Fluid Dynamics Engineer

Lead the UX Design for their Navier Stokes based Application suite

Designing a human-centered simulation experience to democratize computational fluid dynamics (CFD) for engineers and designers without sacrificing technical rigor.

Team: UX Design, Development, Product Portfolio
Primary Role: UX Design, UX Research
Duration: 2 years, and still going
Link : https://www.3ds.com/products/simulia/computational-fluid-dynamics-simulation

Problem Statement

Computational Fluid Dynamics tools have traditionally been built for expert analysts, resulting in steep learning curves, complex workflows, and limited accessibility for non-expert users. Engineers and designers often struggled with setup complexity, unclear terminology, and low confidence in interpreting results.

The opportunity was to rethink CFD through a human-centered UX lens, shifting complexity from the user to the system.

My Role

As the Lead UX Designer, I led the end-to-end design strategy, shaping how advanced simulation tools could become intuitive, learnable, and trustworthy. I worked closely with CFD engineers and product stakeholders to translate complex physics into accessible user experiences.

Research & Discovery

The Fluids UX initiative was grounded in a research-driven, iterative design process embedded within SIMULIA R&D. I conducted qualitative research with CFD experts and non-expert users to understand mental models, workflows, and pain points. Research revealed that users were not intimidated by complexity itself, but by unclear feedback, unfamiliar terminology, and a lack of guidance during critical decision points.

Key Insights

Users needed clearer feedback to trust simulation results
Terminology created barriers for non-experts
Setup workflows did not match how users think or explore designs

This process, as we worked, helped us build a framework for an Agile UX Research-driven design and development cycle that allowed for iteration while maintaining clarity across a complex product ecosystem.

Each release cycle starts with research, not assumptions. We interview users, watch them set up models, run simulations, and note where friction hides. Often, it’s not in what people don’t know. It’s in what the interface assumes they already understand.

In the picturee you can see, instead of a one-way waterfall, research added input points at multiple stages throughout the process..

Insights from Discovery research, flowed into Define Requirements, then into Design. Those were then tested in Design validation research and then sent into Development.

Insights and Design Principles

Based on research insights, we established a set of human-centered design principles that guided all our decisions:

1. User Work Model vs. System Model
Users often bring strong expectations shaped by their prior tools and workflows. Our design approach focused on aligning the product’s logic with how users naturally think and act, not the other way around. Key takeaway: Design should adapt to the user’s work model, not demand they adopt yours.

2. Language & Terminology
The words we use shape how approachable a product feels. We refined terminology to ensure technical accuracy while improving clarity and inclusivity across different experience levels. Key takeaway: Clear language is usability.

3. Learning Curve & Onboarding
In simulation tools, the first few minutes define the user’s relationship with the product. We focused on creating an onboarding flow that encourages discovery and builds confidence step by step. Key takeaway: Learning should feel guided, not gated.

4. Trust & Confidence in Application
For complex tools, how the system communicates matters as much as what it computes. We rethought how the interface responds to uncertainty, turning errors into feedback and feedback into trust. Key takeaway: Confidence is a UX outcome.

Workflow Redesign

We redesigned core CFD workflows to reduce cognitive load and friction. One of the central idea in this redesign was moving form a Implicitly defined Simulation to an Explicitly defined Simulation. The new experience streamlined setup steps, surfaced relevant parameters contextually, and allowed users to understand explore all parameters and volume definitions explicitly and think about “what-if” scenarios much easily.

This shift enabled faster iteration and improved decision-making without requiring expert-level knowledge.

Key Capabilities & UX-Led Improvements

Recent updates to Fluid Dynamics Engineer reflect our human-centered UX philosophy in action. Each capability was designed to make complex simulation workflows more intuitive, accelerate learning, and reduce setup time, without sacrificing scientific accuracy or control.

1. Faster Simulation Model Preparation

Explicit flow volume extraction significantly reduces model setup time while providing users with clear visual confirmation of the simulation domain. This improvement removes ambiguity and helps users understand exactly what they are simulating—building confidence early in the workflow.

2. Automatic Geometry Cleanup

With Auto Fill Small Gaps, the system intelligently detects and seals tiny openings in geometry. This reduces manual cleanup, shortens preparation time, and minimizes setup errors, allowing users to focus on analysis rather than geometry troubleshooting.

3. Guided Analysis Definition using Assistant

Guided analysis definition introduces contextual prompts, clearer language, and an enhanced assistant-driven guidance to help users define domains, boundary conditions, and parameters. This makes critical setup steps more approachable for non-expert users while still supporting advanced control.

4. Streamlined Physics Management
The new Physics Manager centralizes simulation setup and control, giving users clear visibility into physics definitions and faster access to parameters. By consolidating complexity into a single, structured experience, users can understand and modify simulations with greater ease.

5. Intuitive Visualization with Enhanced in Dialog help

Visualization was redesigned to emphasize insight and provide contextual guidance. Data presentation focuses on clarity and interpretability, while user is making the decision, helping users understand flow behavior, identify patterns, and gain trust in the application and its capabilities which is especially crucial during early design exploration.

6. Faster Meshing Setup
Automatic mesh specification combined with new CVM meshing technology enables users to generate high-quality meshes more quickly and reliably. This reduces setup effort while maintaining precision, supporting faster iteration without compromising accuracy.

And Many more!

Beyond these highlights, many additional UX improvements were introduced to reduce friction, clarify intent, and support exploration throughout the simulation workflow. Each enhancement bridges the gap between scientific precision and human understanding.

Impact & Outcomes

Improved usability and learnability for non-expert users
Reduced setup complexity and cognitive load
Increased confidence in interpreting simulation results
Enabled broader adoption and collaboration across teams

Strategic Impact

By embedding UX thinking into the Fluids portfolio, Dassault Systèmes is enabling a broader engineering audience to leverage simulation earlier in the design process. This shift improves productivity and fosters collaboration across disciplines, bringing the MODSIM approach to Design and Manufacturing.

Reflection & Forward Look

As engineering challenges grow more complex, the need for intuitive and intelligent simulation tools becomes essential. Through continuous research, UX refinement, and close collaboration with users, this work advances the mission to democratize simulation, while preserving the rigor engineers rely on.

There’s much more to come!

Image Credits & Usage: Some images used in this case study are sourced from Dassault Systèmes (3ds.com) product materials and are shown for illustrative and educational purposes only. All product imagery remains the property of Dassault Systèmes.