Helping banking and finance professionals search and analyse through a highly-detailed catalogue
of 18+ million structured products spanning over 79 countries.
Helping banking and finance professionals search and analyse through a highly-detailed catalogue of 18+ million structured products spanning over 79 countries.
Role
UX UI Designer
Time
Aug 2017 - Mar 2018
Platform
Website
Tasks
Stakeholder Interviews
Usability Review
User Interviews
Google Analytics Analysis
Competitor and Comparator Analysis
User Personas
User Journey Mapping
Task Flows
Wireframing
Styleguides
User Interface Design
Interaction Design
Usability Testing
Project Overview
SRP is a premium subscription platform that was founded in 2001 in response to an increasing need from the derivatives market for the highest quality market intelligence.
Over the years, data outgrew the platform, code started to break and user experience suffered.
It was time for some UX TLC.
Upon the project kick-off my first instinct was to learn much about the existing product as possible. I spent time with key stakeholders getting in grips
with the product search and analysis that led to me mapping out existing flow.
Upon the project kick-off my first instinct was to learn much about the existing product as possible. I spent time with key stakeholders getting in grips with the product search and analysis that led to me mapping out existing flow.
I reviewed the usability to spot potential issues that would hinder the user. Below are some of my obsevations that were noted during the review.
I worked with SRP's Global Head of Data and Product Manager to set up feedback meetings with the clients. We devised an interview strategy and guide which would help us learn about the user's motivations, goals and pain points when interacting the product search and analysis reports.
Upon attending the interviews, we were soon to discover the users ranged in levels of seniority and varied in knowledge of the search and analysis tools. We also learned SRP's clients were loyal to the brand and the data they provided was very important in their business functions.
We spoke with clients about their current experience with the tools, problems they may have and also observed them interacting with the software. The interviews gave us great insights into the users' behaviour, evaluating the current usability that led to the development of the user personas.
Observations
Goals
Pain Points
Observations
Goals
Pain Points
After collating the user feedback, I mapped out user journeys for advanced search and analysis reports. The user journey visualises the user's goals, activities, touchpoints, thoughts and experiences. The user journeys demonstrate to the stakeholders how users interact with the platform and the difficulties they encounter when trying to complete tasks.
Aug 2016 - Aug 2017
I analysed competitors in the Structured Products space to learn about different search patterns being used by the market. I also researched comparators that were known for having larges quantities of product data with a high range of filter options.
Advanced but not practical
Search is busy, there is too much information on screen. You will need training on using the software.
Can compare products easily
Product range is only in the hundreds, but has product comparison functionality.
Limited filters
Has over 10,000 products but filters them down to a few based on search criteria.
Not enough detail
Only filters through top level information within the trial.
SRP's quantity and quality of data is highly valued and great for creating unbiased reports.
Users search for live products more often than expired products.
It would be easier for users to analyse if the total volume of products sold is displayed within the product list and analysis reports tables.
Filtering by sub-groups will improve findability and save time.
Copying and pasting data is time consuming and laborious.
Users are overwhelmed and can be distressed due to lengthy search steps and slow loading times.
The architecture was restructured to create a master branch for all data. The intention was to give the user a central point to access all data features. Scalability of data functionality would be easier to acess within the new structure.
Old
New
By taking a filterable approach to refining products within the search, there was a significant reduction in steps.
Refined Flow
To create an easy and memorable experience, I divided the pages into sections: fast thinking, critical thinking and analysing.
Defining Spaces
Structure for Product Search
I identified different types of filters and interaction points, which led me to create components and design patterns that would be reusable across a variety of filters and options. The patterns would decrease learning time when making critical decisions for analysing results and reports.
Styleguides and UI elements were created a sense of consistency in the design and bring SRP's branding to the forefront.
To help assure users of their decisions I used micro-interactions to provide feedback.
When a filter is selected, the background will fade into white to aid the user focus on the filter. To show a filter has been set there is a selected filter tab which appears above the list of filters. By clicking the pencil icon or cross the user can edit or delete the filter variable.
Loading bars to show the results are being generated.
Loading bars to show the results are being generated.
Giving the users the ability to pick and choose by making filters optional and customisable during search and analysis, created a highly flexible searching experience.
Giving the user an option to export data as a CSV file saved them user hours of copying and pasting whilst giving them the ability to manipulate data within spreadsheets.
Showing volume on search results and analysis reports, was sought after from users but not possible until now due to technology constraints.
Deeper analysis was made easier by grouping products. Now the users could easily see which distributors were selling what products in which regions and much more.
I was invited to the Structured Products Europe 2018 conference in London to conduct usability tests and unveal the new prototype design.
I tested the prototype with users' who we had initially met alongside a new existing group of subscribers.
The prototype was also showcased to SRP's internal analysts.
Users could easily navigate search and analysis sections from the header.
Users understood it's function from past experience or using other search tools.
Users were happily able to browse and selectively choose filtering options.
Users were happily able to browse and selectively choose filtering options.
Users found it difficult to locate the grouping filter. Once found, users could grouping results with ease.
Some users were unable to delete saved searches. Majority of the users found it confusing can counterintuitive.
Some users were unable to delete saved searches. Majority of the users found it confusing can counterintuitive.
Users were very appreciative of having the ability to export data with a click
of a button.
During the usability tests, users found it difficult to locate the grouping filter. Confusion was caused by it being categorised as a product details filter. The feedback received indicated grouping results was more of an after thought once the product details had been filtered.
During the usability tests, users found it difficult to locate the grouping filter. Confusion was caused by it being categorised as a product details filter. The feedback received indicated grouping results was more of an after thought once the product details had been filtered.
I learned the deleting functionality was counterinutitive and very confusing from the feedback given by the SRP Analysts. A lot of them could not complete the function or when they did, they didn't understand the logic behind it.
I learned it was ok to not spend hours on perfecting designs before presenting to stakeholders, as long as I could communicate my thoughts clearly using a combination of wireframes, UI screens, task flows and microinteractions all depending on the complexity of the task.
The approach helped me get my ideas across easily to stakeholders, pass to the prototyping stage and stick to the deadlines without the pressure of pixel perfect design.
Paying attention to the small nuances and microinteractions in the design helped decrease noise and creating focal points on screen when a user was making choices. Showcasing summaries onchoices users had made created a sense of assurance.
Working in a sizeable team and with a variety of professionals there were times where the environment could be highly stressful. I dealt with the pressure by prioritising my workload and dividing tasks into smaller pieces so it wouldn't seem so overwhelming.
SRP is a complex entity that consists of big data, publishing and events. The data section was a big milestone of the project, however more was to come, the next challenges that were awaiting me was to enhance their news and events side of the business.
© 2019 Salim Rupawala. All rights reserved.