Testing, Testing, and Testing Again

As one of my favorite quotes says, “You can guess, or you can user research.” For this project, the approach was simple: ask the right questions, test early and often, and let insights guide the solution. Thorough testing ensures we’re solving the correct problems, not just what we assume.

To understand and improve the platform experience, I focused on three key research methods:

From there, I followed a structured design process: starting with interviews and contextual inquiry to understand user needs, iteratively testing wireframes and prototypes for usability, expanding feedback with surveys to validate insights, and using analytics and A/B testing post-launch for continuous optimization.

Coaches using the Dragonfly Max app struggle to toggle between multiple profiles, such as managing students at one school while handling tasks for their own children at another, due to an unclear dashboard workflow. This inefficiency creates frustration and risks user retention.  This cumbersome experience may drive coaches to seek alternative solutions.

Rapid Prototype for Early Feedback

I built a rapid prototype in just a couple of hours, giving stakeholders a hands-on way to explore the flow and provide early feedback. This quick approach helped validate assumptions and guide design decisions before full development.

User & Business Benefits

For users, the profile switcher:

• Saves time and reduces frustration by making it easy to navigate between profiles.
  
  

• Brings clarity to task management, by separating tasks into clearly defined contexts, it lightens cognitive load and helps users stay organized.
  
  

For the business, these improvements:

• Boost user satisfaction and retention through a more intuitive, efficient experience.
  
  

• Build trust in the platform, encouraging continued use and ultimately driving increased engagement and revenue.
  
  

In short: users find the platform easier and more enjoyable to use, which means they rely on it more ... and that’s a win for the business too!

Collaborating as a Team

The design process is iterative, with collaboration happening at every stage, not just at the end. I work closely with the product owner throughout sprint cycles, starting with meetings to review preliminary sketches or wireframes and confirm scope and feasibility.

During development, handoffs live in Figma, using the Figma-to-Jira integration for seamless transition to engineering. All documentation is organized in Google Drive or Confluence and linked directly in Figma for easy reference. I continue supporting the team through deployment, answering questions and ensuring the design is delivered at 100%.

Open communication throughout the process is key to keeping the design aligned, polished, and fully realized.

A Related Success Story

In my current role at Sylvane, I redesigned a portion of our e-commerce platform to clearly segment residential and commercial customers. Even small changes, like adjusting navigation menu colors to indicate which type of account was logged in, helped create clarity and improve the user experience. This work laid the foundation for broader brand guidelines, including visuals, voice, tone, and marketing materials. Treating residential and commercial customers as distinct personas allows us to address their unique needs, market effectively, and solve pain points more accurately.

Key Features Delivered

• Tailored homepages for residential and commercial users.
  
  

• Personalized navigation and features, such as “Request a Quote” or bulk pricing options for commercial customers.
  
  

• Expanded brand assets including personas, graphics, email templates, and marketing materials.
  
  

Impact
By streamlining the experience for each client type, we increased user satisfaction and drove sales, while also defining a cohesive brand strategy across platforms and campaigns.

Testing, Iteration, and Planning for Impact

We validated the design through rapid prototyping and A/B testing, comparing the unified dashboard with full profile switching against the existing workflow, to measure task completion and error rates. Iteration continued post-launch to confirm assumptions, resolve any design gaps, and maintain quality across devices, browsers, and accessibility standards.

By making profile management seamless, providing clear task visibility, and supporting personalization, the solution reduced frustration, increased efficiency, and improved overall user satisfaction, helping the business retain users, drive engagement, and strengthen trust in the platform.