Fastmarkets Commodity Price Finder

Helping commodity buyers and sellers find prices for metals and minerals with an industry-leading methodology for defining prices and an easy-to-use search functionality.

Role

UX UI Designer

Time

Aug 2019 - Sep 2019

Platform

Website

Tasks

Userflows
Wireframing
Prototyping
Usability Testing

Project Overview

Fastmarkets provides critical data, price assessments, news, and market analysis across various industries, including metals, mining, agriculture, and forest products. The commodities price finder lets the user search prices for metals and minerals.

This is a brief case study for quickly designing, testing, learning and iterating the Commodities Price Finder.

Drafting the functionality for search and filtering

In the initial meetings, I learned there were two ways to search for a price. The user flow and wireframes outline the process.

Search option 1: Quick search using the search bar.

Search option 2: Filter using commodity selection > Filter further to Country, Region and City levels.

Designing the screens and components

Using the existing design system, I designed the components and pages, for the Commodities Price Finder.

Creating the prototype

Flows - Bringing the userflow and UI elements together to map out the functionality and interaction points of the prototype.

Prototype A: Search for the price of the Aluminium P1020A premium for Rotterdam (in warehouse duty paid) and request access to it.

Prototype B: Using the commodity selection buttons and filters below the search box, search for the spot price range of battery grade lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) 99.5% min, for China ex works domestic then request access to it.

Methodology for usability testing

Users

8 employees of Fastmarketsselected at random by voluntary participation.

Key characteristics
75% of users were familiar with the terminology and pricing.
25% of users were unfamiliar with terminology and pricing.

Hypotheses

Searching
We believe by displaying popular searches, users will click on the results and save time on their search, rather than typing the whole search query.

Filtering
We believe by adding filters users will find it easier to narrow their search when using using the commodities list to find prices.

Seeking help
We believe when users need help on how to use the search and filter functionality they will click on the how to search and filter link located at the bottom of the search bar.

Setup

Split into two main sessions consisting of 4 users per group.
A moderated 10-15 minute usability test was set up with each participant over Microsoft Teams.
Moderators asked the users to complete tasks based on real-life scenarios e.g. find the price for P1020A Aluminium in warehouse duty paid.
The user's interactions with the prototype and spoken feedback were observed and recorded.

Moderators
Product Owner
UX Designer

Tasks

Scenario A - Find the price of the Aluminium P1020A premium for Rotterdam (in warehouse duty paid) and request access to it.

Scenario B - Using the commodities section below, search for the spot price range of battery grade lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) 99.5% min, for China ex works domestic then request access to it.

Scenario C - Where would you go if you were to seek help for using the price finder tool?

Results

Usability tests were recorded individually per user and then collated within a table for each group.

Group 1

Users

Group 2

Users

Please bear with me as I update the contents of this project.

My most recent case study: Euromoney Events Platform