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.
Files can be added from the sidebar...
...or from Quick Search
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.
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
Sharing a group
Permissions are propagated to all files in the group
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