Navigation update → better component system
Comparison analysis, UX wireframes, and coded prototypes leading to improved component system.
During a transition period, I became the de-facto Design Lead for our Seattle group after the main design lead left. I managed contractors and remote designers while keeping work aligned.
For this project I led comparison analysis, UX wireframing, and coded prototypes to push the navigation update that ultimately informed a better component system.
Work centered on bringing consistency, simplifying choices, and producing concrete, coded examples that helped engineering validate edge cases and implementation details.
Comparison analysis
Audited existing navigation patterns and adjacent products to identify inconsistencies and opportunities.
Framed options that balanced clarity, density, and reuse across the application.
Navigation iterations
Explored multiple navigation approaches balancing information density, hierarchy, and user familiarity.
Developed variations to test different interaction patterns and visual treatments.
Wireframes and prototypes
Produced wireframes that explored layout density, information hierarchy, and interaction seams.
Built small coded prototypes to validate behavior and clarify implementation details with engineers.
System outcomes
Codified navigation decisions into clearer component guidelines and starting points.
Improved cohesion and speed to implement through a tighter component system.