Redesign of a
Process Mapping Tool
SUMMARY
Blueshift Consulting was hired by our client, a process mapping company, to audit and identify areas of opportunity within the current product offering.
The product helps companies create a "digital twin" by mapping out company processes.
MY ROLE
I acted as the Design Lead for the redesign alongside an assisting Product Designer and Product Manger. Shout out to Paige and Jason!
NDA
This is a white labeled case study with limited details due to being under an NDA. Please reach out for the full case study.
Overview
Problem
The client was aware that users were having difficulty navigating various areas of the product and optimizing key features, but didn't have clear alignment internally on what improvements should be made and when.
In order to identify the users true needs, gain stakeholder buy in across departments, and define a product roadmap, user research was a critical next step in optimizing the user experience.
Constraints
- Historical backend code roadblocks
- A focus on Material Design 3 components
- Complicated material that required hours of continuous auditing, demoing, and research.
Research Takeaways
User Goals
- Improved content structure within the suite hub and the design workspace.
​
- An optimized and clean workspace to improve everyday productivity.
​
- Increased visibility and understanding of advanced features so that users are confident adding them to their workflow.
Business Goals
- Establish design patterns so that users know how and where content will surface.
​
- Identify high impact updates that can be implemented in a year as well as updates that can be added to a larger roadmap.
​
- Overall help users make the most of the product offering. The client wants users to be happy and confident :)
Deliverables
Our Design Approach
Consistency + Simplicity
A key goal for our design work is to improve the consistency and simplicity throughout the product. A crucial
step for improving user navigation, accelerating the onboarding experience, improving ease of use for all users.​
Role Specific Views
Efficient tools and features that address both regular and more advanced user needs to enhance overall user satisfaction.
Accessible UI
Accessibility and visual clarity are fundamental to ensure inclusivity and usability for all users. All designs are based off of Material Design and aim for AA level compliance for WCAG 2.2 Guidelines.
Improved Structure of User Content
Each user type vocalized the need for better content structure and organization within the product hub. This pain point directly impacts the efficiency of their workflow on a daily basis.
​
1. Easy Navigation to User Specific Data:
Prioritized access to user specific content within the product hub.
​
2. Access to Process Metadata:
Made process map metadata available outside of the design product for users who do not need to see map visuals.
​
​
An Optimized Design Experience
Users identified the need to optimize the design layout, toolbars, and hierarchy to enhance ease of access and provide larger views. Users mentioned that the current interface felt crowded, making it difficult to locate essential tools. Streamlining the design significantly improved the overall user experience and efficiency, catering to the varying needs of different user roles.
​
1. Optimize content navigation:
Improved how users navigate between folders of content related to their work.
​
2. Decluttered the design workspace:
Highlighted key tools for everyday use and improved the discoverability of seconday and tertiary tools.
​
2. Improved access to metadata:
Utilized side sheet patterns to better inform users on metadata without taking users away from the main screen.
Restructured Integration
The original display of integrated tools was nested in a scrollable toolbar and typically missed. Users did show interest in utilizing integrated tools to their work flow if the tools were more easily discoverable and easy to use.
​
1. A Path Forward: Our integration focus was about setting standards and guidelines so that the client had a mini handbook on how to achieve cohesive integration in the next 1-3 years.
2. Improved Discovery: In the short time we had on this deliverable, we created an "Analysis mode" that surfaced all integrated tools in one place. Users then have the ability to turn on and off the tools they needed and could also exit the analysis mode to revert back to the default design view.
Final Thoughts
Accomplishments
Cohesive Design
Streamlined design standards across all integrated products that can be scaled in future work.
Stakeholder Alignment
Through weekly workshops and design presentations we were able to achieve stakeholder alignment across various departments.
Establish Roadmap
Our team helped establish a roadmap of the designs should be implemented first. We prioritized high impact items that would immediately improve the user's day to day work tasks.