Opportunity

At Autodesk, product teams had long built their own bespoke installers—including advanced customization features—to meet their unique needs. Once the basic installer systems were standardized, the next challenge was clear: create a unified tool to handle all the advanced functionality. The goal was to develop a standardized editor that consolidated diverse customization requirements, empowering enterprise administrators to manage complex installations with precision and ease.

Process & Key Findings

I began by gathering requirements from across all product teams and conducting a thorough UX audit to understand the nuances of each installer’s advanced features. This deep dive revealed several key insights:

• Diverse Customization Needs: Each product’s installer had unique, sophisticated customization options that were critical to administrators.
• Fragmented Systems: The previous approach was disjointed—multiple bespoke systems led to inefficiencies and inconsistency.
• Enterprise Demands: Administrators required a robust, unified tool capable of handling complex configurations while maintaining flexibility and control.

Design & Execution

Guided by these insights, I set out to design a standardized editor tailored for heavy customization:

• Unified Editor: I synthesized the varied requirements into a single, cohesive interface that handled all advanced customization tasks.
• User-Centric Interface: The design emphasized clarity and control, enabling administrators to execute complex configurations intuitively.
• Iterative Approach: Rapid prototyping and ongoing stakeholder feedback ensured the tool was both practical and aligned with real-world needs.

Key Deliverables

• Advanced Customization Editor: A comprehensive tool that consolidated advanced functionalities into one interface, streamlining the configuration process.
• High-Fidelity Prototypes & Interactive Demos: Detailed prototypes that allowed stakeholders to validate the new workflow before full implementation.
• Standardized Configuration Framework: A unified system that brought consistency across all product installers, reducing the need for separate, custom-built solutions.

Outcomes

The launch of the Advanced Customization Editor marked a pivotal shift in Autodesk’s installation process:

• Enhanced Efficiency: Administrators could now manage intricate customization tasks more efficiently, reducing overall complexity.
• Unified Experience: The standardized editor fostered consistency across product teams, simplifying maintenance and future enhancements.
• Empowered Administrators: With a robust tool at their disposal, enterprise customers were better equipped to manage advanced configurations, setting the stage for scalable, future-ready installations.