Energy transition discussions are frequently shaped by simplified narratives that isolate individual technologies rather than considering the system as a whole. Existing tools often present static data or dense dashboards, making it difficult to explore “what-if” scenarios or understand the consequences of different decisions.

As a result, stakeholders struggled to:

  • interpret fragmented and technical data

  • Compare trade-offs across cost, emissions, and reliability

  • understand how changes in one area affected the wider system

Frazer-Nash needed a way to make these interdependencies visible, navigable, and open to exploration.

I worked as the lead UX and systems designer on this project. My role involved framing the problem, synthesising research insights, mapping system relationships, and designing the interaction model and visual structure of the tool. I collaborated closely with engineers and mentors at Frazer-Nash to ensure the design reflected real-world constraints and domain knowledge.

I worked as the lead UX and systems designer on this project. My role involved framing the problem, synthesising research insights, mapping system relationships, and designing the interaction model and visual structure of the tool. I collaborated closely with engineers and mentors at Frazer-Nash to ensure the design reflected real-world constraints and domain knowledge.

Context

Context

My Role

Visualizing Australia’s Energy Landscape


My Role

My Role

2025 ·

Visit Live ↗

Visit Live ↗

3591

The final outcome was an interactive prototype that enabled stakeholders to explore energy transition scenarios in real time. By making system relationships visible and navigable, the tool supported clearer understanding of complex trade-offs and encouraged more informed discussions around energy futures.

This project reinforced the importance of designing for systems rather than isolated interfaces. It demonstrated how interaction and visual structure can help make complex and abstract problems more approachable without oversimplifying them.

Reflection

Node-based visualisation

A node-based structure was used to represent energy sources and their relationships. This allowed interdependencies to be communicated spatially, making it easier to see how changes in one part of the system influenced others

Scenario exploration through interaction

Interactive controls were introduced to allow users to adjust energy inputs and explore different scenarios dynamically. This shifted the experience from passive viewing to active exploration, enabling stakeholders to test assumptions and compare outcomes.

Surfacing trade-offs

The interface was designed to make trade-offs across cost, emissions, and system reliability visible without prioritising a single metric. This supported more nuanced discussions and avoided overly simplified conclusions.

System Mapping

Early work focused on mapping the energy transition as a connected system rather than a linear flow. Relationships between generation sources, storage, emissions, cost, and reliability were explored through iterative system maps.

These mappings helped surface key dependencies and informed the underlying structure of the visual model, ensuring the design reflected system behaviour rather than isolated metrics.

Key Design Decisions

Outcome

Outcome

The Problem

Approach

The project was approached through a systems-thinking lens, focusing on relationships rather than individual data points. Instead of reducing complexity early, the goal was to preserve it while making it easier to reason about and explore.

The design process prioritised understanding how different energy sources, constraints, and outcomes interact, and how these relationships could be expressed through visual structure and interaction.


Australia’s energy transition involves complex trade-offs across cost, emissions, and system reliability. While extensive data exists, it is often fragmented and difficult to interpret, making it challenging for stakeholders to explore scenarios or understand systemic consequences. Frazer-Nash required a way to make these interdependencies visible, navigable, and explorable.

Australia’s energy transition involves complex trade-offs across cost, emissions, and system reliability. While extensive data exists, it is often fragmented and difficult to interpret, making it challenging for stakeholders to explore scenarios or understand systemic consequences. Frazer-Nash required a way to make these interdependencies visible, navigable, and explorable.

An interactive, data-driven tool designed to help stakeholders explore complex energy transition scenarios and key trade-offs.