I tested discoverability, navigation, and accessibility of the project picker, identifying new opportunities and specific pain points. Conducted onsite research, designed solutions, and presented key findings to stakeholders. The goal of this project was to maintain a cleaner, more accessible design on our platform.
Previous user testing showed that people had trouble finding important info and understanding the design. Tasks involving looking up information or figuring out design elements were tricky. Users also struggled with navigating between projects, which became a big issue on our platform. We've put a lot of time and effort into research, and now it's time to put it to the test!
Led the project forward with user research such as benchmarking, desktop research, gathering input from account managers, conducting user tests, designing high-fidelity prototypes, and documenting progress in Jira. Presented findings to designers, product managers, and tech leads upon completion.
Created a timeline for the project and provided guidance whenever I needed assistance. Allowed me the freedom to proactively pursue opportunities as I identified them.
We maintained weekly, consistent communication where I updated progress and raised any concerns. This ensured alignment on the project's direction and kept me informed of any updates or news.
Included in the meetings to make sure that the changes I'm proposing are feasible, time efficient and makes sense.
The user tests were done in our office using our five of own developers. They were unfamiliar with the platform but knowledgeable about APIs, providing fresh perspectives.
The test included different real-life scenarios to make it realistic for users.
After the tests, important insights were extracted from the recordings stored in Dovetail, allowing for a thorough review.
This research deepened my understanding of dropdown menus and functionalities, shaping potential solutions during prototyping and providing inspiration.
This research enhanced my understanding of conducting user testing, emphasizing clear communication with participants to prevent confusion or leading responses that could skew results, and structuring tests to minimize bias.
Discovery tasks:
Find and copy project ID into the notes.
Find subprojects.
Navigation tasks:
Create an access key.
Create a project.
Create a subproject.
Invite users to the team.
Switch and rename the project.
Accessibility evaluations:
Is the UI understandable?
Is it clear that there is a project picker?
How easy is it to use the project picker?
How was the experience?
I asked a user why they sighed during the test (proud that I noticed this expression).
Filip
Software engineer at Sinch
I gained new insights and inputs from this round of user testing. It was challenging but crucial to highlight the most significant friction points in the project picker to the product manager and tech lead.
Many small changes can have a big impact. All designs were based on competitor analysis, user research, and best practices from desktop research.
Since the developers found the switch-to button out of place, I changed it to allow switching projects through the project name, as they suggested.
The presentation highlighted key findings, issues, and opportunities that I wanted to share. I created an impact matrix to measure the effort and time required for each proposed design solution. This helped product managers and tech leads prioritize and assess feasibility. It also provided an opportunity for me to advocate for my design decisions.
During this project, I learned how important communication and involving key stakeholders from the start are. The product manager needs updates to keep other designers informed and set deadlines. The tech lead should be involved in prototyping to check if designs are practical and efficient. Regular meetings with important stakeholders, especially early on, help keep everyone on the same page, gather useful information, and get necessary guidance.
+ Communicated with highly relevant stakeholders
+ Gather feedback and input to gain more perspectives
+ Upheld a consistent communication with my peers
+ Clearly communicated desired goals with my decisions
+ Benchmarking
+ Onsite usertesting
+ Data analysis
+ Thematic analysis
+ Competitor analysis
+ Identified opportunities that I pursued such as the presentation
+ Booked meetings with stakeholders to gather information
+ Conducted relevant research based on tasks
+ Not asking for directions but rather take my own steps and ask for feedback along the way
Melinda Dinh
Product Design Manager, Sinch
Rebecca Norén
Product Design Lead, Sinch