Designing clarity into a complex optical engineering software from 0-to-1
Lightweight, rapid simulation software and knowledge base that turbocharges innovation in optical metalenses Simple Metalens
Product Designer
Collaborated with Founder-Developer
8 weeks
0-to-1 Product design from concept to launch
Freelance
UX
UI
Designed and launched a 0-to-1 engineering product that turns complex metalens workflows into three focused modules: Simulate, Analyze, and Build.
A product that outgrew its own design
Simple Metalens had a lightweight tool that proved engineers needed a faster way to design optical metalenses. But it could not support the deeper workflows and expanded capabilities planned next.
SMD PRO was not a redesign. It was a new product, designed from the ground up to help engineers simulate, analyze, and prepare metalens designs for fabrication in one focused workspace.
A product architecture built around the workflow
The founder brought deep domain expertise and a growing set of feature ideas. My role was to translate this into a usable product structure.
The engineering workflow provided the foundation: simulate, analyze, then prepare for fabrication. I structured the product around this sequence: Simulate → Analyze → Build.
Each module focuses on one stage, reducing context switching and making the system easier to navigate and extend.
Three modules, one system, one focus at a time
The original tool was never built to accommodate the complexity planned for SMD PRO.
I designed persistent sidebar navigation, separating Simulate, Analyze, and Build into clear product areas while keeping a single workflow.
This gave each module dedicated space for its controls and outputs, and created a structure that could support future features without added complexity.
A system designed to scale
The product required reusable patterns, not just visual consistency.
I designed the system in Figma from wireframes to final UI and built a component library for shared elements across modules. This allowed each area to evolve independently while staying consistent.
It also gave the founder a practical implementation foundation, where new ideas could map to existing patterns instead of creating new interaction models.
Shipping a focused first version
Not every feature belonged in v1. As new ideas emerged over the eight-week engagement, the founder and I worked through what was essential for launch and what should move to the roadmap.
The goal was a focused product built around the core Simulate, Analyze, and Build workflow, without overloading the first release.
SMD PRO launched to customers as version 1.0.0. While post-launch usage data was not available, the result was a complete engineering product taken from a growing set of technical requirements to a structured, buildable, and shipped experience.