Streamline Data Visualization

iShowroom

Overview

iShowroom is a desktop app from Citrix designed for salespeople in Interior Design showrooms. The Citrix Workspace app is the client-side tool that lets users securely access all Workspace apps, services, and data on any device or network. It provides access to files, mobile apps, and virtual apps through a single, easy-to-use interface.

Responsibilites

  • Role: Product Designer

  • Project Duration: ~ 1 month

  • Tools: Figma


  • Understanding user needs

  • Define Information Architecture

  • Focusing on Visual Hierarchy

  • Optimize for Data Visualization

The Problem

Citrix DaaS™ and Citrix® VDI often slow productivity due to issues like outages, slow logins, and frustrating latency. Additionally, the outdated 90s-style icons make the interface feel old-fashioned and less intuitive. As a sales employee, I want to design a modern, intuitive dashboard that addresses these challenges and better meets the needs of my colleague.

Dashboards are the showroom for managing products.

Interface Limitations

The current version of their pages had many issues. They are old and outdated, but that’s not the only problem. It went way deep when we first analyzed their screens.


Here are some of my observations:

  • It was visually cluttered.

  • Lack of hierarchy.

  • No proper filtration of information.

  • User flow was bad — lots of clicks and struggle to complete a task.

  • UI looks bad and out of place.

  • No feedback and improper messaging.

Affinity Mapping

I wanted to gather feedback on the system from different departments. To do this, I spoke with staff from the sample department, sales representatives, and vendors in order to get a variety of perspectives.


The goals of this research were to:

  1. Identify any areas of confusion in interacting with the dashboard

  2. Understand where user needs are not being met

  3. Determine if there are consistent patterns across all three departments

Information Architecture

The current design of iShowroom was cluttered and disorganized, making navigation difficult for users. To address this, I began my design process by creating a blueprint to deconstruct the system.

Visual Hierarchy

Nothing stands out, making it difficult for users to determine which information is most important. Because of this there are lot of confusion and poor user experience.

  • Scale: Without varying sizes to emphasize key elements, all content appears uniform and indistinct.


  • Color and contrast: The use of similar colors and low contrast makes it hard for users to identify important sections or actions.


  • Alignment: Misaligned elements create visual clutter and make it harder for users to navigate the interface.


  • Proximity: Related items aren’t grouped effectively, leading to confusion about their relationship and making it harder to understand the structure of the information.

Data Visualization

For dashboards with a lot of information, the presence of numerous numbers can quickly become overwhelming. The current iShowroom lacks visual elements, so I dedicated time to creating an intuitive way to group and organize the data by categories and themes, making it more approachable and easier to navigate.

Iterate, iterate, iterate

Designing a dashboard was challenging due to the abundance of information displayed on a single screen, which could easily become cluttered. To address this, I sketched various design options aimed at improving the existing layout and resolving the mentioned issues.

Official Design

With feedback from both new hires and senior users with over 10 years of experience using iShowroom, I carefully designed a dashboard that is not only user-friendly but also generates excitement among its users.

Breakdown of the dashboard

Used navigation elements because it makes it faster for users to reduce cognitive load and make faster navigation and also increase consistency throughout different pages.

This card is for a quick glance placed on top that features all the statistical data which is useful for sales representatives.

Having an overall visual of the data collected from the showroom will help keep track of the sales which eventually leads to better decision making and also to identify patterns.

Pie charts can be used to tell a story about data, highlighting specific aspects or emphasizing certain categories. It is visually appealing too.

Table views provide an organized and structured way of presenting data, which can improve the overall user experience especially if there are colors, images and less text.

REFLECT

TAKEAWAYS

For my future projects, I want to focus on better planning. This means doing thorough research, finding inspiration, and staying organized. Small details can make a big difference, so paying attention to them is key!

PERSONAL GOALS

Since this is my first project from Google Coursera, I realize there are countless resources available to help me improve my design skills and decision-making. Immersing myself in the world of design is essential for expanding my knowledge beyond the bootcamp.

WHAT'S NEXT

  • Moving forward, we’ll test the app for a smooth user experience, incorporating user feedback to refine it.

  • Examine key performance indicators (KPIs) like drop-off rates and conversion rates.

© Elise Zeng 2024