Creating Smarter Decisions: Automating Manual Workflows
Studio 0815
2024
B2B
To protect the client's intellectual property under our non-disclosure agreement, specific details in this case study have been intentionally left out or generalized.
We designed a digital flow on a 24" Desktop to replace the previous paper-based system used by sociologists inside the Air Force personnel staffing discussions.
This new feature helped sociologists transition from spreadsheets to a digital dashboard, enabling easier nominee evaluations, communication through comments, and a presentation mode.
My Role
UX Design team lead + 1 more designer
Collaboration
Product Managers
Development Team
Sociologists
Timeframe & Tools
4 months
Hand Drawn Sketches
Figma
Let's break this down to challenges:
Manual Work
The new flow needs to turn inefficient manual analysis of nominee data into a digital form that works effectively.
Disconnected Communication
Replacing scattered communication with a real time comment sharing feature, allowing multiple Sociologists to work efficiently.
Lack of Clarity in Presentations
Transforming static reports into an interactive presentation mode for clearer discussions flow.
In this case study, we will detail our thought process and the steps we took to transform these challenges into a functioning flow, demonstrating our approach and solutions. Thank you for reading.
Sociologists
Aged 28-52, with backgrounds in sociology or psychology, they evaluate personnel, analyze sociometry scores, compare candidates, efficiently communicate insights during discussions, and provide their recommendations.
Officers
Aged 24-42, trained in leadership and operational skills, officers are evaluated based on performance and suitability for roles. While their data is central to the evaluation process, they are not the primary users of the system.
TLDR: Flow is relevant to the Sociologist
Where does this flow take place?
Tasks Analysis
Based on interviews we conducted with the sociologists, we mapped their current actions and designed a user flow for the updated interface. Focusing on these main points:
Enable the sociologists to load different graphs, charts and scores to the candidate's personal file into one place.
Compare and Evaluate
Compare scores and feedbacks to better understand the relevancy of the candidate to the position and make an evaluation.
Commenting Network
Different sociologists work on different candidates and there must be a commenting network so they can work in a shared place.
User Flow Chart
User Flow. Feel free to scroll around
With the navigation and taxonomy established, we moved on to sketching key layouts and components, prioritizing quick, simple ideas to refine in later stages
Wireframes
Transitioning from sketches and workflow concepts to digital screens became straightforward once we understood the system's taxonomy and the sociologists' tasks at each step
Look and Feel
A Selection of screens from the final product. Prototype and more screens are available by request.
Leaving and viewing comments
What did the users say?
Unfortunately, a user test was yet to be conducted while writing this case study. However, we received direct, valuable feedback from the users. Here are a few comments:
@Sociology Team Leader
"Efficient & Focused"
"This is a huge help. Having all the candidates’ information and roles organized in one place makes discussions more efficient and focused. While we still rely on some manual processes, it saves time and reduces the complexity of managing so much data."
@Sociologist
"Organized"
"This design has made our daily work so much easier. Handling physical paperwork was always a challenge, and now having it all organized in one place will transform how we manage tasks."
The system today is in development.
What do I take with me?
Collaborating with civilian sociology professionals on an established, live system to simplify their workflow was both rewarding and fulfilling. I was integrated into the project team, where I had space to share my thoughts and contribute ideas throughout the design process.
Direct communication with developers was crucial - while it was sometimes challenging, our shared commitment to an amazing product allowed us to save time and resources, ultimately delivering a system that met deadlines and, in my view, turned out both functional and beautiful.
