Saloni Tangal | Senior Designer Portfolio

SPACEGENES

Simplifying high-density genomic data for deep space research.

Space biology research involves massive, unstructured datasets from NASA’s GeneLab. The goal was to detect "synergistic" effects where combined stressors like radiation and microgravity cause non-linear gene responses that standard analysis often misses. I led the UX strategy and design to transform these high-volume genomic datasets into an intuitive, no-code dashboard.

Role.

Researcher · Lead Product Designer

Senior Product Designer (Founding)

Industry.

Bioinformatics & Aerospace Health

Tools.

NASA GeneLab, Figma, Bolt.new, GeminiAI

Timeline.

48-Hour Sprint (NASA Space Apps Challenge 2025)

01 / The challenge

The Complexity of Combined Stress.

Space isn’t just challenging physically; it’s stressful at the molecular level. While NASA has vast repositories of genomic data (GeneLab), the current tools for analyzing this data are designed for desktop-bound researchers with infinite time. This creates a dangerous Information Gap in mission-critical environments.

The Problem of Isolation.

Standard bioinformatics tools treat stressors like radiation and microgravity in isolation. However, in deep space, these stressors hit cells simultaneously, causing non-linear, synergistic gene responses.

The "Invisible" Risk.

Most existing platforms fail to calculate or visualize these synergies. If a gene like TP53 (a tumor suppressor) only fails when both stressors are present, a mission planner using standard tools will miss the risk entirely.

Operational Friction.

Translating raw RNA-seq datasets into actionable health protocols currently requires complex CLI (Command Line Interface) scripting, delaying life-saving countermeasures.

02 / The strategy

Scientific Observability.

The core challenge of SpaceGenes+ wasn't just displaying data; it was defining a new metric for risk. Standard bioinformatics tools treat stressors in isolation. To bridge this, I moved the strategy from a "Medical-First" database to a "Synergy-First" Observability Platform.

The "Plus" Factor: Identifying Non-Linear Risk

I architected the Synergy Detection Engine to solve a specific biological blind spot: when the combined effect of radiation and microgravity is significantly greater than their individual sums.

The Logic: I translated a complex biological hypothesis into a functional UI requirement:

The Translation: I acted as the bridge between NASA’s OSD-288 raw datasets and the end researcher, ensuring that high-risk molecular pathways (like TP53 and BRCA1) were surfaced instantly rather than buried in CLI scripts.

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From Script to System:

I developed a "Human-in-the-loop" workflow to accelerate the transition from raw NASA GeneLab data to a high-fidelity interface. This allowed for rapid iteration on the Synergy Calculator while maintaining strict scientific accuracy.

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Architecture of an MVP:

Before moving to high-fidelity design, I mapped the functional requirements for three distinct user types: Researchers (Discovery), Drug Developers (Targeting), and Mission Planners (Safety). This ensured the platform solved for both deep science and operational speed.

03 / The execution

Engineering the Discovery Path.

A. The Synergy Heatmap (Central Viz)

I engineered a high-density heatmap that serves as the "Command Center" for the researcher. By using color intensity for magnitude (Red=Up-regulated, Blue=Down-regulated), the interface allows for pre-attentive processing of complex genomic shifts.

A. The Synergy Heatmap (Central Viz)

⚡ The "Synergy Bolt":

I introduced a specific visual signifier (The Bolt) to flag genes that met the synergy threshold. This allows a mission planner to identify a "red flag" gene in under 5 seconds.

Interactivity:

Every data cell is a gateway; hovering reveals the exact Fold Change (FC) value and the specific GeneLab Study ID, ensuring the tool remains a "Source of Truth."

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The Scientific Command Center:

This high-performance interface transforms raw RNA-seq data into a navigable discovery tool. I integrated the Synergy Engine directly into the UI, using "Synergy Bolts" to prioritize high-risk genes (like TP53) and reducing the time-to-insight from hours of manual calculation to near-instant visual detection.

03 / The execution.

From Systems to Screens

B. Modular Data Ingestion

While the MVP launched with GLDS-288 (Mouse Spleen), I designed the backend architecture to be dataset-agnostic. This modularity allows the platform to scale into "Extraterrestrial Gynecology," "Immune Suppression," and "Retinal Aging" without requiring a UI overhaul.

B. Modular Data Ingestion

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Designing for Scale:

The framework was architected to ingest any OSD (Open Science Data) dataset, transforming the project from a single-mission tool into a universal platform for space and terrestrial health research.

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Impact & scientific value.

Global Winner: NASA "Best Use of Science".

SpaceGenes+ was selected as a Global Winner (among the top 1% of projects worldwide). The judges recognized the platform's ability to unlock the value of massive, multi-stressor genomic datasets through a high-performance, intuitive interface.

View the project on the NASA Space Apps Winners Gallery >

Global Winner: NASA "Best Use of Science".

View the project on the NASA Space Apps Winners Gallery >

Data Democratization.

By shifting the discovery process from complex CLI scripting to a no-code UI, I reduced the "Time-to-Insight" for researchers. This allows mission planners to identify molecular vulnerabilities and targeted countermeasures in minutes rather than days.

Data Democratization.

Cross-Disciplinary Scale.

The project proved that the Synergy Engine—while built for space—is a viable framework for Earth-based oncology and rare-disease research.

Cross-Disciplinary Scale.

The project proved that the Synergy Engine—while built for space—is a viable framework for Earth-based oncology and rare-disease research.

05 / Reflections

Engineering Trust in Data.

"Complexity is the enemy of action."

In space health, a beautiful dashboard is useless if it isn't scientifically rigorous. My role was to act as the Technical Translator - ensuring that every pixel was anchored in NASA’s OSD-288 raw data. This project reinforced my belief that the most impactful UX happens at the intersection of Systems Architecture and Human-in-the-loop AI, where design becomes a tool for scientific discovery.

"Complexity is the enemy of action."

Next Project

Fertility Fit.

View Case Study

Designing Trust in AI-Assisted Clinical Workflows

Redesigned a fertility AI platform after discovery research revealed clinicians were ignoring the AI entirely. Pivoted the roadmap from a feature-led dashboard to a clinical decision-support system built on explainable intelligence.

/ Namaste

Say hello.

I'm currently open to Senior Product and Service Designer roles across the EU and UK (remote, hybrid, or on-site). I’m especially interested in scale-ups building complex SaaS, healthcare, fintech, AI, or data-heavy products where design needs to bring clarity across users, teams, and systems.

Email/

saloni.designequation@gmail.com

Email/

saloni.designequation@gmail.com

Linkedin/

linkedin.com/in/saloni-tangal/

Linkedin/

linkedin.com/in/saloni-tangal/

Medium/

medium.com/@saloni.designequation

Medium/

medium.com/@saloni.designequation