Animated Insights / Smart Building Digital Twin App

Reimagining Building Management Through Smarter, More Human-Centred Design

TIMELINE / 8 months (Jun 2022 – Jan 2023)
RESPONSIBILITIES / Branding, Design Strategy, Visual Design
chrysler building in new york

The Background

Imagine managing an entire skyscraper, or hundreds of them, each filled with thousands of sensors tracking temperature, air quality, and energy use every second of the day. For building managers, this data should make life easier. But in reality, it often does the opposite.

Before this project began, the system used by many commercial property owners was overwhelming and fragmented. Each building had its own dashboard, data was buried under layers of menus, and small issues often went unnoticed until they became costly problems. It was powerful technology, but it didn’t feel intelligent to the people using it.

The Challenge

The goal was ambitious but clear: Reimagine how building data is seen, understood, and controlled.

We wanted to create something that didn’t just show information but told a story about the building, what was happening right now, where energy was being wasted, and how it could be fixed in real-time. Working with the UK development team and US-based stakeholders, we set out to design a smarter, more intuitive way to manage complex building portfolios. From the start, this wasn’t just a product redesign; it was a shift in mindset. Instead of asking users to adapt to the system, we wanted the system to adapt to them.

Reimagine how building data is seen, understood, and controlled.

My Role

As the Lead Product Designer, I:

  • Directed the end-to-end design strategy, from research and concept to delivery and iteration.
  • Partnered with global teams (UK developers and US stakeholders) to ensure solutions reflected real-world operational needs.
  • Defined the product vision and gained executive buy-in from the CEO and CTO.
  • Created and validated interactive prototypes, guiding design decisions through real user feedback.
  • Supported engineers during implementation to maintain design quality and intent.

My Approach

1. Understanding the Problem

We started by talking to the people who used the system every day, building managers and engineers. They told us how frustrating it was to find key data quickly or adjust building systems without digging through layers of dashboards. Their pain points became our blueprint for improvement.

2. Setting the Vision

I led cross-functional design sessions to align everyone, from executives to developers, on a shared product vision: Make the data work for people, not the other way around.We visualised how a truly smart building interface should feel: fast, focused, and empowering.

3. Designing a Smarter Experience

I redesigned the app to make complex data accessible and actionable through features like:

  • Real-time data widgets to show key building metrics at a glance.
  • A new tenant app for the Chrysler Building that allowed occupants to control their own AC systems, reducing service requests and improving comfort.
  • Batch editing tools that let building managers make changes across multiple floors in seconds.

I also led a full brand transformation from Pebble to AI:Twin, ensuring the entire app, from login screens to micro-animations, reflected the company’s new identity.

Real-time data widgets

Tenant App

Batch Editing Tools

Brand Transformation

Future-State Vision Design for App Evolution

4. Iterating and Building Confidence

Through weekly design reviews and working prototypes, I kept leadership and developers closely involved. This hands-on process helped us make faster decisions, align priorities, and avoid long feedback loops.

The Outcome

When the redesigned platform launched, it immediately made an impact:

  • Building managers gained deeper control and clearer insights across portfolios.
  • Energy waste was reduced, and response times to system issues improved.
  • Tenants had a better experience with real-time comfort controls.
  • The client renewed a major maintenance contract, citing the new interface as a key differentiator.

I guided the full redesign of a complex Smart Building management platform, transforming it into a clear, intuitive, and data-driven experience that empowered building owners to manage energy efficiency and operations effortlessly.

Afterthoughts

This project reminded me that design isn’t just about beautiful interfaces, it’s about clarity, empowerment, and trust. By transforming a technically complex system into something human and intuitive, we not only improved efficiency but also proved how design can drive business growth and customer satisfaction at scale.