APCON Website
OBJECTIVES | Comprehensive redesign of company website — update graphic design, improve user experience, serve the sales process to increase sales.
AUDIENCE | Sophisticated, busy network engineer, IT Director, Network Security Director.
STRATEGY | My navigation and interface design strategy was to serve up a high density of information in single-screen views to create a fast, yet information rich environment. I used rollover state changes, tabs, and interactive diagrams to tell the product solution story and dig into features and specifications quickly. Graphic design strategy was to use a muted/sophisticated color pallet, imagery that contributes to the text, and simple icons that help explain complex features.
PROCESS | I conducted user research, mapped user flow/navigation and content wireframes, planned all layout and user interface design, and created final graphic design for interactive comps and programmer files. I wrote most headlines and was also a contributing writer. I managed and collaborated with front & backend programmers — outside agency and in-house — to bring the site live.
RESULTS | Visitor time on key product pages doubled and Key Performance Indicator of downloads for data sheets increased 476% within three months after launch. Contact Us form inquiries from prospects increased over 300%.
• See UXD Case Study 2 for more process detail about this project.
APCON Intranet Site
OBJECTIVES | Create a company intranet site to help improve company culture and serve as a central resource for company news, announcements, and employee documents library.
AUDIENCE | All company employees in Texas and Oregon offices.
STRATEGY | I concepted and designed a user experience that would invite employee participation and frequent employee interaction. The home page features a Graffiti Wall where employees can post random images and blurbs —there is a Sharing section where employees can share recipes, local restaurant reviews, photos, local events and announcements. The Documents section features easy to see categories with icons to filter all employee accessible forms, policies, benefits and other documents.
PROCESS | I created all interactive concepts, page designs and graphics. Brainstorm and review meetings with company stakeholders. Art direction with internal programmer.
RESULTS | The intranet site has proven to be a valuable and enjoyable resource for employees across different departments to interact in a fun and informal way. They can now easily locate and download all company related forms, policies, benefit brochures and other resources.
APCON Customer Support Site
and Partner Site
OBJECTIVES | Imagine you need to find some firmware for your printer to work with your new computer, or you would like the manual to your printer but lost it. Now imagine going to the manufacturer's website and instead of having to hunt through dozens of model numbers and fields for what you want, the interface simply serves up exactly the firmware and manuals that you need without you even searching for it. That was the vision for the APCON customer experience.
Deliver a user-centric and intuitive site that serves up the specific resources and informational screens for all user groups. The site has eight different user groups with separate access privileges and functions for each group.
AUDIENCE | Customers, partners, administrative staff, sales team.
STRATEGY | I organized the complexity of functions into dashboard style modules to provide intuitive interfaces. Simple icons help orient users to features and information types. Pop-up and drop down forms enable users to see, edit and enter information quickly.
PROCESS | I conducted user research, informational meetings, brainstorms, and designed screens for all use case scenarios. I created interactive comps for stakeholder reviews and final graphic files. Management and collaboration with outside agency and in-house programmers.
RESULTS | The redesigned site has increased customer satisfaction, lowered incoming support calls, and is a daily go-to resource for partners and the sales team.
The slideshow below shows some sketches where I am working out some ideas and running them by the programmers.
Smarsh SaaS Product
BACKGROUND | Smarsh archives email and other online communications for security and compliance. It's customer-facing SaaS product, the Smarsh Management Console is a sophisticated database with user configurable filters and alerts. The product was quite functional when originally "designed" by programmers but it was visually cluttered, complicated to use and "aesthetically challenged." | SOLUTION | As the UX/UI designer for the product interface redesign, I collaborated with the programmers, company leadership, and users to produce a more contemporary design solution that is intuitive for new users and also has fast way-finding for advanced users of the deeper features.
SLIDES | Below is a sampling of the standards guide I created for the programmers.
Two early comp interfaces shown below — one version of a light background and one dark. We chose to develop a more refined version of the light one.
JuggleSmart
Project Management Product
I've been doing "UX/UI design" long before it was called that. In 1997 I was designing/programming user interfaces to help businesses automate and streamline their operations using FileMaker Pro. I designed and implemented solutions for Customer Relationship Management, project management, and budget/cost tracking. The interfaces back then do not look pretty by today's standards, but the user needs, intuitive interactivity, and design principles remain the same. Below is a small sample of work circa 2011.
I updated the JuggleSmart product to be more intuitive with contemporary design. It will be developed using code to support a robust SaaS product.
Please visit UXD Case Study 1 for more detail about this project.