Enterprise UX
A consulting team needed to turn a sprawling Excel file spanning 32 countries, numerous fuel types, and multiple regions into something their client could actually act on. I led the design from discovery through delivery, shaping both the data architecture and the visual system that made it digestible.
All names and data have been changed to keep anonymity of the client and their information.
Key Achievements:
• Facilitated a cross-functional workshop that aligned the consulting and design teams on data priorities before a before a single frame was built
• Restructured emissions data across 32 countries, 7 fuel types, and multiple regions into a digestible, map-first visual system
• Concept approved for further platform development at a later date
Skills Used
Design Challenge
Synthesize emissions datapoints housed in the client’s existing delivery method, a large Excel file, with numerous columns, into a usable and easily scalable dashboard for the internal team and external stakeholder to utilize for tracking emissions and fleet data.
Discovery
Because the client needed to display similar data across 32 countries, we centered the interface around a map. For a global production company, visual representation of emission distribution would let users compare country performance at a glance without scrolling through tables. We paired this with a modal (pop up) interface that would let users further drill into specific country metrics without losing context of the overall map.
We also recognized that not all data was relevant to all views. We needed to create separation between the Overview map, which showed all countries and information, and the Productions and Operations view. Each displayed different countries and information relevant to those selections. Argentina, for example, appeared in the Productions view but not Operations because the company only had production projects there and not operational facilities.
Solution
Designed a user-friendly modern dashboard with easily digestible data to ensure end user can easily find the data they need.
Utilized Local Variables (booleans) to control all data within proof of concept for a more realistic view of project.
Worked closely with both the consulting team and design team to ensure branding of both companies was accurate and brand approved.
Resolved initial performance issues through advanced prototyping
Instrumented a workshop with the consulting team to discuss direction, current pitfalls, design direction, and best direction on how to digest the data.
Technical Approach
• Designed a map-first view of all countries tied to the production company with a singular color.
• Implemented icons and tooltips in key locations to reduce amount of text across all pop ups, pages, and in the navigation.
Outcome
The project went through several iterations before we landed on the final proof of concept. Instead of building a fully fleshed out version with all countries and every datapoint, we focused on the United States, UK and Poland as representative examples. This let us demonstrate the concept without overbuilding.
There was initial resistance to replacing text labels with icons, but we showed how a color-coded icon system could let users scan fuel type availability in seconds instead of reading through lists. Reinforcing this idea with a visual hierarchy where available fuel types would appear in an enabled state while unavailable types appeared disabled. Paired with tooltips showing the name and deployment count, the client came to appreciate the forethought.
The client also decided on bar charts to showcase differences between metrics and appreciated the button group component that allowed them to swap between different datapoints without page reloads. The final dashboard was shared across the team and garnered strong feedback from stakeholders.
Impact
The project showcased our team’s ability to take such highly concentrated and dense data points and morph it into readable and actionable dashboards and interfaces. We also were able to take two brands and ensure they merged completely into a cohesive experience. This opened the door for further collaboration with this internal team across other projects.
