About Ciena
Ciena is a global leader in adaptive, high-speed networking. Their cutting-edge systems, software, and services power the world’s largest networks—helping customers meet exponential data demands and unlock new possibilities in the AI era.
With unmatched innovation and deep technical expertise, Ciena continues to redefine how data moves, scales, and performs across the globe.
The challenge: Simplifying complexity
Modern networks are built on layers of cables, hardware, towers, and software—making fault detection a complex and time-critical challenge. When connectivity drops, productivity and revenue suffer across entire regions.
Ciena set out to develop a new version of their fault detection platform—a tool that could help customers quickly detect, prioritize, and resolve network issues. They asked our UX strategy team to help translate complex network data into intuitive visualizations and workflows that would empower users to respond faster and more efficiently.
Our approach: Embedded partnership
To simplify the complex, we became part of Ciena’s product development process. With no in-house designers on their R&D team, we worked hand-in-hand with their subject matter experts, developers, and product managers to bridge the gap between technical depth and user clarity.
We:
- Led design workshops to understand user pain points, define goals, and map the MVP collaboratively.
- Facilitated sketching sessions that brought cross-functional ideas to life and encouraged team ownership.
- Conducted user research and usability testing to validate assumptions and refine workflows.
- Hosted bi-weekly check-ins to ensure continuous alignment and maintain momentum from discovery to delivery.
Our focus was on collaboration, validation, and speed—embedding design thinking directly into their agile process.
The results: Informed decision making, faster time to market
Beyond delivering high-fidelity mockups, wireframes, and a scalable design system, our impact extended to how the Ciena team worked.
Through our partnership, we:
- Aligned cross-functional teams around a shared product vision
- Co-created clear requirements and a validated roadmap
- Enabled data-driven decision-making
- Improved efficiency and reduced time to market
Together, we delivered more than a product—we helped Ciena build the design muscle and processes to continue innovating with confidence.