Specialist in User Experience, Product Design, User Research and Design System
Design Cross-Platform Private Cloud Storage
Craft intuitive experience across iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows
01. Project Overview
About the Product
Apollo Cloud is a private cloud storage solution that offers secure, feature-rich, and user-friendly access to digital content across iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. Users can effortlessly share, backup, and sync digital content across multiple devices and platforms. Developed in collaboration with Apple and sold in the Apple Store, it won the 2018 iF Design and 2017 Good Design awards.
Design Objectives
When I joined the company, the iOS/macOS apps and Apollo Cloud Generation 1 were already live with a small established user base. It was a relatively simple version where users could only upload and access files. As part of our partnership with Apple to sell Apollo Cloud in Apple Stores for Apollo Cloud Generation 2, we were required to redesign the software using native iOS/macOS components and add multiple features, such as advanced file managing/commenting/sharing, photo management via geographic and facial recognition, Time Machine backup, etc. while also expanding to Android and Windows platforms.
Generation 1
Generation 2
My Roles
As the 1st in-house UX/UI designer, I was given full autonomy to lead the end-to-end UX/UI process:
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Translated product requirements into intuitive user flows, wireframes, and UI designs.
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Conducted user research via workshops, questionnaires, competitive analysis and tests.
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Worked alongside domain experts, including PMs (Apple liaison, hardware), firmware, frontend/backend engineering teams, FAEs, marketing, and an external UX/UI designer.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
We had a large multi-disciplinary team across firmware and software (frontend/backend across iOS/macOS/Android/Windows), QA, FAEs, marketing, sales, PMs, and manufacturing. My focus was to align design with technical feasibility and platform-specific behaviours while maintaining consistency across systems.
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Engineering teams: I worked the most closely with them on a daily basis. This close collaboration allowed me to align design direction and tech feasibility early and build holistic experience across platforms.
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External designer: In the first three months, I worked closely with another external UX/UI designer. I led the requirements shaping, user flows and wireframes, and she focused on the visual language.
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PMs: One PM handled the communication with Apple while another managed hardware device manufacturing. I mainly worked with PM to understand the requirements and feedback from Apple to translate them into design solutions.
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FAEs/marketing/sales: I had regular discussions with them to gather feedback from existing users and ensure the product took market dynamics into consideration.
02. Challenges & Solutions
Tight Timeframe
Initially, the team were given only three months to deliver and enhance the software with a range of new features. The project ultimately spanned six months due to the technical complexity of launching the varying software functionalities across multiple platforms.
I created a weekly design objective timeline to manage expectations across teams. Prioritising the design for iOS/macOS due to the Apple partnership, I also designed an Android-native experience to ensure usability and consistency. Because of time limitations, developers adopted Windows-native components based on my Mac wireframes and consulted me regularly during the implementation.
Apple’s Feedback Loop
Apple’s requirements were often rigid and sometimes changed our internal delivery direction. I worked closely with our PM to adapt the design to meet Apple’s feedback, negotiate when necessary and create mockups to gain feedback before handing the design over to engineers.
Minimising Learning Curve
Before I joined, we already had an existing user base using Apollo Cloud Generation 1. While re-designing and adding new features, it was also important to consider existing users’ experiences. I tried to preserve familiar labelling, use native components, and follow intuitive patterns which aligned with platform standards to minimise the learning curve.
Accessibility Issues
The external designer initially proposed a visual rebrand, using a purple theme with yellow as the primary colour. I validated this visual concept through quick internal testing and found it failed the accessibility check. Given our main target users were aged 30-60 and some potentially had vision-related issues, yellow on a purple theme had a lower contrast rate and readability.
I strategically articulated the findings back to the agency and gained their buy-in for an extra 2-week redesign for the colour scheme. It led to a light theme with a blue accent which offered stronger contrast and gained positive feedback from subsequent internal testing.
Original Colour Proposal
Refined Colour
Hardware Alignment
Working with FAEs and sales, I learnt that existing users had pains with device setup, such as wifi connection and device linking. Our in-house hardware team and factory enabled me to influence the improvements to accommodate software upgrades, getting a tighter hardware-software integration. For example, improvements were made to ensure the LED indicators for signal connection status on the hardware were clear and the guidance could also be easily found through the app.
03. Field Study & Iteration
Objectives
During the tech implementation, I managed to advocate and convince the leadership to evaluate the real-world usage of Apollo Cloud Generation 2.
The field study was to understand user interaction with both hardware and software across different platforms, focusing on setup, file upload/management/sharing, backup, and media playback.
User Profiles
Before digging into the research itself, I’d like to talk about our targeted users. Our previous marketing research identified some key user traits:
Screening Process
I set up an internal screening study and sent out invitations to 300+ colleagues. It identified relevant participants by:
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Motivation for using private cloud solutions
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Cross-device ownerships. For example, iOS/Android phone + macOS/Windows devices
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Regions (Taiwan, USA, Europe)
The study was well received. From 121 responses, I selected 19 participants across three regions with diverse usage contexts, assigned to these groups.
Methodology
I designed a 5-week field study for iPhone users and Android users. Each participant received an Apollo Cloud Generation 2 and was given access to the pre-release app. The weekly takes included:
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Device setup and onboarding
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Space sharing with at least 3 other people
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File/ photo upload from mobile and laptop
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File/ photo management, music/video playback, media/file sharing
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Time machine backup (only for Mac users)
Each Monday, participants were required to check weekly tasks on Asana and submit surveys through Google Forms. Each participant could keep the $300 Apollo Cloud post-research as an incentive.
Outcome
Throughout the study, I engaged directly with participants to address blockers and clarify tasks. Along with the weekly survey, the qualitative and quantitative data captured participants’ feedback on usability, performance, bugs, and ideas.
Post the study, I synthesised findings into critical/minor issues, usability gaps and enhancement ideas and shared a prioritised report with PMs for further actions. The pre-release feedback addressed several cross-OS bugs and usability pain points which were immediately fixed and strengthened the product performance post-launch.
05. Impacts
Successful Market Launch
Apollo Cloud Generation 2 was launched both in Apple Stores and our direct customer channels. Users could download the app through App Store, Google Play and our websites which enabled wide access across platforms.
Generation 1
Generation 2
Award-Winning Achievement
After months of dedicated work across the cross-functional teams, Apollo Cloud received prestigious awards: the 2018 iF Design and the 2017 Good Design awards.
Enhancement Post WWDC
Following Apple’s annual WWDC, I refined design to integrate newly announced features - such as iPhones’ new large navigation title, support integration with Files, and MacBook Touch Bar - to ensure our product stayed aligned with the latest OS capabilities.
Before 2017 WWDC
After 2017 WWDC
Post-Launch Enhancements
We dedicated the following quarter to iterating on the prioritised field study findings, resolving issues and introducing new features, such as integration with third party IP cameras to store video footage and live streaming through our app.
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Reflections
Working on Apollo Cloud was technically challenging but deeply rewarding. It was one of the most formative and fulfilling experiences of my design career. The product offered a complex range of functionalities with users relying on our cross-platform apps to seamlessly sync and access their digital files. I put great care into crafting an intuitive user experience that brought real value while maintaining a consistent design language across different OS apps.
As my first full-time role in design, the knowledge I gained here illuminated many of my future projects. This experience also fundamentally shaped how I work today: a deep respect for cross-functional collaboration - especially the close partnerships with engineers - an emphasis on creating platform intuitive UX, and the flexibility to stay agile as requirements evolve. I feel very fortunate to have been part of a team that was open, passionate and generous with their knowledge. This was a truly meaningful experience that I am grateful for.