Making people’s digital belongings easy to access and organize.

The problem

Bedrock's infinite two-dimensional canvas results in challenges in locating and organizing our users’ data.

Our solution

Hierarchically organizing files by source within a sidebar enables users to intuitively access files from any app and locate them on their canvas.

Contents

parameters

Context

BedrockOS is a speculative design study about reimagining the desktop operating system to enhance user productivity.

The differentiating feature is its environment: an infinite 2D surface, reminiscent of Figma. The Canvas merges two fundamental desktop computing interaction methods: windows and file browsers. 

Users’ entire collection of data (including cloud apps and local files) are spatially organized on their Canvas in relation to all their other data. These data can be opened in their native applications directly on the Canvas.

My role

Primary designer working with the design lead, Bedrock's founder/CEO, and other stakeholders to shape the user experience.

Time frame

2 weeks

Deliverable

Mockups and prototypes for building a minimum viable product

process

Marketing site scroll animation visualizing the collection of sources.

Brief

The proliferation of apps on the web has siloed data, burdening users with remembering which app has what data and introducing friction to accessing and sharing. 

BedrockOS solves this by enabling users to use and share files across apps and local drives.

Combining data from multiple sources presents challenges in managing and locating files. The Canvas adds an additional layer of complexity.

Discovery

Challenges and opportunities arose from discussions among design leaders at Upperstudy and the team at Bedrock since we were our target audience—high-powered knowledge workers.

Distilling pain points

We focused on fundamental interactions of an OS: organizing and using files

Silos

Users face challenges in organizing, sharing, and doing work with their digital content effectively since content is scattered across servers (cloud-based apps and cloud storage) and devices (local drives).

Sharing

Sharing data from different cloud-based apps can be cumbersome and have inconsistent behavior, like managing sharing access within the app.

Access

During a new user’s transition to Bedrock, not all of their data may be added to Bedrock. Summoning a file should be frictionless either way.

Goals and tasks

  • Add files to Bedrock

    Locate and add files to Bedrock

  • Use files

    Locate and use files on their Canvas

    Use files not in their Bedrock

    Use files of an app not natively integrated with Bedrock

  • Organize files in Bedrock

    Arrange files within their Canvas

    Share files

solutions

Sidebar

The sidebar provides quick access to locate, use, and organize files

Files are classified by their origin and whether it’s added to Bedrock.

Adding files to Bedrock

Locating files

We landed on two ways to add files to support both exploratory and known-item information-seeking modalities. 

Placing files

We wanted to give the flexibility to choose placement manually or place it in one tap, placing it in the nearest open space to avoid disturbing the existing organization.

Automatic placement

Using files

Files are summoned by centering it within the canvas view.

Files from apps that are not yet natively integrated with Bedrock can be added as a browser instance.

Sharing files

Rather than sharing individual files across apps, groups can be shared in one tap

Iteration

Exploratory limitations

Designing with an additive approach with the Canvas as the bedrock, the concept initially didn’t include a sidebar file tree.

We assumed that the Canvas was insufficient for accessing files using exploratory information-seeking behavior, and especially difficult for adding files to Bedrock.

Information architecture

The information architecture of the file directory also evolved from a two-level segmented control to a grouped list, to better surface all the apps.

Result

While real-world outcomes cannot be presented for this speculative project, the project was successful in exploring a new paradigm for computing. 

With the opportunity to do it again…

The solution was predicated on anecdotal experience, more user research should be conducted to identify and support a wider variety of use cases and workflows.

Reflection

Thinking about operating systems from a first principles perspective challenged me to consider how a computer could serve as a foundation for modern work.

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Banner graphic background image c/o Amir