Challenge
UX Design
UI Design
User Research
Logo Design
Lead designer responsible for the redesign of the AtkinsRéalis Skills Trawler product used globally for internal project resourcing and personal skill development. Completing a full redesign to make it easier to find users, encourage profile creation and updates, and give a fresh, modern look that aligns with the brand.
Research
Usability testing
User interviews
I started by conducting many in person usability tests on creating profiles, updating and adding new skills, and searching for existing users. I was able to gain lots of feedback as our target audience was anyone that works at AtkinsRéalis.
Insights
Confusion around ‘Networks’ - what they mean and what they’re for. Asking users to define their 'Primary' and 'Secondary' networks adds to the confusion here
Difficulty finding and selecting disciplines on the first step as the options are hidden behind accordions
Feels like a very long task to complete - likely that users will not complete their profile or not add all skills that they need to
Users do not know what ‘Domain’ is, and usually decide to ignore it
Filters when searching are not very useful and don't match the way users actually want to search for someone
Users can add a ‘Desired’ level but they are unsure of what this is for - there’s no way of helping a user get to this level, or showing them how
Users often haven't updated their profile for a long time
Only 8.4% of our total users (+13,500) have updated their profile in the last 3 months as of 25/07/24
Review
Accessibility tests
Prioritising goals
Understanding user flows
Identifying solutions
I reviewed the existing product to find areas that we should focus on improving, and issues that currently exist. I identified issues with accessibility, overcomplicated workflows, and an unclear priority of the importance of product features.
Sensitive data has been redacted
Insights
Findings from user research and areas for improvement;
Implement suggestions and break down skills into a manageable hierarchy to make it easier for users to create their profiles
Focus on making it easier to search for staff that match the required skills and encouraging users to create and keep their profiles up to date
Make the process more satisfying and rewarding to motivate users to improve their skills
Provide links to internal courses that help users improve their skills according to their desired levels
Clearly communicate the purpose and functionality of the system to users
Allow users to view useful metrics on their current profiles
Create a clearer user interface with an emphasis on searching for staff and personal development
Make it easier for users to contact each other from profile pages
Final Designs
Design Decisions
To align with the company's rebrand, we implemented a new design system:
A neutral blue palette with vibrant greens was adopted to highlight positive elements like skill levels and improvements.
A modern logo was designed to match the new design system.
The colour palette was ensured to meet accessibility requirements, and all combinations were tested to define a list of compatible colours.
We enhanced the search functionality to be more interactive and user-friendly:
A dropdown was added to show suggestions while the user is typing.
The search was changed to a profile-based system, displaying results by user profiles instead of individual skills.
A filters modal was introduced for advanced search refinement, using skills, levels, and staff details like location and organisation.
Equations were developed to sort results by 'Best Match' based on the number of matching skills and skill levels.
Staff profiles can now be opened in new tabs for easier comparison and decision-making.
Improving profile creation and maintenance:
An algorithm was developed to suggest relevant skills based on user information (location, team, organisation, job title, etc.), making it easier for users to find relevant skills.
A stepper was implemented to break the process into manageable steps.
A hierarchical structure was added to the skills page, allowing users to navigate through thousands of skills more easily.
A new profile page was created that allows users to view all their skills in one place.
Workflows were simplified to enhance usability:
Complicated terms like 'Primary/Secondary Network' and 'Domain' were removed.
Long and complicated text was reduced.
The two main use cases, searching and creating/updating profiles, were prioritised.
Unnecessary data was removed from skills tables, focusing on what is important.
A more personalised and rewarding approach:
An interactive skill level component was designed, including a dropdown option for accessibility.
The user's profile image and details were displayed on the homepage to make the tool feel more personal and emphasise individual development.
A 'My Team' section was added to show people in the user's organisation, enhancing the personal feel and ease of access.
Lessons Learnt
Throughout this project, I gained valuable insights into the complexities of product design and development. Working closely with a small team, I navigated various challenges and made critical decisions to ensure the project's success. Here are some key lessons I learnt:
Took on product owner responsibilities, learning to prioritise tasks and objectives in a resource-limited environment.
Collaborated with the team to address performance issues, such as removing the automatic searching functionality, which was slowing down the page.
Recognised the need for more direct connections to suggested courses and learning paths to help users achieve their desired skill levels.
I have also identified future developments that I would like to implement:
A 'Welcome' modal for first-time users to simply and clearly explain the benefits of using the tool.
Satisfying and rewarding animations for improving skills and adding new ones.
Allowing users to bookmark lists of staff profiles, enabling them to save options when searching for staff with required skills.