let's make cool stuff together
OpenSpace BIM Compare
Simplifying coordination between construction 🏗️ and the virtual 3D experience
Simplifying coordination between construction 🏗️ and the virtual 3D experience
Simplifying coordination between construction 🏗️ and the virtual 3D experience
my role
Lead Product Designer
(VDC / BIM+ Product Teams)
Visual Designer
UX Researcher
the team
Product Manager
Product Designer (me)
3 Front End Engineers
1 Back End Engineer
Sales/Marketing
Solutions Engineer
timeline
Oct 2024 -
March 2025
overview
Led design of the navigation and content filtering experience for construction teams coordinating job site changes in the 3D environment.
In order to simplify customer workflows, our approach leveraged the familiar pattern of information trees that can be found in other architectural products.
scope
UI design of navigation, BIM tools, 3D model content filtering and settings for multiple user types/permission levels
User Research conducted virtually and on the construction job site
Feature Education + product placement strategy with PM, sales/marketing and leadership teams
Design System updates and maintenance
Iconography and illustrations
Facilitation of design meetings and collaboration with developers in an Agile UX environment
"I worked with Sierra during her contract with the BIM team at OpenSpace, and she immediately demonstrated her remarkable skill in tackling extremely difficult technical problems while maintaining a brilliant attention to detail. With great communication, she adapted quickly to changing requirements and collaborate seamlessly.
The problems we are working on in BIM/3D interface design in our product are challenging because we are always inventing and adjusting, and Sierra's design thinking approach combined with her experience in architecture, supported our team dynamic exceptionally. She consistently elevated our projects it was a pleasure to work with her."
- Gabe Dunne, Software Engineer at OpenSpace
scope
UI design of navigation, BIM tools, 3D model content filtering and settings for multiple user types/permission levels
Feature Education + coordination of product placement with PM, sales/marketing and leadership teams
User Research conducted virtually and on the construction job site
Design System updates and maintenance
Facilitation of weekly design meetings and collaboration with developers in an Agile UX environment
the team
Product Manager
Product Designer (me)
3 Front End Engineers
1 Back End Engineer
Sales/Marketing
Solutions Engineer
my role
Lead Product Designer (VDC / BIM+
Teams)
Visual Designer
UX Researcher
timeline
Oct 2024 -
March 2025
my role
Lead Product Designer (BIM+ Product Team)
Visual Designer
UX Researcher
Design strategy
the team
Product Manager
Product Designer (me)
3 Front End Engineers
1 Backend Engineer
Sales / Marketing
Solutions Engineer
timeline
Oct 2024 -
March 2025
overview
Led design of the navigation and content filtering experience for construction teams coordinating job site changes in the 3D environment.
In order to simplify customer workflows, our approach leveraged the familiar pattern of information trees that can be found in other architectural products.
scope
UI design of navigation, BIM tools, 3D model content filtering and settings for multiple user types/permission levels
User Research conducted virtually and on the construction job site
Feature Education + product placement strategy with PM, sales/marketing and leadership teams
Design System updates and maintenance
Iconography and illustrations
Facilitation of design meetings and collaboration with developers in an Agile UX environment
"I worked with Sierra during her contract with the BIM team at OpenSpace, and she immediately demonstrated her remarkable skill in tackling extremely difficult technical problems while maintaining a brilliant attention to detail. With great communication, she adapted quickly to changing requirements and collaborate seamlessly.
The problems we are working on in BIM/3D interface design in our product are challenging because we are always inventing and adjusting, and Sierra's design thinking approach combined with her experience in architecture, supported our team dynamic exceptionally. She consistently elevated our projects it was a pleasure to work with her."
- Gabe Dunne, Software Engineer at OpenSpace
what is BIM Compare??
what is BIM Compare??
A digital tool that leverages Reality Captures taken by contractors on a job site with 3D and 2D documentation from architects, engineers and tradespeople. It's all about simplifying the complexity of the building process through live site updates compared again design documentation (BIM).
BIM Compare increases efficiency in project planning and building coordination for VDC (Virtual Design & Construction) Managers, Project Owners and subcontractors by allowing OpenSpace customers both on and off the job site to collaborate seamlessly.
shipping products
during a 5 month contract, I designed and shipped these product features / updates with the BIM+ team. We worked in an Agile UX environment, structuring deliverables in a 2 week Sprint cadence.
File management
Navigation tool kit
Model / document explorer
Feature education / product placement
impact of work
impact
of work
The numbers:
1/2 million increase in ARR for BIM+ subscribers since the launch of new BIM+ features/ upgrades since Jan 1st, 2025
16% increase in weekly active users subscribed to BIM+ and utilizing BIM+ specific features
4 major product shipments in 5 months as a contractor leading design for BIM+
Big picture:
Made strategic efforts to reduce future churn by conducting user interviews and testing to determine common pain points for customers and new features that would have the highest impact on improving building construction efficiency and collaboration between contractors.
things
I learned
Shipping designs is rarely a perfect waterfall process. I found that some of the best ideas came from working directly with engineers to solve a problem, where knowledge sharing about complex products is intentionally incorporated early on in the design process.
Ask questions, more questions, and even more questions. This goes for customers during user interviews, the marketing team for insights on business strategy, and your fellow designers when giving and receiving feedback in crits. Make sure you understand input and feedback before executing on it.
Designing for the complexities of the construction industry brings with it opportunities to re-think the structure of workflows that have real-world, powerful impacts on the built environment.
things I learned
Shipping designs is rarely a perfect waterfall process. I found that some of the best ideas came from working directly with engineers to solve a problem, where knowledge sharing about complex products is intentionally incorporated early on in the design process.
Ask questions, more questions, and even more questions. This goes for customers during user interviews, the marketing team for insights on business strategy, and your fellow designers when giving and receiving feedback in crits. Make sure you understand input and feedback before executing on it.
Designing for the complexities of the construction industry brings with it opportunities to re-think the structure of workflows that have real-world, powerful impacts on the built environment.
shipping products
during a 5 month contract, I designed and shipped these product features / updates with the BIM+ team. We worked in an Agile UX environment, structuring deliverables in a 2 week Sprint cadence.
File management
Navigation tool kit
Model / document explorer
Feature education / product placement
impact of work
The numbers:
1/2 million increase in ARR for BIM+ subscribers since the launch of new BIM+ features/ upgrades since Jan 1st, 2025
16% increase in weekly active users subscribed to BIM+ and utilizing BIM+ specific features
4 major product shipments in 5 months as a contractor leading design for BIM+
Big picture:
Made strategic efforts to reduce future churn by conducting user interviews and testing to determine common pain points for customers and new features that would have the highest impact on improving building construction efficiency and collaboration between contractors.
things I learned
Shipping designs is rarely a perfect waterfall process. I found that some of the best ideas came from working directly with engineers to solve a problem, where knowledge sharing about complex products is intentionally incorporated early on in the design process.
Ask questions, more questions, and even more questions. This goes for customers during user interviews, the marketing team for insights on business strategy, and your fellow designers when giving and receiving feedback in crits. Make sure you understand input and feedback before executing on it.
Designing for the complexities of the construction industry brings with it opportunities to re-think the structure of workflows that have real-world, powerful impacts on the built environment.
things I learned
Shipping designs is rarely a perfect waterfall process. I found that some of the best ideas came from working directly with engineers to solve a problem, where knowledge sharing about complex products is intentionally incorporated early on in the design process.
Ask questions, more questions, and even more questions. This goes for customers during user interviews, the marketing team for insights on business strategy, and your fellow designers when giving and receiving feedback in crits. Make sure you understand input and feedback before executing on it.
Designing for the complexities of the construction industry brings with it opportunities to re-think the structure of workflows that have real-world, powerful impacts on the built environment.