Germline — genetic data exploration
Helping scientists explore complex genetic evidence while developing hypotheses for potential research investment.
The design challenge
The team needed a clear interface for an aggregator of complex genetic databases. Scientists used the tool to explore evidence and identify potential avenues for research into serious diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.
The challenge was to make relationships and scientific values understandable without losing the depth required by specialist users.
My contribution: the network view
I was specifically responsible for the network view. I proposed showing a gene in the context of other genes, alongside scientific measures such as p-values, odds ratios, and proximity.
I built a high-fidelity interactive prototype in Axure and prepared a detailed script for research sessions with scientists.
Research with domain experts
During the team’s on-site visit to San Francisco, I conducted one-to-one sessions using the prototype. I gathered feedback and observed what participants understood, where they struggled, and what information was missing.
Back in Warsaw, the team spent several months updating the solution using the feedback gathered from users.
What this work demonstrates
Designing in a specialist domain required close collaboration with scientists, careful treatment of data, and prototypes detailed enough to support meaningful research.