In the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area, Aparna Unnikrishnan is revolutionizing the way we interact with technology. With over 17 years of experience under her belt, Aparna has become an influential figure in UX design and strategy, especially known for her work in making complex systems more accessible and user-friendly.
Currently leading the Fire Tablets UX Design category at Amazon’s Device Design and Services organization, her journey extends far beyond, influencing the design strategies of over 15 Alexa-enabled products. Aparna’s professional mantra revolves around connecting research, technology, strategy, and design to craft meaningful, customer-centered experiences. At Amazon, her innovative approach, integrating AI and multi-modal interactions into user interfaces, has pioneered new ways for customers to engage with technology. Her work emphasizes not just user-friendliness but crafting experiences that enrich and empower the end-user’s life.
Through her leadership, Aparna has modernized the way we view and interact with our devices, ensuring that each design move is a step towards more intuitive, engaging, and human-centric technology.
Blending human-centered design with AI innovation
According to Aparna, “humanizing technology” is defined as “creating experiences that resonate deeply with user needs, behaviors, and expectations. At its core, humanizing technology means creating interfaces that enable users to achieve their goals with minimal friction.” She emphasizes simplicity and user-centricity, ensuring technology enhances, rather than hinders, user interaction.
Incorporating UX design with a strategic vision, Aparna aligns design choices with organizational goals to enhance user engagement and drive tangible business outcomes. “By incorporating principles like simplification and clarity, UX design can enhance the overall user experience,” she states, ensuring that technology remains both user-friendly and beneficial.
As AI technology advances, Aparna focuses on maintaining intuitive user experiences, designing transparent interfaces that explain AI functionalities clearly. “This includes setting clear expectations to maintain user trust and capturing ‘aha moments’ that delight users,” she notes, ensuring AI integration enhances rather than complicates the user experience.
She also balances technological innovation with human-centered design by addressing desirability, feasibility, and viability. “One of the primary challenges is harmonizing the pace of technological advancement with user readiness,” Aparna mentions, striking a balance to create compelling and intuitive experiences that meet users where they are.
Crafting intuitive multi-modal interactions
How does Aparna ensure that her design of multi-modal interactions remains intuitive and accessible? “Initially, we identify the primary modality based on the product type, such as touch for tablets or voice for Echo devices, and then integrate secondary modalities to enhance user engagement,” she outlines. Her team strives to maintain consistency across different modalities, focusing on eliminating the need for users to relearn interaction methods and reducing cognitive load. This helps in creating a seamless and user-friendly experience.
Aparna also emphasizes the importance of accessibility in her designs. She focuses on creating interfaces that are forgiving of user errors, using “techniques such as error recovery and contextual guidance to mitigate frustration.” Furthermore, she explains, “Our systems are designed to adapt and learn from user behavior, enabling personalized experiences that evolve over time.” This approach allows her team to refine interaction models continually, leveraging machine learning and user feedback to enhance inclusivity and user satisfaction, ensuring technology remains efficient and engaging for all users.
Ensuring natural voice interactions in AI-based devices
Several key design elements are emphasized by Aparna in creating seamless and natural voice interactions in AI-based devices. She underscores the importance of accurate voice detection, noting, One of the critical steps VUI’s interaction is to ensure the device/agent understands the context of utterance and provides relevant and coherent responses accordingly. This foundational step is vital for smooth dialogue initiation. Additionally, she highlights the need to effectively recognize the voice and the user to then proactively provide tailor the experience.
Aparna also details the critical role of Natural Language Understanding (NLU) in VUI design, stating, “Whether it’s interpreting a user’s request or formulating a response, robust NLU capabilities are indispensable for seamless interactions.” She addresses the importance of managing cognitive load, ensuring responses are concise and clear to avoid overwhelming users. Furthermore, she emphasizes the importance of transparency, particularly during technical issues, explaining, “Proactively informing users about connectivity issues or processing delays helps manage expectations and maintain trust.” These strategies are designed to ensure that voice interactions are both intuitive and effective, significantly enhancing the user experience.
Intuitive interface design
Detailing the meticulous approach taken to craft visually appealing and easy-to-navigate interfaces, Aparna focuses on the core principles of cleanliness and clarity. She highlights that “ensuring that the interface is free from clutter and unnecessary elements,” helps users focus without distractions. She also underlines the necessity for clear navigation, where “users should be able to understand and navigate the interface effortlessly,” achieved through intuitive layouts, clear typography, and legible interaction patterns.
Moreover, Aparna addresses that, “While it’s important to create interfaces that feel fresh and modern, it’s equally crucial to ensure they remain accessible to all users.” She incorporates inclusive design principles, such as offering multiple ways for users to interact with your product or service. This might include providing both visual and auditory feedback, as well as alternative input methods like voice commands or gesture controls. This commitment ensures that enhancements not only elevate the aesthetic of devices like Alexa and Fire Tablets but also significantly improve the overall user experience.
UX success metrics
Aparna evaluates design success based on specific performance indicators, explaining, “Success is evident when the product or feature is widely adopted and seamlessly integrated into users’ routines.” She emphasizes sustained engagement as a key indicator of lasting value and adaptability.
She cites a practical example from her tenure at Amazon Grocery, where she led a redesign of a grocery picking app. “This overhaul significantly reduced picking and delivery times, not only benefiting end customers with enhanced convenience but also creating new opportunities for store workers to increase their efficiency and earnings,” Aparna notes. This example highlights how effective design can positively impact an entire ecosystem, improving experiences and workflows for all stakeholders.
The future of AI devices
Several key trends and advancements shaping the future of AI-enabled devices are highlighted by Aparna. She emphasizes the move toward more personalized user experiences, noting, “We anticipate a shift toward personalized experiences, where AI systems adapt seamlessly to individual preferences and needs.” This reflects a broader trend toward devices that are more intuitive and responsive to human behaviors, enhancing user engagement and the efficiency of interactions.
Aparna also underscores the need for ethical design in AI development, stating, “Hopefully, there will be a heightened emphasis on fairness, inclusivity, and ethical considerations, ensuring that AI benefits all segments of society equitably.” She highlights the importance of integrating continuous learning and evolution into AI systems to keep them relevant and adaptive amidst rapid technological changes. By balancing these advancements with a commitment to ethics and inclusivity, she aims to ensure that AI technology not only advances but does so in a manner that is beneficial and fair for all users.
Her legacy is one of inspiring a new generation of designers and technologists to envision and create technology that not only empowers but connects with users on a deeply human level. Through her pioneering spirit and visionary leadership, Aparna continues to shape a future where technology remains a powerful, positive force in enhancing the human experience, proving that even in the digital age, the human touch is indispensable.
