualisation, especially in geospatial contexts
Steep learning curves with slow, engineering and jargon-heavy legacy systems
Low trust in their own predictive maintenance models
Goals
Consolidate fragmented workflows in to one, standardised environment
Eliminate learning curve with an immediately-intuitve interface
Establish a visual language and scalable design system
Solution
A data visualisation and planning tool powered by AI insights
Easy search and interrogation of any asset in a network
High-confidence maintenance planning, assisted by agentic AI
Beginning with in-depth interviews and discovery sessions with stakeholders from one of the UK’s largest utilities, we established an understanding of network architecture, workflows and existing software, and identified 3 key user types: Strategic Planner, Leakage Analyst and Field Technician.
Based on discovery interviews and aligning with business requirements, core use cases were established, and the most important user stories were prioritised, providing a solid foundation to base initial wireframes and conceptual design work on.
Ran discovery workshops and interviews with stakeholders at the UK's largest utility.
Aligned user needs with business requirements.
Conducted competitor analysis of existing solutions.
Sketched wireframes during workshops to get immediate feedback and greater understanding.
Established user stories and flow diagrams, creating the foundation for all subsequent design work.
Tested prototypes at a second round of workshops, refining and validating user journeys.
Designed production-ready UI, collaborating closely with Developers throughout.
Created bespoke maps and zoom level specifications in Mapbox.
Matured the visual language in to a design system, meeting WCAG AA+ accessibility.
Scaled the platform in to a multi-tool ecoystem.
Beginning with in-depth interviews and discovery sessions with stakeholders from one of the UK’s largest utilities, we established an understanding of network architecture, workflows and existing software, and identified 3 key user types: Strategic Planner, Leakage Analyst and Field Technician.
Based on discovery interviews and aligning with business requirements, core use cases were established, and the most important user stories were prioritised, providing a solid foundation to base initial wireframes and conceptual design work on.
Selected elements, reflecting foundational work across typography, interaction, and visual styling, underpinned by design tokens to ensure consistency and enable rapid iteration across both design and development. It also supports easy white labelling, allowing seamless adaptation to client brand colours.
Beginning with in-depth interviews and discovery sessions with stakeholders from one of the UK’s largest utilities, we established an understanding of network architecture, workflows and existing software, and identified 3 key user types: Strategic Planner, Leakage Analyst and Field Technician.
Based on discovery interviews and aligning with business requirements, core use cases were established, and the most important user stories were prioritised, providing a solid foundation to base initial wireframes and conceptual design work on.
I worked with multiple short-term contracted Developers throughout the project. To ensure consistency and momentum, I developed strong working relationships with them, and made sure UI hand-off was well documented and supported by high-fidelty prototypes.
There was no formal Product Manager within the business, so I assumed many of those duties, including roadmap definition and sprint planning.
Outside of this project, I juggled other design-based requirements in what was an early stage startup, planning and managing my time effectively to mitigate regular context-switching.
Beginning with in-depth interviews and discovery sessions with stakeholders from one of the UK’s largest utilities, we established an understanding of network architecture, workflows and existing software, and identified 3 key user types: Strategic Planner, Leakage Analyst and Field Technician.
Based on discovery interviews and aligning with business requirements, core use cases were established, and the most important user stories were prioritised, providing a solid foundation to base initial wireframes and conceptual design work on.
The tool was successfully piloted and onboarded in to 3 UK utilities, generating revenue that enabled Datatecnics to scale a multi-tool platform.
The platform was licensed by four major water networks across the UK and Spain, demonstrating both user value and commercial success.
Beginning with in-depth interviews and discovery sessions with stakeholders from one of the UK’s largest utilities, we established an understanding of network architecture, workflows and existing software, and identified 3 key user types: Strategic Planner, Leakage Analyst and Field Technician.
Based on discovery interviews and aligning with business requirements, core use cases were established, and the most important user stories were prioritised, providing a solid foundation to base initial wireframes and conceptual design work on.
