Overview
Role: Product Design Lead
Timeline: 2022 - 2023
Background
Alva is a smart grid AI digital twin developed by DataThings in a close colaboration with Creos, which owns and manages electricity networks and natural gas pipelines in Luxembourg.
Alva supports distribution grid operators to transition towards a smarter grid and to accelerate the energy transition.
Problems to solve
Alva faced the challenge of simplifying a highly complex, data-heavy system powered by machine learning, with AI-driven insights that needed to be clear, actionable, and trustworthy. The platform struggled with overly complicated user flows and an inconsistent, outdated interface, requiring a more modern, intuitive, and cohesive user experience.
Goal
The goal was to simplify Alva’s complex system with clear, intuitive user flows and more accessible, understandable data visualizations. At the same time, the design was modernized and unified, replacing the outdated, inconsistent interface to ensure a smoother, user-friendly transition from the old obsolete software.
Key Takeaways
This project taught me a lot about working within existing constraints and improving a product that was already live and in use. Since the design had been initially created by developers, many of the decisions were made without a clear UX perspective, and it was my role to step in, identify the gaps, and make thoughtful, practical improvements without disrupting what already worked. I learned how important it is to balance user needs with technical limitations and business priorities, especially in complex, data-heavy platforms like Alva.
I also realized the value of consistency in design — not just for aesthetic reasons, but for improving usability, reducing user frustration, and building trust in the interface. Working on Alva showed me how small, thoughtful changes in layout, typography, navigation, and data visualization can significantly improve how people experience a product, even when you can’t fully redesign it from the ground up.