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Client: Svenska Kraftnät (Swedish National Grid)
Brief: Svenska Kraftnät, the Swedish National Grid, needed to optimize their Power System Data Hub for data acquisition and sharing among both internal members and external clients. This transition from a traditional system with large Excel data files to a new website platform presented opportunities and challenges. The goal was to increase data-driven work, digitalize information, and create a more accessible and user-friendly experience for managing critical data related to the electrical system.
Challenges: The existing system presented several usability issues:
Complex and Extensive Data: The volume and complexity of the data made it difficult to navigate and understand.
Data Organization: The many categories made it challenging to find specific information efficiently.
Data Editing: Editing failure information was cumbersome and time-consuming.
Sharing Information: Defining which information to share with external clients was difficult.
Knowledge Requirements: New users needed significant knowledge of power system data to navigate the system effectively.
Limited Customization: The beta version functioned much like Excel, lacking customization and a truly website-friendly experience.
My UX Process: I implemented a user-centered design process that followed the Double Diamond Theory. This structured approach ensured a comprehensive understanding of user needs and guided the design solution.
Discovery Phase: I began by conducting in-depth interviews with key users, focusing on:
Understanding user goals and needs
Identifying pain points in the current workflow
Analyzing the success rate of user tasks
Definition Phase: Through affinity mapping, I synthesized user pain points to gain a clear understanding of the challenges users faced. Based on this analysis, I prioritized usability issues, creating a framework to guide my design solutions.
Solution: I designed a user-centric solution that addressed the key usability issues:
Data Overview: A clear and concise overview of all data allowed users to quickly scan and understand the information.
Filtering Capabilities: Users could easily filter data by category, making it efficient to find specific information.
Simplified Functionality: Customized functions were implemented in a clean and user-friendly manner, streamlining the user experience.
Guided Navigation: Appearing icons and text guided users through the navigation process steps, ensuring a smoother and more intuitive experience.
Secure Information Sharing: The system offered secure and direct sharing of information among users.
User-Friendly Architecture: A robust user experience architecture design, with well-structured navigation, ensured easy access to relevant information.
Actionable Data Presentation: The data was presented in a clear and concise manner, enabling users to take meaningful actions based on the information.
Time-Based Data Display: Data was presented in filterable timelines, allowing users to analyze trends and patterns over time.
Communication Enhancements: Notifications were implemented to inform users about any changes or updates to the data, ensuring timely communication.
Results:
The redesigned Power System Data Hub significantly improved the user experience, resulting in increased user satisfaction and engagement.
Users praised the intuitive interface and improved navigation, leading to increased efficiency and productivity.
The new system empowered users to understand and utilize the information more effectively, making them more data-driven in their work.
Key Takeaways:
My user-centered design process, focused on understanding user needs and pain points, delivered a solution that significantly improved user experience.
A well-defined information architecture, clear data visualization, and intuitive navigation are crucial elements of any successful data-driven application.
Investing in user research and usability testing throughout the design process is essential to ensure a successful and user-friendly solution.
My Role / UX design / UI design / Interaction design