Status: Active Project
The Problem
Thinkstruct's (a research tool catered to streamlining the research process) previous design lacked intuitive navigation, clear hierarchy, and workflow integration, forcing PhD researchers to juggle multiple tabs for key tasks like finding papers, drafting, and citations. Poor UI patterns and CTA placement made the platform inefficient and difficult to use.
Inconsistinsies Present
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Cluttered and Inconsistent Layout – The homepage lacked a clear hierarchy, making navigation difficult.
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Ineffective Use of Space – Certain sections dominated the page, pushing essential research tools lower.
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Minimal Visual Hierarchy
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Lack of Recognizable UI Patterns – The design didn't align with industry standards for research platforms, creating a learning curve for users.
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Limited CTA Placement – Users were not guided toward the most important actions, affecting workflow efficiency.
The Goal
Redesign and add features to product page in order to:
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Create an intuitive experience by restructuring workflows into a single, centralized research hub.
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Implement familiar UI patterns from established research tools to reduce the learning curve.
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Improve visual hierarchy & navigation to allow users to quickly access projects, papers, and recommendations.
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Enhance usability & engagement by prioritizing key actions and research tools.
Research Process
User Pain Points​
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User pain points identified by the target audience - PhD researchers - to understand which features take priority in product design and lead to more engagement.
Competitive Analysis
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Compared product pages from well- structured dashboards and product pages to identify industry best practices.
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Noted that successful pages used a card based layout, had consistent spacing & readability, and a sidebar navigation
Redesign: Before and After Comparisons ​
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After identifying various improvements to be made, redesigned existing page which loads after user logs in.
Final Solution
Prototype​
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After redesigning the current page, I implemented new pages per the client's request:​
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Active ​Project's Dashboard
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Project Page Dashboard
Designing for Mobile
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Pages were then mobile optimized
Iterations
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Current designs were implemented into product website. I am currently working on creating a design system to ensure that all components of the page are organized and follow patterns while creating documentation alongside.
