The 3ds Max Asset Library is a tool used to organize user data. This required a method to classify information. The ultimate goal was to auto-generate the taxonomy, but as a first step, we designed a system that allowed users to add their own tags to files.

I was influenced by the tagging system in the WordPress blog editor.

WordPress Tag Editor

I provided this initial mock-up to the developer (See wireframe below). Since we started from a known set of requirements for a general tagging system, the design process was relatively straight-forward  and we iterated to come up with the following acceptance criteria.

• A way to indicate that a tag was changed or added.
• A way to commit changes, once the user is satisfied with the result.
• A way to add pre-existing tags assigned to other files.
• A way to display the tags currently assigned to the file being edited.
• A way to remove tags.
• A way to prevent illegal characters in tags.
• A way to prevent excessively long tags.
• A way to allow foreign characters in tags.

This evolved into the final feature shown in the video below.