Interactive Insights Dashboard
Electron Application
Interactive Insights Dashboard is a tool for patent attorneys and Intellectual property search professionals. The dashboard allows users to review a search report by filtering and categorizing patents.
Role
Lead UX Designer, Prototyping, UX Research Support
Project
The objective of this project was to provide a tool for patent attorneys that would address their current pain-points related to reviewing large intellectual property search reports.
Using the insights gained from user research, I created a clickable prototype to convey the product vision with the business owners and development team. Once product direction and technical feasibility where determined, I coordinated usability testing to finalize the design and interactions.
To address the users' needs the design provided a view of the chemical structure so the user could compare it to the structures from the patents in the report. We gave the users the ability to add colored labels to each result along with a filter to create reports of those patents. We also provided a three-paneled view of the search results with a detail view so the user could easily move between answers without losing context or their place in the overall answer set.
I created annotated wireframes to convey design requirements and worked closely with developers to provide oversight.
This product provided increased customer satisfaction and an additional revenue stream.
Challenges
Generative research provided product strategy and feature scope. These were key features:
Display Chemical Structures
The users need to see the exiting chemical structure to compare with those found in search results.
Categorization
Allow for the user to categorize each result with a color. This supports their current workflow.
Efficiency
The users need to read every single answer.
Discover
CAS gained valuable insights from three unsuccessful attempts. From those insights came three key design elements.
With no margin for error, I established key design principles that would guide my design decisions for every future discussion. The stakeholders agreed to these principles.
Design Principles
Keep the Best of the Original STN
Build on the robust "Messenger" infrastructure. Identical search commands and content)
Flexibility
Allow for quick and inexpensive addition of new features—no software or plugin installation required.
Efficiency and Supportive
Enhance the efficiency of experts and new users. Have little to no mouse interaction; keep your hands on the keyboard.
User Research
Partnered with the User Research group at CAS, we developed a plan for a successful Phase 1 release.
I created high-fidelity prototypes to facilitate testing, participated in research analysis, and made design improvements based on the findings.
This effort included five studies focused on behavior-based usability testing. Two of these studies utilized the RITE method, each consisting of three rounds.
We tested approximately 50 different search professions.
Design System
Project Outcomes
This was a multi-year project with three phases, resulting in an 84% adoption rate among existing customers by the end of 2019. Some of these customers included the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the World Intellectual Property Organization, the European Patent Office, and numerous other organizations.
Redesigned STN
Created a modern experience with the best of the old experience.
Kept Existing Customers
84% adaption rate by existing users as of the end of 2019.
Sunset Older Versions
STN Easy, STN Web, STN New, and STN Express (Original) were retired at the end of 2020.
Major Takeaways: Start with the hygienic features, do those well, and then build on them.
