bp

Reimagining Energy Through Design.

Role

UX/UI Design Intern

Industry

Oil & Gas

Duration

12 Weeks

Overview

Worked w/ Digital Design team, committed to a sustainable future.

My project focused on research for the Helix site.

Helix is the internal platform for all digital design-related resources at bp.

It's VERY similar to the IBM design site.

Additionally, I was part of the Digital Science Interns’ group project, where we connected bp employees with biodiversity on campus.

The project aligned with bp's mission to be net-zero by 2050 or sooner.

Tools

Optimal Workshop, Figma, Mural, Visual Studio Code

Mentor

Timothy Gant

Overview

Worked w/ Digital Design team, committed to a sustainable future.

My project focused on research for the Helix site.

Helix is the internal platform for all digital design-related resources at bp.

It's VERY similar to the IBM design site.

Additionally, I was part of the Digital Science Interns’ group project, where we connected bp employees with biodiversity on campus.

The project aligned with bp's mission to be net-zero by 2050 or sooner.

Tools

Optimal Workshop, Figma, Mural, Visual Studio Code

Mentor

Timothy Gant

TL;DR

Conducted 10 unmoderated semi-structured user interviews with bp employees to understand their experience with the Helix site.
Gathered feedback from 40 global designers at bp by creating a tree test using Optimal Workshop, tested during a monthly global digital design meeting.
Presented research findings on the Helix navigation system to senior design leadership.

Background

Imagine walking into a vast library. You’re faced with an overwhelming maze of choices. You know there’s valuable information, but without clear directions, it feels like you’re wandering without purpose. 

My challenge was to understand why this was happening in the Helix navigation. Through research, I aimed to uncover what was behind this overwhelming experience.

Stage 1. UX interviews

I met with the lead designer of the Helix site to gain deeper insights into the necessity for a more effective navigation system.
Consulted bp's UX Research team on their interview methods and interview script writing.

After starting my first interview I noticed it was just short of ten minutes. I recorded my user interviews and requested feedback from the UX Research team on how I could dig deeper.

After learning how to ask better questions my interviews started hitting the 30 minute mark and I was able to gather really great insights.

I selected ten interviewees, two representatives from each of the five design disciplines: product design, design engineering, content design, UX research, and design operations.

The interviewees were from various office locations: Chicago, Houston, and London. 

Stage 1. UX interviews

I met with the lead designer of the Helix site to gain deeper insights into the necessity for a more effective navigation system.
Consulted bp's UX Research team on their interview methods and interview script writing.

After starting my first interview I noticed it was just short of ten minutes. I recorded my user interviews and requested feedback from the UX Research team on how I could dig deeper.

After learning how to ask better questions my interviews started hitting the 30 minute mark and I was able to gather really great insights.

I selected ten interviewees, two representatives from each of the five design disciplines: product design, design engineering, content design, UX research, and design operations.

The interviewees were from various office locations: Chicago, Houston, and London. 

Collage of all the technology we use at TDA

Inquired about:

employees' history w/ bp
software essential to their role
their frequency of use and familiarity with the Helix platform.
if they did not use the Helix site I inquired on why (no one did, even new hires)
gathered suggestions on what they would need to find Helix useful

Findings

After completing an affinity map in mural I found that:

New employees were unaware of Helix and preferred asking peers for specific resources, as it was quicker and more convenient.
Established employees found Helix unhelpful, describing the information as too "general" and preferring more team-specific resources.

Inquired about:

employees' history w/ bp
software essential to their role
their frequency of use and familiarity with the Helix platform.
if they did not use the Helix site I inquired on why (no one did, even new hires)
gathered suggestions on what they would need to find Helix useful

Findings

After completing an affinity map in mural I found that:

New employees were unaware of Helix and preferred asking peers for specific resources, as it was quicker and more convenient.
Established employees found Helix unhelpful, describing the information as too "general" and preferring more team-specific resources.

Group Intern Project

As digital science interns we were tasked with connecting bp employees with biodiversity on campus.

We decided to create an app called Biolens that allowed bp employees to photograph plants or animals on campus for identification.

Mission Statement: Creating awareness, educating and inspiring engagement of bp employees by utilizing bp digital resources to promote and sustain biodiversity.

My role

Conducted 5 semi-structured, unmoderated user interviews with bp employees about their awareness of and interactivity with biodiversity on campus, and their perspectives on an app that promotes this interaction.
Iterated designs for the BioLens app. Focusing on sustainable design through using features such as a darker background to save energy.
Collaborated with Senior Digital Science Associate Peter Lemke to create the "Foraging Tour," highlighting campus biodiversity that was previously unfamiliar to bp employees.
Produced foraging tour video for the BioLens project, showcasing the campus biodiversity.
Assisted in front-end development for the BioLens group project.
Led collaboration efforts among 20 Digital Science interns, facilitating team bonding, communication, and effective collaboration.

Group Intern Project

As digital science interns we were tasked with connecting bp employees with biodiversity on campus.

We decided to create an app called Biolens that allowed bp employees to photograph plants or animals on campus for identification.

Mission Statement: Creating awareness, educating and inspiring engagement of bp employees by utilizing bp digital resources to promote and sustain biodiversity.

My role

Conducted 5 semi-structured, unmoderated user interviews with bp employees about their awareness of and interactivity with biodiversity on campus, and their perspectives on an app that promotes this interaction.
Iterated designs for the BioLens app. Focusing on sustainable design through using features such as a darker background to save energy.
Collaborated with Senior Digital Science Associate Peter Lemke to create the "Foraging Tour," highlighting campus biodiversity that was previously unfamiliar to bp employees.
Produced foraging tour video for the BioLens project, showcasing the campus biodiversity.
Assisted in front-end development for the BioLens group project.
Led collaboration efforts among 20 Digital Science interns, facilitating team bonding, communication, and effective collaboration.

Foraging Tour

I was introduced to Senior Digital Science Associate Peter Lemke in the beginning of my internship. One afternoon in the midst of June, I ran into him and an associate in the main lobby. He showed us his recent discovery of silk worms building cocoons which then turned into an hour long foraging tour.

When it came time to ideate for our group project, I immediately thought back to the foraging tour. I pinged Lemke enthusiastically and we set it up.
The Foraging Tour was official!

The tour was perfect because it covered so much biodiversity on campus that was previously unfamiliar to bp employees.

We later decided to film a video on the foraging tour and I got to edit the 30 minute video on all the interesting things we can see on campus.

Foraging Tour

When it came time to ideate for our group project, I immediately thought back to the foraging tour. I pinged Lemke enthusiastically and we set it up.
The Foraging Tour was official!

The tour was perfect because it covered so much biodiversity on campus that was previously unfamiliar to bp employees.

We later decided to film a video on the foraging tour and I got to edit the 30 minute video on all the interesting things we can see on campus.

Reflections

My internship was truly a transformative learning journey, especially being my first hands-on experience in UI/UX design. I learned how to dig deep into users' needs.

Working alongside fellow interns to design an experience that connected people with biodiversity was both rewarding and challenging—it pushed me to think beyond the conventional applications of technology.

I left this experience with a deeper understanding of design, collaboration, and how powerful teamwork can drive innovation.

Reflections

My internship was truly a transformative learning journey, especially being my first hands-on experience in UI/UX design. I learned how to dig deep into users' needs.

I left this experience with a deeper understanding of design, collaboration, and how powerful teamwork can drive innovation.