Annotation Tools:
Improved Canvas Feedback for Artists and Non-Artists

Summary

SyncSketch’s powerful annotation tools lacked accessibility and flexibility, frustrating non-artist and artist users. By introducing new tools and improving usability and device compatibility, we addressed key pain points and enhanced the user experience. First user interviews confirmed reduced annotation time and increased satisfaction after the MVP’s closed beta testing.

My Role

Design Lead • Market Research • User Research • Problem Definition • Assumption Mapping • User Flows • Clickable Prototypes • MVP Prioritization • Stakeholder Management • High fidelity UI • User Testing • Design Iterations

Team

Collaborated with Engineering, Product, Customer Success, and Marketing teams to define and implement MVP and long-term solutions.

Annotation Tools:
Improved Canvas Feedback for Artists and Non-Artists

Summary

SyncSketch’s powerful annotation tools lacked accessibility and flexibility, frustrating non-artist and artist users. By introducing new tools and improving usability and device compatibility, we addressed key pain points and enhanced the user experience. First user interviews confirmed reduced annotation time and increased satisfaction after the MVP’s closed beta testing.

My Role

Design Lead • Market Research • User Research • Problem Definition • Assumption Mapping • User Flows • Clickable Prototypes • MVP Prioritization • Stakeholder Management • High fidelity UI • User Testing • Design Iterations

Team

Collaborated with Engineering, Product, Customer Success, and Marketing teams to define and implement MVP and long-term solutions.

Annotation Tools:
Improved Canvas Feedback for Artists and Non-Artists

Summary

SyncSketch’s powerful annotation tools lacked accessibility and flexibility, frustrating non-artist and artist users. By introducing new tools and improving usability and device compatibility, we addressed key pain points and enhanced the user experience. First user interviews confirmed reduced annotation time and increased satisfaction after the MVP’s closed beta testing.

My Role

Design Lead • Market Research • User Research • Problem Definition • Assumption Mapping • User Flows • Clickable Prototypes • MVP Prioritization • Stakeholder Management • High fidelity UI • User Testing • Design Iterations

Team

Collaborated with Engineering, Product, Customer Success, and Marketing teams to define and implement MVP and long-term solutions.

Annotation Tools:
Improved Canvas Feedback for Artists and Non-Artists

Summary

SyncSketch’s powerful annotation tools lacked accessibility and flexibility, frustrating non-artist and artist users. By introducing new tools and improving usability and device compatibility, we addressed key pain points and enhanced the user experience. First user interviews confirmed reduced annotation time and increased satisfaction after the MVP’s closed beta testing.

My Role

Design Lead • Market Research • User Research • Problem Definition • Assumption Mapping • User Flows • Clickable Prototypes • MVP Prioritization • Stakeholder Management • High fidelity UI • User Testing • Design Iterations

Team

Collaborated with Engineering, Product, Customer Success, and Marketing teams to define and implement MVP and long-term solutions.

Background

SyncSketch is a remote collaboration platform for visual effects, animation, and gaming professionals. The platform allows users to upload media work and receive real-time feedback through text comments (Notes) and sketches (Annotations).

Background

SyncSketch is a remote collaboration platform for visual effects, animation, and gaming professionals. The platform allows users to upload media work and receive real-time feedback through text comments (Notes) and sketches (Annotations).

Background

SyncSketch is a remote collaboration platform for visual effects, animation, and gaming professionals. The platform allows users to upload media work and receive real-time feedback through text comments (Notes) and sketches (Annotations).

Background

SyncSketch is a remote collaboration platform for visual effects, animation, and gaming professionals. The platform allows users to upload media work and receive real-time feedback through text comments (Notes) and sketches (Annotations).

Rich Annotations

Use powerful brush engine to add detailed and frame-accurate feedback to your media.

Synchronous Presentation

Review media offline or in real-time with your team.

3D Model Reviews

Review static or animated 3D assets directly within SyncSketch.

Rich Annotations

Use powerful brush engine to add detailed and frame-accurate feedback to your media.

Synchronous Presentation

Review media offline or in real-time with your team.

3D Model Reviews

Review static or animated 3D assets directly within SyncSketch.

Rich Annotations

Use powerful brush engine to add detailed and frame-accurate feedback to your media.

Synchronous Presentation

Review media offline or in real-time with your team.

3D Model Reviews

Review static or animated 3D assets directly within SyncSketch.

Rich Annotations

Use powerful brush engine to add detailed and frame-accurate feedback to your media.

Synchronous Presentation

Review media offline or in real-time with your team.

3D Model Reviews

Review static or animated 3D assets directly within SyncSketch.

Historically, annotation tools were powerful but inflexible, focused primarily on animators and artists. With growth of product and remote collaboration after COVID-19, we started getting frustrated …

Historically, annotation tools were powerful but inflexible, focused primarily on animators and artists. With growth of product and remote collaboration after COVID-19, we started getting frustrated …

Discovery

Discovery

I initiated and ran research in close partnership with the PM. I led activities around mapping and auditing the current experience, gathering metrics and stories about the challenges our users faced, and developing a hypothesis for what to focus on.

I initiated and ran research in close partnership with the PM. I led activities around mapping and auditing the current experience, gathering metrics and stories about the challenges our users faced, and developing a hypothesis for what to focus on.

Problem definitions

Non-artist users: such as production managers, lack basic tools like text and arrows, leading to unreadable feedback and frustration.

User: Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s

Artist users: find the Advanced Brushes Settings Modal obstructive, slowing down their feedback process.

User: Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s

All users: experience frustration with a fixed annotation toolbar that does not accommodate personal workflow preferences or accessibility needs. Additionally, the platform struggles with mobile compatibility.

Business: Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s

Business problem 1: The current annotation tools do not align with SyncSketch’s vision to simplify creative workflows, causing user frustration and potential loss to competitors.

Business problem 2: The annotation experience does not fully address the needs of non-artist users, resulting in lower adoption rates and reduced market competitiveness.

Hypothesis

Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s

Hypothesis

Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s

Hypothesis

Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s

Hypothesis

Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s

Goal

Goal 1: Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s

Goal

Goal 1: Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s

Goal

Goal 1: Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s

Goal

Goal 1: Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s

IMPACT

Additional Tools: Introduced Text tool, Shape tool, and Selector/Mouse pointer tool.

Additional Tools: Introduced Text tool, Shape tool, and Selector/Mouse pointer tool.

Additional Tools: Introduced Text tool, Shape tool, and Selector/Mouse pointer tool.

2023 — Polina Ziemlinska

2023 — Polina Ziemlinska

2023 — Polina Ziemlinska