Sustainability in AV, AI in AV, Conferencing & Collaboration, Broadcast AV, Command and Control, and 2 more

UX Design for AV

In today’s AV industry, the success of a system isn’t just measured by how advanced the technology is—but by how intuitive and effective it is for the end user.

Jun 24, 2025

Urmil Vaidhya

Design Engineer, AV Industry

Liked by Virginia Molina and 1 other

1. Adopt a Human-Centered Design Process

User Design Thinking or User-Centered Design (UCD) frameworks in AV project workflows:

Phase	What to Do ?
Empathize	Interview users (operators, presenters, tech staff) to learn their pain points.
Define	Create user personas and map their AV usage journey.
Ideate	Brainstorm AV workflows based on real-life needs.
Prototype	Design UI mockups for touch panels or control apps.
Test	Let users interact with the system before finalizing deployment.

2. Focus on Use Cases Over Equipment

Instead of starting with "which projector or matrix switcher?",

Ask: “What does the user want to do — present wirelessly, join a Zoom call, or share content in a hybrid meeting?”

Build systems and interfaces around user tasks, not devices.

3. Design Simplified & Predictable Interfaces

For Touch panels / Apps:

Use consistent icons (mute, power, source select).
Minimize screens — no more than 3 taps to any function.
Show system feedback (e.g., volume bar, source status).
Provide room status indicators (e.g., “Meeting in Progress”).

Use visual hierarchy:

Big buttons for common actions.
Group related functions (lighting, AV, shades).

4. Implement Real-World UX Feedback Loops

Schedule a post-install walkthrough with users.
Gather feedback after 1 week, 1 month, 3 months.
Install QR codes on AV racks or touch panels linking to short feedback forms or video tutorials.

5. Train AV Teams in UX Basics

Introduce your designers, engineers, and sales teams to:

UX/UI basics (e.g., via Coursera, UX Design Institute)
AVIXA’s CTS-D and CTS-I include elements of UX
Tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or Touch panel design standards (Crestron/Extron/AMX GUI guidelines)

6. Simulate User Scenarios During Testing

Before handover:

Create test scenarios: "Teacher walks into class, wants to show a YouTube video."
Ask: How many steps does it take? Is it obvious?
Let non-technical users test systems.

7. Measure UX with KPIs

Use UX metrics in commissioning reports:

First-time user success rate.
Time-to-operate common tasks.
Error recovery ease.
Number of support calls in the first 30 days.

8. Use Mobile & BYOD-Friendly Control

Design interfaces that work smoothly on:

Phones
Tablets
Laptops
Let users control AV from their own devices using QR-code-based login or web control.

9. Standardize Modular UX Templates

Create templates for:

Meeting rooms
Classrooms
Auditoriums
But allow some flexibility for branding and unique user needs.

10. Showcase UX Wins in Your Portfolio

Document:

Before/after interface shots
Client testimonials
Measurable improvements in user adoption

This builds credibility and helps shift the AV culture from “boxes and wires” to “people and experience.”

By applying UX design to AV:

Users are happier and more confident.
Support calls decrease.
Systems are adopted faster.
AV becomes an invisible enabler, not a hurdle.

Urmil Vaidhya

Design Engineer, AV Industry

Started Journey as Live sound System Engineer For small AV company in 2007.
Then join one Dubbing studio and Done Some Movies Dubbing and Music Mixing Till 2008.
After 2008 Started working as Freelancer for Audio Jobs as Recording, Dubbing and Mixing engineer for regional language Music and Movies.
From 2010 corporate journey Started with Manufacturer of AV Acessories in India.
Till 2012 worked as Technical Marketing team Head for the Product developments and Possible solutions for Pro Audio and Video Industry Acessories.
After 2013 Started working for Pro Audio Industry Products as BDM for West India.
From 2016 Working as Individual Audio, Video and Acoustics Design Consultant for freelance projects across India and in global market.

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UX Design for AV

1. Adopt a Human-Centered Design Process

User Design Thinking or User-Centered Design (UCD) frameworks in AV project workflows:

2. Focus on Use Cases Over Equipment

Instead of starting with "which projector or matrix switcher?",

Ask: “What does the user want to do — present wirelessly, join a Zoom call, or share content in a hybrid meeting?”

Build systems and interfaces around user tasks, not devices.

3. Design Simplified & Predictable Interfaces

For Touch panels / Apps:

Use consistent icons (mute, power, source select).

Minimize screens — no more than 3 taps to any function.

Show system feedback (e.g., volume bar, source status).

Provide room status indicators (e.g., “Meeting in Progress”).

Use visual hierarchy:

Big buttons for common actions.

Group related functions (lighting, AV, shades).

4. Implement Real-World UX Feedback Loops

Schedule a post-install walkthrough with users.

Gather feedback after 1 week, 1 month, 3 months.

Install QR codes on AV racks or touch panels linking to short feedback forms or video tutorials.

5. Train AV Teams in UX Basics

Introduce your designers, engineers, and sales teams to:

UX/UI basics (e.g., via Coursera, UX Design Institute)

AVIXA’s CTS-D and CTS-I include elements of UX

Tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or Touch panel design standards (Crestron/Extron/AMX GUI guidelines)

6. Simulate User Scenarios During Testing

Before handover:

Create test scenarios: "Teacher walks into class, wants to show a YouTube video."

Ask: How many steps does it take? Is it obvious?

Let non-technical users test systems.

7. Measure UX with KPIs

Use UX metrics in commissioning reports:

First-time user success rate.

Time-to-operate common tasks.

Error recovery ease.

Number of support calls in the first 30 days.

8. Use Mobile & BYOD-Friendly Control

Design interfaces that work smoothly on:

Phones

Tablets

LaptopsLet users control AV from their own devices using QR-code-based login or web control.

9. Standardize Modular UX Templates

Create templates for:

Meeting rooms

Classrooms

AuditoriumsBut allow some flexibility for branding and unique user needs.

10. Showcase UX Wins in Your Portfolio

Document:

Before/after interface shots

Client testimonials

Measurable improvements in user adoption

This builds credibility and helps shift the AV culture from “boxes and wires” to “people and experience.”

By applying UX design to AV:

Users are happier and more confident.

Support calls decrease.

Systems are adopted faster.

AV becomes an invisible enabler, not a hurdle.