SAGU
Chile Ltda.
SAGU Chile Ltda.
Overview
As a UX intern at Sagu, a company based in Santiago, Chile, I contributed to the digital transformation of their online presence. Sagu specializes in providing laboratory equipment, analytical instruments, consumables, and chemical reagents for quality control labs, as well as in the design, construction, and outfitting of lab projects. I conducted my work entirely in Spanish, which added a layer of cultural and linguistic learning to the experience.
My main objective was to redesign Sagu’s website to be more engaging and user-friendly. I integrated custom office illustrations to convey the welcoming atmosphere, improved navigation for better usability, and crafted a digital presence that reflects the company’s values and enhances user engagement.
Analysis
The original Sagu website was cluttered, outdated, and hard to navigate. Key issues included poor organization, inconsistent fonts, low-quality images, and an unclear information hierarchy. My annotated diagram below highlights these specific problems, which guided my approach to a cleaner, more user-friendly redesign.
User research
To inform the redesign of Sagu’s website, I gathered feedback directly from employees. They highlighted key issues: the site felt outdated, was difficult to navigate, and didn’t accurately showcase the full range of products and services. This feedback shaped my understanding of the primary user persona—a lab professional or procurement manager looking for clear, quick access to laboratory equipment, consumables, and services.
Additionally, I conducted a competitor analysis of similar companies like Fisher Scientific, Thermo Fisher, and Honeywell. This research provided valuable insights into industry standards for website organization, user experience, and design trends. I observed how these competitors structure their product categories, employ clear navigation, and emphasize visual appeal to create a professional, user-friendly experience. These insights guided my approach to improving Sagu’s website, focusing on clarity, navigability, and accurate representation of their offerings.
In the ideation phase, I explored various design concepts to enhance Sagu’s website. I began with sketches to lay out a more intuitive navigation structure, focusing on clarity and usability. Inspired by competitors like Honeywell, I created wireframes that emphasized visual hierarchy and simple navigation, allowing users to quickly access key sections such as Products, Our Team, and Contact Us.
For branding, I refined the Sagu logo and selected a cohesive color palette to align with a professional and inviting look. I also utilized new fonts to ensure readability and a modern aesthetic. To humanize the digital space, I included custom illustrations of the office environment, which add a personal touch and bring Sagu’s physical space into the virtual realm.
Design process
Welcome to the new face of Sagu! This redesign breathes life into the company’s online presence, combining a modern aesthetic with seamless navigation. From vibrant product displays to an inviting “About Us” page, each section is crafted to showcase Sagu’s expertise in lab solutions with clarity and style. The site now tells Sagu’s story visually, helping users connect with the brand and explore its offerings effortlessly. Dive in and experience a digital transformation that’s as dynamic as the company itself.
Final site
SaguGPT
During my internship, I contributed to the development of SAGU GPT, an AI-powered tool designed to automate responses to client emails, provide quick access to product information, and recommend products based on client interactions. My role involved creating the logo and interface, as well as learning and implementing code elements to support the backend and frontend integration.
To build the original inception SAGU GPT, I worked with a Spanish-language model, DeepESP GPT-2, via Hugging Face. Adapting to Spanish-language AI tools was a unique challenge that required learning how to implement NLP models tailored to a specific language. I set up a Flask API to run the text generation model and handled basic coding tasks such as logging, error handling, and asynchronous HTTP requests.
For the frontend, I worked with WIX's Velo editor to build a simple interface. I used Python to connect user inputs to the backend, allowing the model to generate and display responses. This hands-on experience, though limited in scope, gave me insight into integrating AI models with user interfaces and adapting global tools to a localized context.
Final thoughts & learnings
This internship gave me a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change within Sagu. The freedom to explore my own ideas and implement strategies that I believed would benefit the company was both empowering and rewarding. Working in a smaller company setting allowed me to take ownership of the entire UX redesign process, from initial research to final implementation. I learned to adapt to a different cultural and linguistic environment, developing my technical skills and gaining a deeper understanding of how UX design can transform a company's digital presence.
Impact & legacy
The transformation I brought to Sagu extended beyond the website redesign. The company adopted my designs and branding elements across their digital channels, including LinkedIn, where my logos and visuals now serve as their profile pictures, banners, and content. This experience demonstrated the significant impact UX design can have, even in smaller, lesser-known companies, validating the work I did to modernize and align Sagu’s online presence with their professional values. I’m proud to have left a lasting mark that will continue to support their growth and engagement.