Armin Amirazar
User Experience Researcher

Project Kuiper

Note: As some details and information might be under NDA, please reach out if you're interested in delving deeper or require further information.

 

PROJECT OVERVIEW

 

DURATION

Sep 2022 - Oct 2023

ROLE

UX Researcher and Designer

 

Synopsis

In a unique dual-role, I leverage my expertise in both UX research and design to lead the global evaluative research trajectory for Project Kuiper. My contributions include:

  • Orchestrating the global evaluative research roadmap to advance satellite internet solutions for consumers worldwide, with a focus on unserved and underserved rural communities.

  • Employing agile methodologies and fostering strong cross-functional partnerships.

  • Conducting in-depth user research on over 10 Kuiper app prototypes with more than 340 participants across 14 countries, which has been instrumental in refining Kuiper Flows and enhancing our strategic framework.

  • Pioneering Innovative Reporting: I have developed novel methodologies for communicating design and research insights to the senior leadership team.

 
 

Business Problem

  • Limited Access: Traditional broadband services were inaccessible to remote regions due to the prohibitive cost of laying down fiber-optic cables or the lack of cellular infrastructure.

  • Service Quality: Current internet offerings in remote locations suffer from slow speeds and reliability issues.

  • Market Competition: Kuiper enters a saturated market where intense competition from established providers presents significant barriers to entry.

  • Regulatory Hurdles: The company faced complex regulatory environments in different countries, complicating the deployment of its satellite network.

Solution

  • Advanced Satellite Technology: Kuiper developed an innovative satellite technology that could provide high-speed internet with low latency due to its LEO placement.

  • Scalable Ground Stations: The company constructed scalable ground stations that could easily integrate with the existing infrastructure, significantly reducing deployment time and costs.

  • Strategic Partnerships: To tackle the competitive market, Kuiper Internet formed strategic partnerships with local ISPs and governments to ensure a robust service offering and navigate regulatory frameworks.

  • Customer-Centric Approach: Focusing on customer service, Kuiper offered various service tiers to meet diverse customer needs, from individual households to enterprise solutions.

 

UX Research Methods Used

  • Usability Testing

  • Interviews

  • Card Sorting

  • Tree Testing

  • Competitive Analysis

  • User Journeys

  • Affinity Mapping

  • Heuristic Evaluations

  • Visual Storytelling

  • Storyboarding

Teams I worked heavily with

Internal Collaborations (within Kuiper):

  • Research

  • Design

  • Engineering

  • Product Management

  • Marketing

  • Legal

External Collaborations (within Amazon):

  • Subscription Customer Experience (SubCX)

  • Device Design Group (DDG)

 

Impacts Summary

  • Agile ways of working & strong partnership across functions 

  • Streamlined Different Flows

    • User research findings are being used to impact Business Requirement Documents (BRDs) and strategy docs

  • Enhanced Other Team framework

    • Our research findings influenced the redesign of the other team’s Framework at Amazon such as SubsCX

    • We have been credited by other team for simplifying the framework and more efficient for users

  • Sharing Country-Specific Insights

    • Communicated key findings specific to different countries with the Marketing team and fellow UX Researchers to foster generative research

  • Innovative Reporting

    • Developed new methodologies for presenting design and research findings to senior leadership

 

UserTesting to recruit participants, execute unmoderated/moderated usability test, customer interviews and card sort, analyze findings, and curate highlight clips

Figma to craft prototypes

InVision to share prototypes with participants

Want to see more on this case study?

As some details & information might be under a NDA, feel free to contact me to learn more.