Wenzhu Zou is an experienced user experience designer with over 5 years of experience in roles focusing on interaction design, visual design, and prototyping for desktop, web, and mobile applications. She has worked on projects for clients such as Altran, Philips, and TP Vision. Her background includes a Professional Doctorate in Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology and fluency in English, Chinese, and Dutch.
1. Wenzhu Zou User Experience Designer
jewelzou@hotmail.com
0031 645 119 285
www.wenzhuzou.com
Driving License: Dutch, class B
Nationality: Dutch
OBJECTIVE
An experienced and results-driven UX Designer. My passion lies in creating successful products and positive user
experience with my Human-Computer Interaction expertise and design skills.
EXPERIENCE
User Experience Designer at Altran, NL
High-Level Interaction Design
• Performed user research activities to help clients understand the industrial
trends and market’s needs;
• Gathered user insights and interpreted them into high-level interaction design
which is represented mainly through Axure prototype and validated via user
test;
• Created the sample visual design to present a direction for the future visual
style.
Desktop/Mobile/Web Application Design
• Acquired the client’s requirements and interpreted to initial design through
sketches;
• Came up the optimized workflow and presented the interaction design via
wireframe;
• Created visual designs which reflected the client’s branding style;
• Supported development team to implement the application in HTML & CSS or
XML according to the project requirement.
To know details of projects, please see the portfolio http://wenzhuzou.com/portfolio
User Experience Researcher at Philips Research, NL
• Successfully led and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams around Europe
to design and develop high-tech Philips kitchen appliances in Consumer
Lifestyle field.
• Designed Smart Kitchen Assistant web application by performing User-
Centered Design process from sketching, prototyping to usability testing
validating its usability.
Usability Engineer in FEI Electron Microscopy Company, NL
• Specialized in improving the usability of the electron microscopes’ user
interface and defining the design guidelines for the subsequent project.
• Performed User-Centered Design methods to the overall iterative processes,
designed the new features of UI and validated the design through usability
testing.
Persona & scenarios
Questionnaires/survey
A/B Testing
Usability testing
Contextual inquiry
Focus groups
Prototyping
HTML5 & CSS
English (fluent)
Chinese (native)
Dutch (competent)
Photoshop Illustrator
Dreamweaver InDesign
Premiere Axure
Technical skills
Languages
Tools
04/2013--Current02/2011--04/201201/2010--09/2010
2. UI Designer in Helantong website, NL
• In charge of designing work of Helantong website (the predecessor of outpie.
com) at its preliminary phase, including site branding, creation of illustrations and
animations and defining style guides;
• Together with the developers built the website in HTML&CSS.
EDUCATION
Professional Doctorate in Engineering of User-System Interaction (USI)
Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
• Publication: W. Zou, T. Scherini, P.Melo, T. van Craenendonck, M. Kaptein,
Enhancing the Sleeping Quality of Partners Living Apart, DIS10 Designing
Interactive Systems 2010, Arhus, Denmark, August 2010.
• Awards: the Computer graphic work “Underwater City” obtained the silver award
of “Eindhoven in the Eyes 2010” Chinese Design Competion in the Netherlands,
2010
Master of Science in Computer Engineering
Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
• Publication: W. Zou, M. Janic, R. Kooij, F. Kuipers, On the availability of networks,
In Proc. of the Broadband Europe 2007 Conference, Antwerp, Belgium, 3-6
December 2007
• Academic Honor: Philips Scholarship
Bachelor of Science
Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China
01/2008--10/200810/2008--10/201009/2005--07/20072001--2005
Strong work ethic
Problem solving
Time management
Communication skills
Stakeholder management
Teamwork
Photography
Graphic design
Video editing
Diving (PADI certificate)
Fashion craftsmanship
Cosplay
Soft skills
Hobbies
3. About Me
• A highly motivated and result-driven UX Designer
with more than 5 years’ experience in a user experience
design role - working with desktop, web and mobile
applications and new product feature design;
• Fluent knowledge of User-CenteredDesign methods
and creation of innovative conceptual designs;
• Experienced with performing concept prototyping
and user test;
• Proficiency with Axure to generate low/hi-fidelity
wireframes and prototypes;
• Intimate knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator
and Dreamweaver to produce design visuals;
• Strong understanding of current web technologies
such as HTML and CSS;
• Effectively work in a multidisciplinary team.
• My ambition is to contribute my expertise to create
successful products and positive user experiences.
Eidos Energy Monitor App
Mobile application
HMI UI Specification
Product new feature design
Philips Design
prototyping and visual design
New Generation VACAM Software
Product new feature design
Digital Pathology IMS Adaptation
Product new feature design
Cloud Explorer TV App
Web application
Beedroid Android App
Mobile application
Smart Kitchen
Research & Mobile application
Electron Microscope UI Harmonization
Product new feature design
Commercial Website Design
Visual Designs and Others
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Content
4. 1
Altran Manatree department is studying the technique of
IoT (Internet of Things). With help of the Big Data platform
it is able to acquire the energy consumption data of the
devices which connect to the power socket, and analyze
the information behind data. Altran Manatree wants to
resubmit the result of data analysis to consumers in
order to make consumers be more aware the energy
consumption at home. There is need of the desirable UX to
design the interface between consumer and the back-end
data analysis.
As a UX designer, I designed the Eidos app workflow,
created the tangible prototype to validate the concept
and interaction design. Two rounds of user test, involved
12 participants, were performed. The Eidos app is been
improving according to the feedbacks of participants.
I closely worked together with front-end developers and
communicated the feasibility of realizing the app design.
Besides, in order to ensure the app’s quality, I created the
UI xml file in Android stuidio and provided it to developers,
as well as provided the visual design which reflects Material
Design and Altran style.
Altran 2/2016 - current
Eidos Energy Monitor App
Introduction
Eidos Android app displays energy consumption
information of home appliances to consumers. It aims
to enhance people’s awareness of energy consumption,
and even provide advice on how to save energy.
5. 2
To understand the pump domain knowledge, I studied the
available documents and consulted the pump specialists.
Based on my understanding, I built the tangible wireframe
in Axure which reflects the relations of pump work models
and parameter sets. It also visualizes the representative
workflows. The wireframe initiates the HMI structure
design. It is helpful for investigating the behaviors of UI
elements in the workflow context. The structured UI toolkit
is created for describing concrete screens .
As input for this specification document was spread
around several documents with different formats and
terminology, one of my tasks is to integrate information
from multiple available documents and from peoples heads
to one single HMI Specification Document. I organized
and rephrased them to the UI specification which both
developers and pump specialists can understand and use.
As required by Wilo, I composed the UI specification as the
standard format software requirements in Polarion—the
requirement management system.
As the client locates in Dortmund, travelling every day is
not feasible. So we choose to mostly remotely work and
keep weekly status meeting. I keep the client in the loop
and update the work progress regularly. To make sure the
efficiency of the weekly meeting, I proposed the meeting
agenda in advance . For the urgent discussion, Telco is
the first choice. To track work progress, the to-do list is
created based on the meeting notes. High priority issues
are agreed upon the development plan and addressed first.
The HMI enters the development phases. The UI
specification document is used by developers and pump
specialists to build the UI.
Wilo 12/2014 - 12/2015
HMI UI SPECIFICATION
Introduction
Wilo, the manufacturer of pumps and pumping
systems, is developing a new generation pump which is
equipped with a modern graphical UI --HMI. The basic
user interface concept and related user interaction
principles has been worked out. Wilo needs a concrete
detailed specification for the software development
team to build the HMI. It should be able to not only
specify the graphic user interface but also describe
the pump workflow considering the pump internal
parameters.
Example of the UI toolkit
6. 3
MRI Implant Setup Prototyping
The MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) group of Philips
Healthcare is investigating the new workflow and UI
in order to improve safety and efficiency of using MRI
device. Implant is one of the factors which influence the
diagnostic decision during MRI scanning. In the current
procedure implant is not in the parameter input list. Due
to its complexity, operators take implant into account in
the additional step. Now the Philips MRI group intends to
introduce implant in the regular parameter input flow. The
interaction and the workflow need to be designed.
As an Interaction Designer, I built the MRI UI prototype which
shall include the implant module. In order to understand
the domain knowledge of MRI and the MRI equipment,
I worked closely together with the MRI researchers and
specialists. I helped the MRI researchers and specialists
put the high-level concept to the practical questions. The
tangible prototype triggered more thoughts and ideas. With
the help of the MRI UI prototype, the MRI group performed
user test successfully and addressed the issues which they
came up with during design.
Introduction
Philips Design had demand in the interaction design and
visual design. I helped Philips Design with my expertise
on the following two projects.
10/2014 - 11/2014
Philips Design
Proof of Concetp: Caregiver Portal Mobile App
Philips designed and built the elderly caregiver web portal.
They would like to further develop the portal on the mobile
device. I helped them verify the idea of the mobile version
and demonstrate the feasibility. I created the quick mobile
prototype, and validated the workflow. The example of the
concrete screen design used the latest style guide.
UX Methodes
• Visual Design
• Prototyping
• Usability Testing
7. 4
Introduction
Voortman would like to significantly improve the UX of
the new generation VACAM 4.0 control software. The
current software is an Outlook style, Windows Forms,
menu & mouse based application. The new generation
VACAM is required to be tailored to the multi-touch
screen and include Mobile Solutions applications on
tablets and smartphones. They need user experience
designers to help them analyze the workflow and
users’ needs, and define the problem and scope for
the next phase and the roadmap of the new generation
VACAM.
My role in this project focused on the interaction design
and software visual design. Together with another
Nspyre UX designer, we came up the solution of the new
generation VACAM 4.0 based on the earlier user research
and the business driver.
VACAM 4.0 is an entirely new software. It targets to the
product line in the future 5 years. The change is not only on
the software UI but also the manufacturing workflow. On
the UI part as the current VACAM still uses the Windows
Forms, menu & mouse based application. It does not take
full advantage of the touchscreen.
We introduced the new interaction style tailored to the
multi-touch screen. I realized the new VACAM concept in
Voortman 04/2014 - 05/2014
New Generation VACAM Software
the Axure prototype so that we accurately demoed our
idea to the client and the development team and quickly
obtained their feedback.
In order to provide the concrete visuals of the concept to
the client, I visualized the dashboard screen and one of the
important control screen in Photoshop and Illustrator. The
visual design is appreciated by the client.
The roadmap which we created for the next generation
VACAM got the confirmation from the client. The next step
is the interaction design and visual design for the overall
new generation VACAM and software implement. The
subsequent cooperation is under discussion.
UX methods: Sketches Visual design in Photoshop & IllustratorInteraction Design--Axure prototype
8. 5
Introduction
Philips Digital Pathology wants to open up the new
market for its image management product. Insights
in user needs in the new market is needed on short
term as input for adapting the image management
product. (New) features will be added to the image
management product/be modified tailored to the new
market’s needs.
My role in this project focused
on the interaction design.
Together with the stakeholders
and another Nspyre UX
designer, we aggregated the
customers’ requirements and
problems from possible customers in EU and US. By
using the contextual inquiry method, we interpreted the
aggregated information into flow model, sequence model,
artifact model and physical diagram in order to understand
the work of pathologists and the needs of new market.
The task in the new market requires the IMS to be able to
handle a large amount of high resolution scanned slides.
The way of organizing slides is different from the current
market. Based on the analysis we drew the initial new IMS.
To validate the design concepts with stakeholders and
clients, I created the low-fi wireframes which reflect the
new features of the new IMS. It is a quick and efficient
way of showing our ideas to the clients and getting their
feedback. When the concepts were gradually concreated
afterseveralroundsofvalidations,Irecreatedthewireframes
into the hi-fi prototype in Axure together with the specific
scenarios. The prototype shows more comprehensive
interaction design and realistic visual effect.
Our work is appreciated by Philips Digital Pathology. The
deliverables from Nspyre, including both the hi-fi prototype
and the user requirements document, paved the way for
the development phase of the new IMS.
Philips Digital Pathology 11/2013 - 02/2014
Digital Pathology IMS Adaptation
UX Methodes
• Desk Research
• Prototyping
• Contexual Inquiry
Sketch the new IMS
Lo-fi wireframe
Hi-fi Axure prototype
9. 6
Introduction
The Cloud Explorer app is a cloud-based services
application running on the Smart TV platform. TP
Vision would like to use Cloud Explorer to expand their
Philips Smart TV platform. The Cloud Explorer app is
designed and implemented undertaken by Nspyre in
cooperation with TP Vision.
My responsibilities were on
designing the interactions and
the final look-and-feel of Cloud
Explorer. To cope with the high
speed development, the Agile
approach was selected. The
iterative design process was applied to ensure design
quality.
I worked closely with the product owner to create the
logical workflow. The interactive prototypes were made
to allow for testing aspects such as functionality or design
without connection to actual software. My visual designs
reflected the TP Vision design guideline. A design
document was created to help the development team
understand the UI specification during building the final
product. Besides, I supported the development team to
build up Cloud Explorer in HTML and CSS on the Android
platform, accurately transferring the designs to safe guard
the correct implementation by the development team.
The project was completed in short 2 months. The Cloud
Explorer app was announced by Maarten de Vries (CEO of
TP Vision) at IFA 2013 in Berlin, the world’s leading trade
show for consumer electronics and home appliances.
IFA Video: http://www.ifa.philips.com/ (fast forward to
17’20”)
TP Vision 06/2013-08/2013
Cloud Explorer TV App
Wireframe in Axure
Visual design in Photoshop and Illustrator
UX Methodes
• Task Analysis
• Prototyping
• Visual Design
10. 7
Introduction
Beedroid is a mobile based software solution where users
can give in food for bee locations with their mobile phone.
The goal is to position bee hives at these regions after
approval of these locations.
As UX Designer in the team, I was responsible for the UX
activities from conceptuation to the field user test. To build
the overall navigation structure I
created workflows which were
filled in with mockup layouts of
screen content. The wireframes,
which were built in Axure, were
beneficial for communication
Food4Bee 08/2013 - 09/2013
Beedroid Android App
with the client and the development team. I started visual
design after all the interaction flows were agreed upon.
A short design document was made to guide the front-
end developer understand the UI specification of screen
designs. In order to test the usability of the application, I
organized and moderated a field user test at a country-side
garden. 6 end-users’ feedback was collected. In addition,
this user test helped the development team to validate the
stability of the system in the outdoor environment.
The 1st version of Beedroid was released to the android
app gallery after improvement based on the field user test
result. The development team kept on working on the 2nd
version where the system performance will be optimized.
Wireframe
and
Workflow
Visual Design
UX Methodes
• Task Analysis
• Prototyping
• Visual Design
• Field User Test
11. 8
Introduction
The SmartProducts project is a European Commission’s
7th Framework Programme conducted by ten partners
from industry and academia, aiming at developing the
scientific and technological basis for building “smart
products” with embedded “proactive knowledge” in order
to improve people’s quality of life. Philips led the Smart
Kitchen scenario.
SmartProducts website:
http://www.smartproducts-project.eu/mainpage/vision
The Smart Products technological breakthroughs allow
inventions, by Philips and others, to make electronics
‘smart’. Philips needed the reasonable scenarios based
on user research to integrate ‘smart electronics’ into more
user-friendly environments, which are sensitive to people’s
needs, personalized to their requirements, anticipatory of
their behavior and responsive to their presence.
As a User Experience Researcher, I specialized in refining
the kitchen scenarios and proposing the integration plan
to link the available Smart kitchen appliances that Philips
and the partner industries or academia were studying. I
investigated people’s grocery shopping habit and cooking
habit through desk research as well as the previous
research results in Philips. I looked for the factors that
motivate people to be aware of healthily eating. Combing
the features of the available Smart kitchen appliances,
a series of Smart Kitchen scenarios were formed. The
available Smart kitchen appliances were modified in order
to better guide people be aware of healthily eating from
grocery shopping to cooking as well as tracking the food
intake.
In addition, I introduced the Smart Kitchen Assistant
application to the Smart Kitchen system, which plays
an important role of linking the rest of Smart appliances.
The Smart Kitchen Assistant is a web application which
guides users to make personalized meal planning, step-
by-step cooking and tracks users’ food intake as well as
gives feedback to users. The Smart Kitchen Assistant
application was prototyped by the development team on
the iOS platform. I moderated the user test to validate the
Smart Kitchen Assistant application’s usability. The test
was in the Philips Experience Lab. 20 users participated
in the test. The user feedback and the analysis results
provided the improvement proposals for the next version
of the Smart Kitchen Assistant application which ended up
to the EU committee review.
The Smart Kitchen system is successfully demonstrated
in the final EU review and received high appreciation from
EU committee. The performance of the work package led
by Philips achieved the project requirements. The Smart
Kitchen System is placed in the Kitchen Lab of Philips
Experience Lab as one of
Philips Consumer Lifestyle
showcases and is carried on
in other research activities in
Philips.
Philips Research 02/2011 - 04/2012
Smart Kitchen
Smart
Chopping
Board
Smart
Steamer
Smart
Kitchen Assistant
UX Methodes
• Desk Research
• Task Analysis
• Prototyping
• Expert Review
• Usability Testing
The concept of Smart Kitchen
Design and prototype of Smart Kitchen Assistant app
12. 9
FEI’s electron microscope products have the different
user interfaces. It is foreseen that there will be more cross
operability between its main stream electron microscopes,
thus there is a need to harmonize their user interfaces.
Besides, the current user experience needs to be
significantly improved to make technology truly usable and
beneficial for all users.
As Usability Engineer, my responsibility was to
define the design principles that guide the UI
harmonization, and validate the harmonized
UI in the manner of usability testing. I began
with acquiring users’ needs by interviewing 4 application
technicians and specialists in FEI and observing them
performing the regular tasks on the different types electron
microscopes. Based on the user research together with
foreseen future needs, 4 design principles are formed as
the guideline of the UI design.
FEI Company 01/2010 - 09/2010
Electron Microscope UI Harmonization
I performed the iterative design which ultimately improve
the quality and functionality of design. Taking the time and
user tasks into account, two rounds of design activities
were performed, which includes prototyping, testing,
analyzing, and refining the design.
vanBerlo provided the visual elements of the
harmonized user interface. I was in charge of
the interaction design. I made the interactive
prototypes in the Adobe Flash which the visual
elements were applied to bring the realistic
visual effect. Usability testing was performed
to validate the interaction design and the new use interface.
The prototypes were used in the usability testing to let
people try and feel the new design.
In each round of usability testing 4 participants (the
Electron Microscope technicians or specialists) attended.
The insights obtained from user test and users’ feedback
were the valuable input for refining the design in the next
cyclic design process. Finally, the innovative improvement
proposals were delivered which guide the subsequent
design work.
Introduction
A joint project of FEI Company, VanBerlo Design, and the
TU/e, aiming at creating harmonized user interfaces for
FEI’s two main types of electron microscopes in order to
improve the usability and user experience of FEI’s products,
and create strong company brand.
Use
ïwh
ïthe
User and task
descriptions
Goals:
Methods:
Results:
nstormed
esigns
User-
centered
design
Evaluate
tasks
Usability
testing:
Participatory
interaction
Heuristic
evaluation
Graphical
screen
design
User
involvement
Interface
guidelines
Testable
prototypes
Completed
designs
Testable
prototypes
The 1st round of
design and testing
User AnalysisPhases: Completion
Usability
testing:
Participatory
interaction
Heuristic
evaluation
The 2nd round of
design and testing
Graphical
screen
design
Interface
guidelines
high fidelity
prototyping
me
high fidelity
prototyping
me
Use
ïwh
ïthe
User and task
descriptions
Goalsll :
Methtt odsdd :
Resultstt :
nstormed
esigns
User-
centered
design
Evavv luate
taskskk
UsUU abilii ill tyt
tett stitt nii g:
Partrr itt cipii atoryrr
inii terarr ctitt oii n
Heurirr sii titt c
evavv luatitt oii n
Graphical
screen
design
User
involvement
Interfrr ace
guidelines
Testable
prototypes
Completed
designs
Testable
prototypes
design and testing
p
UsUU abilii ill tyt
tett stitt nii g:
Partrr itt cipii atoryrr
inii terarr ctitt oii n
Heurirr sii titt c
evavv luatitt oii n
design and testing
Graphical
screen
design
Interfrr ace
guidelines
high fidelity
prototyping
me
high fidelity
prototyping
me
Iterative design process Hi-fi prototypes
UX Methodes
• Contextual Inquiry
• Prototyping
• Usability Testing
13. 10
Helantong website (the predecessor of outpie.com) is
founded in 2008 in the Netherlands. I was one of the co-
founders of this startup. It is a comprehensive services
exchange web platform, facing to Chinese who study
or work in the Netherlands. It aims to provide Chinese
in the Netherlands information on studying and living.
Users can fast and conveniently access to information
and share experiences through Helantong website. The
preliminary release included four sections: Wiki, Useful
website collection, entertainment, and forum, which cover
all aspects of living in the Netherlands.
As UI Designer, I was responsible for designing, coordinating
and managing artwork and executing creative concepts
for Helantong website, including website information
architecture, webpage layout, icons and themes design.
I was also in charge of creating company’s identity,
brochures and collateral.
Besides of providing a graphic design, I built the front-
end together with the development team. I experienced
the difficulties in implementing graphic design to web
page. This prompted me to enhance the knowledge and
understanding of web technologies such as HTML, CSS
and JavaScript.
Helantong website 01/2008 - 08/2008
Commercial Website Design
The first generation of Helantong logo
Posters of events sponsored by Helantong
(left: Badminton Contest,
right: Confucius Institute Chinese New Year Gala)
14. 11 Visual Designs and Others
Photoshop Work--Under Water City 01/2010
Obtained silver award in “Eindhoven in the Eyes 2010” Chinese Design Competition
Agile poker card design for Nspyre company 06/2013
I was responsible for the visual design of Nspyre Agile
poker cards. The cards are used in agile workshop/training
purpose.
Tool: Illustrator
Nspyre internal CSS Workshop 01/2014
I gave the CSS lecture in Nspyre. Besides of teaching
web technique knowledge, the purpose is to provide an
introduction to the UX team on how to work more efficiently
with a web app development team during a project.
15. 12
Nspyre Branding and Marketing activities
I am part of the Nspyre branding team, designing logo, icons and banners etcetera.
Designed Nspyre magic cube for marketing Nspyre Traffic & Infra domain in Road Congress.
Assisted Nspyre Marketing Department with designing
organization structure graphs and creating graphic assets
for ‘praatplaat‘ app.
Designed Project Management Tool (app) to help sales
better communicate with clients about Project Management
competency of Nspyre.