Paweł CzerskiUX & Interaction Designer

Context

Vattenfall, one of Europe’s largest energy providers, needed a more effective way to support inspections across their wind farms — both onshore and offshore. The tool had to work across the full asset lifecycle: from construction through long-term maintenance.

They had evaluated several commercial platforms, but none offered the flexibility or alignment needed to support their real workflows. We were brought in to explore whether a custom-built tool could deliver better results — starting with a functional MVP.

Challenge

There were a few important constraints we had to design around:

• The app needed to work offline, often in harsh environments — like 140 meters above ground on a turbine, with no reliable signal.

• It had to support mobile-first data collection in the field, but also provide a desktop-friendly interface for handling large volumes of inspection data afterward.

• The context of use was demanding, and the interface needed to be fast, focused, and easy to use — no distractions, no friction.

• The product owner assigned by the client had limited time and experience with digital projects, so decision-making had to be guided more proactively.

• Our team was distributed across seven European locations, which meant structure, clarity, and tight communication were key from day one.

My Role

I joined the project as a UX/UI designer but quickly expanded into a broader role as a proxy product owner. My responsibilities included:

• Leading workshops to gather and refine functional requirements

• Designing the entire navigation concept and user flows

• Planning and overseeing the full app design for both mobile and desktop

• Managing sprint planning and daily communication with the client

• Maintaining alignment across a distributed, cross-functional team

Despite the complexity and setup, the project ran smoothly. We built strong collaboration habits early, and the team stayed focused and aligned throughout.

Outcome

We delivered a fully functional pilot covering the core inspection workflows, tailored specifically to Vattenfall’s operational realities. It gave them a hands-on tool they could evaluate internally and benchmark against off-the-shelf options.

The app helped clarify their direction and opened the door to a more custom-fit approach to inspection management going forward.