THE CHALLENGE

In 2022, Nabors launched SmartROS – an automated drilling platform built to transform efficiency, safety, and profitability. But without a user-centered approach, the interface became cluttered and confusing, limiting its impact.

GOALS

Redesign SmartROS to align with Nabors’ automation goals and built the foundation for a scalable, future-ready design system.

RESEARCH

With no prior knowledge of drilling or Nabors, I began by studying the history of drilling, reviewing articles and papers, and conducting user interviews at live oil rig operations in West Texas. Selected notes are included below.

THE SOLUTION

Safer, clearer error handling

Users are required to acknowledge all active errors before moving forward to the next step.

Preventing high-risk accidents

Users are given a time-based buffer for crucial moments to catch and reverse mistakes – adding a layer of safety where it matters most.

Adapting to environment changes

Dark mode supports safe operation in low-light conditions like night drilling or during long assignments – helping reduce eye strain and adapt to the user's changing environmental conditions.

IMPACT

Before and after

The left showcases the current interface while the right is the redesign.

Results

Before my internship ended, I ran quick user testing in a simulated drilling scenario. To measure the redesign’s impact, we tracked how often users felt the need to contact support.

Drillers reported nearly 40% fewer calls about confusion or issues, leading to smoother, more efficient workflows. Conducted in a stimulated environment, this served as early indicators for the redesign's success.

This was especially encouraging given that Nabors Industries is widely recognized as the safest drilling contractor in the industry – where safety scores are the top priority for all rig operations.

If I had more time, I would’ve compared pre- and post-redesign safety scores – Nabors’ top success metric – and continued tracking low-priority support calls to better understand long-term impact.

Leading a culture shift

As the project wrapped up, word of my work reached leadership. The VP himself personally asked me to lead a series of design thinking workshops for the company.


During my final two weeks, I built a curriculum, created a presentation, and hosted sessions for hundreds of employees, senior directors, and executives across the globe.


The impact extended beyond the rig – my work not only improved efficiency and safety for drillers, but also sparked a broader shift toward design thinking across the company, setting a foundation for future designers at Nabors Industries.

NOTES

To maintain the confidentiality of the project, I omitted particular pieces of information and artifacts. All information in this case study is my own and does not necessarily reflect the views of Nabors Industries.

For a more in-depth walkthrough, feel free to reach out!

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