Responsive Analytics
Report Platform
The client’s product, a report builder application, was originally designed and built in Flash/Shockwave. Since all support for Flash player will be discontinued in 2021, the client needed to rewrite the entire application on a modern technology stack. They viewed this as an opportunity to make some much needed usability improvements. The application is highly complex and flexible, giving users insights into huge data sets, however the interface was not intuitive, and the task flows were very challenging for users.
The project began with deep exploration into the user’s needs, the reporting application use cases, and user training program. Remote user interviews were conducted. After synthesizing findings, proto-personas and user journeys were developed, and subsequently guided the development of concepts.
A significant key finding was that the terminology used in the application was ambiguous which made it very difficult for users to know how to create a report. This was addressed by revisiting the application’s information architecture and using industry standard terminology already familiar to the application’s users.
New layout and user flows were created to compliment the new information architecture. Usability studies were conducted to ensure the application’s ease-of-use. Finally, production-ready design assets were created for developer consumption.
The design concept was refined as feedback was collected from user research and usability studies. Once the concept had been validated by users as useful and usable, and by the business as meeting their needs and constraints, production-ready design assets in the form of an interactive prototype and digital style guide was created for the development team’s consumption.
