Testing Software

PROJECT OVERVIEW

I designed and developed a specialized handheld testing application for PalmOS devices. This tool was used internally at Palm, Inc. to validate and test nearly every Palm device released during that period.
In parallel, I designed the user interface, custom icons, and animations for a custom Linux-based operating system running on the Palm Foleo prototypes - an early mobile companion device. The objective was to create intuitive, efficient, and reliable testing experiences that worked seamlessly across different hardware platforms and operating systems.
Key contributions:
- End-to-end UI/UX and visual design for the PalmOS testing application
- Complete interface, icon, and animation design for the Foleo - Linux prototype
- Hands-on device testing, troubleshooting, and quality assurance across dozens of hardware units
- Requirements definition and documentation


DISCOVERY

Stakeholder Interviews
Collaborated directly with Palm engineering, QA, and product teams to understand testing requirements, performance expectations, and workflow needs.

User Research
Conducted research with developers and QA testers to map their actual workflows, identify pain points in existing testing processes, and determine what would make daily device validation faster and more reliable.

Competitive Analysis
Reviewed existing testing tools on similar embedded and handheld platforms to understand best practices and avoid common usability issues.

Requirements Definition
Compiled a prioritized feature list focused on device compatibility, speed, ease of use on small screens, clear reporting, and robustness across multiple hardware configurations.


DESIGN

Information Architecture
Created a clear, task-oriented structure that allowed testers to quickly navigate between device diagnostics, test execution, logging, and reporting.

Interface Design
Produced wireframes and high-fidelity screen designs optimized for small PalmOS displays. Prioritized clarity, minimal taps, and efficient data entry for field testers.

Visual Design & Iconography
Designed a complete set of custom icons and visual assets in Adobe Illustrator for both the PalmOS application and the Foleo Linux prototype. Ensured visual consistency and immediate recognizability even on low-resolution screens.

Animation Design
Created subtle, performance-conscious animations to provide clear feedback during testing operations without impacting device responsiveness.

Prototyping
Built interactive prototypes to validate flows with stakeholders and testers, then iterated based on their feedback.


IMPLEMENTATION

Development Collaboration
Worked closely with the engineering team to translate designs into working software while respecting the technical constraints of PalmOS and the early Linux prototype environment.

Hands-On Device Testing
Conducted extensive testing across a wide range of Palm devices over multiple weeks. Simultaneously ran validation on numerous units to ensure broad compatibility and performance.

Hardware Troubleshooting
On several occasions, I directly flashed firmware and disassembled Foleo prototype units to diagnose and resolve hardware-software integration issues. This level of hands-on involvement was critical to delivering a stable testing tool.

Quality Assurance
Performed rigorous final QA to catch bugs, performance issues, and edge cases before release.

Documentation
Created clear user manuals and technical documentation so other testers could use the application effectively and future teams could maintain it.


VISUAL DESIGN WORK

Custom icons, interface elements, and illustrations created in Adobe Illustrator for both the PalmOS testing application and the Palm Foleo Linux prototype.