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Company focus

OpenTrons
Product Improvement Medium Member-only

How can OpenTrons improve the user interface of its OT-2 liquid handling robot to streamline experiment setup?

Prepared by NextSprints

15 mins
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User Experience Design Product Strategy Technical Analysis Biotechnology Life Sciences Laboratory Equipment Product Improvement Robotics UI/UX Design Scientific Instruments Laboratory Automation
Product Management Design Question: Improving liquid handling robot interface for efficient lab experiments

Introduction

To improve the user interface of OpenTrons' OT-2 liquid handling robot and streamline experiment setup, we need to focus on enhancing user experience, reducing complexity, and optimizing workflow efficiency. I'll approach this challenge by analyzing user segments, identifying pain points, generating solutions, and proposing metrics for success.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (5 mins)

  • Looking at the product context, I'm thinking the OT-2 might be used in various laboratory settings. Could you help me understand the primary use cases and target users for this robot?

Why it matters: Determines the focus of our UI improvements Expected answer: Academic research labs and biotech startups for automated pipetting Impact on approach: Would tailor UI to specific scientific workflows and user expertise levels

  • Considering user behavior, I'm curious about the current interaction flow. Can you describe the typical steps a user goes through to set up an experiment on the OT-2?

Why it matters: Identifies potential bottlenecks in the current UI Expected answer: Multi-step process involving protocol creation, labware selection, and run initiation Impact on approach: Would focus on simplifying complex steps and reducing cognitive load

  • Thinking about the product lifecycle, where does the OT-2 stand in terms of market adoption and feature maturity?

Why it matters: Helps determine if we should focus on onboarding new users or enhancing advanced features Expected answer: Established product with a growing user base, looking to expand market share Impact on approach: Would balance improvements for both new and experienced users

  • Regarding company alignment, what are the key metrics OpenTrons is looking to improve with this UI enhancement?

Why it matters: Ensures our solution aligns with broader business objectives Expected answer: Increase in user retention, reduction in support tickets, and faster experiment setup times Impact on approach: Would prioritize features that directly impact these metrics

Tip

At this point, you can ask interviewer to take a 1-minute break to organize your thoughts before diving into the next step.

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Updated Mar 29, 2025