OCTOLUX
A Unified HMI Platform for Industrial Control
A scalable HMI platform engineered through UX strategy, system design, interface development, and coordinated cross-team execution.
Duration
12 Months
Role
Product UX Designer
User Research, System Definition
Tools
Figma
Photoshop
Qt
Crank
HTML
The Challenge
Overview & Problem
Octolux is a universal industrial HMI testing platform developed at NTX Embedded to accelerate early-stage machine testing. The system combines an embedded touchscreen HMI for diagnostics with a PC-based logic builder.
The Problem
Early-stage testing for industrial machines was slow, manual, and inconsistent. Engineers lacked a reliable, reusable HMI to begin testing immediately. Testing relied on manual wiring, ad-hoc screens, or external tools with no automatic logging or standardized diagnostics.
Misalignment between UI behavior and control-board logic caused delays.
Unclear test results often prolonged custom board development.
Project Goals
Design a universal, easy-to-use HMI testing system that allows engineers to begin testing immediately without custom UI development.
Efficiency
Reduce time-to-test and time-to-decision for both off-the-shelf and custom board offerings.
Reusability
Reuse the same platform across different machine types by configuring logic without code.
Target Users
Control Engineers
Validate hardware, logic, and I/O behavior during early development.
QA Technicians
Run repeatable test cycles and verify system behavior before deployment.
Maintenance Techs
Perform diagnostics and troubleshooting in the field.
Stakeholders
Evaluate system readiness and performance during demos.
Discovery
Research & Analysis
Key Insights
Existing HMIs focus on final deployment, not testing. Testing often requires PCs or programming knowledge. We conducted interviews with electrical, software, and mechanical engineers to understand their pain points.
Preference for Linear Workflows
Engineers wanted clear, step-by-step processes rather than complex navigation.
Logic vs. Flexibility
Electrical engineers focused on signal flow; software engineers prioritized file compatibility.
Synthesis: Four Core Needs
01
Fast setup with minimal dependencies
02
Visual, no-code logic configuration
03
Real-time sensor & status visibility
04
Built-in safeguards & clear states
Architecture
Key Design Decision: Split the System
1. PC Logic Builder
Used to visually create machine logic
Exports logic as a structured JSON file
Eliminates the need for custom code
2. Embedded HMI Interface
Reads uploaded logic and renders UI
Displays sensors, controls, diagnostics
Optimized for limited memory & screen
Process & Testing
We defined user flows in Miro and Figma, designed a modular layout system, and built early prototypes in Crank before transitioning to Qt. In early usability testing, I conducted a low-fidelity exercise where engineers physically arranged printed UI screens.
"This revealed significant differences in how roles conceptualized logic flow, directly validating the decision to separate the PC logic tool from the HMI interface."
System Design
Visual Language & Final Solution
Plug-and-Play Experience
Octolux delivers a seamless testing experience. Engineers configure logic visually, export it as JSON, and the HMI renders a dynamic testing interface with live sensor data and fault states.
Visual Design Principles
Dark theme with high contrast for industrial visibility
Clear typography for fast scanning
Color used intentionally for state, not decoration
Results
Impact & Key Learnings
Immediate
Testing upon hardware arrival
Reduced
Setup time & engineering dependency
Scalable
Single platform for multiple machines
Key Learnings
01
Designing for engineers requires aligning with logic-first mental models.
02
Simplicity in industrial UI is the result of deliberate system constraints.
03
Early architectural decisions determine long-term scalability.
04
Clear state feedback and safety mechanisms are non-negotiable.
Designed by Dornaz Niknezhad — Interaction Design
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