UX Internship at Newgen Software

Overview

The COVID-19 not only forced everyone to stay at home, but it also prevented many students and scholars from participating in experiential learning opportunities. After hundreds of applications, dozens of rejections, and one offer, I was able to secure an internship as a UX Design Intern at Newgen.

Interview

The internship began in December 2020 and lasted for three months (till March 2021). Following a brief introduction with the team and reporting manager, I was given a tour of the various tools available and how to operate with them.

I completed two major projects during the internship:

• Understanding the WCAG 3.0 Draft, comparing it to WCAG 2.2, its implementation, testing tools, and what usability practises are followed.
• Analyzing the usability of a web-based application and designing some U.I screens for it.

Mentors

• The UX Lead, who also functioned as my reporting manager.
• Software Design Engineer, who acted as my secondary mentor.

The Team

The team to which I was assigned was called “Genesis.”
It had around 20 individuals with a range of backgrounds, including Software Engineers, Analysts, and Information Technology Engineers, to name a few.

My Role

In the first project, I was responsible for conducting research on digital usability and accessibility, specifically the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 3.0, and presenting the results to the Design Team in order to help them understand usability and the guidelines that should be followed in a digital product to accommodate people with disabilities.

For my second project, I was charged with designing different-sized splash screens for Corrus, a company-wide job management tool.
In addition to the Screens, I completed a Usability Analysis of the app, outlining key concerns that a user could face.

1st Project: WCAG

Understanding WCAG: A Brief Overview

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are a set of standards developed to ensure that digital content is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. These guidelines are essential for creating inclusive digital experiences and are structured around four core principles:

1. Perceivable: Information and user interface components must be presented in ways that users can perceive. This includes providing text alternatives for non-text content and making content adaptable to different formats.
2. Operable: User interface components and navigation must be operable. This principle emphasizes the need for functionality to be accessible via different input methods and for users to have enough time to read and use content.
3. Understandable: Information and operation of user interfaces must be understandable. Content should be readable and predictable, with consistent navigation and clear instructions.
4. Robust: Content must be robust enough to work with current and future technologies. This involves ensuring compatibility with various user agents and assistive technologies.

Here is a visual journey of what is WCAG. [Link to be shared later]

Comparing WCAG 2.2 and WCAG 3.0

WCAG 2.2 (still in development) and WCAG 3.0 represent the evolution of accessibility standards, each with distinct focuses and improvements:

Scope and Structure:

• WCAG 2.2: Focuses on extending the existing guidelines (WCAG 2.1) with additional success criteria to address accessibility issues not fully covered. It remains aligned with the original structure of WCAG 2.x.
• WCAG 3.0: Represents a significant shift towards a more holistic and flexible approach. It aims to integrate a broader range of accessibility considerations and user needs beyond the scope of WCAG 2.x.

Success Criteria:

• WCAG 2.2: Introduces new success criteria, including improved guidelines for mobile accessibility, cognitive and learning disabilities, and visual accessibility.
• WCAG 3.0: Proposes a new approach with a more user-centered focus. It includes a broader set of guidelines that address emerging technologies and evolving user needs.

Guideline Organization:

• WCAG 2.2: Maintains the traditional guideline structure with a focus on specific criteria under each principle.
• WCAG 3.0: Aims to present guidelines in a more flexible format, potentially including broader, more general principles to accommodate diverse accessibility needs.

Making Your Product WCAG Compliant

1. Accessibility Audits: A thorough audit of the digital product is required against the relevant WCAG standards. This involves evaluating the website or application to identify areas of non-compliance and prioritizing improvements.

2. Implement Design Best Practices: Apply WCAG principles during the design phase. Ensure that the UI components are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust. This includes using high-contrast colors, providing text alternatives for images, and ensuring keyboard navigability.

3. Engage with Users: Involve users with disabilities in usability testing to gain real-world feedback on accessibility. This helps identify practical issues that may not be evident through automated tools alone.

4. Stay Updated: Accessibility standards are continuously evolving. Keep abreast of updates to WCAG and related guidelines to ensure ongoing compliance and to integrate the latest best practices into your design process.

5. Train Your Team: Educate the design and development teams about accessibility principles and the importance of adhering to WCAG guidelines. This fosters a culture of inclusivity and ensures that accessibility is a core consideration in all stages of product development.

UX, Cognitive Science, and UI Design Implications

1. Cognitive Load: Understanding cognitive science helps in designing user interfaces that reduce cognitive load. Simplifying navigation and presenting information clearly align with WCAG principles, making digital content more accessible and user-friendly.

2. User Experience (UX): A key aspect of UX design is ensuring that all users, regardless of their abilities, can interact with your product effectively. WCAG compliance ensures that your designs are inclusive and provide a seamless experience for everyone.

3. User Interface (UI) Design: UI design plays a crucial role in making digital content accessible. Incorporating WCAG guidelines into your UI design ensures that visual elements are clear and usable, enhancing overall accessibility and user satisfaction.

2nd Project: Corrus

Corrus is a comprehensive project and task management platform designed to facilitate collaboration and drive success for project and task teams. It allows users to define and manage processes, set objectives, and assign tasks, among other functionalities. By streamlining workflows and enhancing team coordination, Corrus aims to help teams achieve their goals efficiently and effectively.

My Role

Since the product was mostly developed, my role was to assist the design team by creating additional screens and interfaces. While I can’t share the actual designs due to NDA restrictions, here’s a general idea of the type of screens I worked on.

[Designs to be shared later]

Tools Used

Although the majority of the team primarily used Adobe XD, I chose to use Figma for my designs and presentation showcases.

Internship Experience

At Newgen, my internship offered a steep and exhilarating learning curve. Although the internship was virtual due to the pandemic, I rarely felt disconnected from the team and mentors. I was warmly welcomed, but I often felt undervalued due to limited involvement in daily calls and group discussions. Additionally, delayed responses from my reporting manager somewhat marred the experience.

On the positive side, the most significant takeaway was gaining hands-on experience in a B2B software environment. This experience highlighted the differences from B2C software companies, emphasizing the importance of thorough research before design, precision in the design process, and the need to cater to a broader target audience.

Conclusion

During the internship, I tested various tools and deepened my understanding of WCAG, usability, accessibility, and design improvements. This experience provided me with a clearer and more comprehensive view of design in an industry where functionality often takes precedence over form.