DEFINING THE SCOPE
Our solution needed to be flexible, consistent, adaptive, and expandable to support and enhance the current workflow of finance consultants.
We collected all the available pieces of information to set up the core values of the product. We prioritized users' & stakeholders' needs and aspirations. Finally, we ideated how we could add value to the current processes and workflows.
PHASE 3: DESIGN
Facilitating remote Co-Design Workshops
We brought users, stakeholders, and designers together to bridge the communication gap between consultants and managers. Our goal was to share insights, understand the challenges, come up with ideas, propose solutions & set up the foundation for our dashboard.
Looking for effective ways to involve consultants throughout the process, we decided to organize and facilitate co-design sessions for the initial drafts and layouts. We scheduled online meet-ups with the consultants and our facilitators, where we introduced our initiative, efforts, and findings. We also allowed the consultants to come up with their ideas on how the core design challenges could be solved.
Solution design and Information Architecture
Collecting all the artifacts from the Co-Design Workshops and sessions, we were ready to dive-in into the Solution Design and Information Architecture.
Having a deep understanding of the workflow complexity and the views of the consultants & stakeholders, we spent much time working on diagrams, processes, and user flows. We aimed to identify and map-out the technical and interaction complexity for this initiative and be able to define the scope for the first Minimum Lovable Product (MLP) version of our dashboard.
Setting-up a modular design system
When the time came to dive-into specific solutions, detailed wireframing, and interaction design, one thing was clear: If we 'd like to accommodate user needs and shape a flexible, consistent, adaptive, expandable & feasible solution, we should come up with a modular and scalable design system.
The next step was to shape a white-labeled, modular design system that reflected our core values. It would enable us to offer the flexibility and consistency our users and stakeholders were looking for.
Stretching out our design system
After defining the design system and its components, we decided to test its flexibility to accommodate the needs of a white-labeled product and to be used by a variety of companies across the industry.
To evaluate the usability and effectiveness of our solution, we conducted an ideation workshop to come-up with three brands with unique value propositions, tone of voice, and visual language. We would use the three brands to test the design system.
To gather accurate data about the efficiency of the design system, we would test similar functionality and features for all three brands, to observe potential misalignments.
Brand 1: InsureLite
The insurance enterprise with thousands of employees and independent consultants
We started with InsureLite, an insurance provider with thousands of employees and millions of customers worldwide.
About the brand
Core values, tone of voice & visual language
We started with defining the core values of InsureLite, describing the insurance provider as serious and trustworthy, customer-centered, and transparent. The tone of voice should align with the core values, so we defined it as reliable, friendly, and adaptive.
To decide about the visual language and the branding colours, we created a mood board with images related to what InsureLite people, as well as what their clients see daily. After some consideration, we decided on a green palette with black and white colours for the brand.
Will our design system work for InsureLite?
Having our first brand in place, we were ready to stretch-out our design system and find out how our solution would or wouldn't work for InsureLite.
The dashboard tab and its core features
Our first set of features, i.e., the dashboard overview, the email integration, and the client list feature, returned a positive outcome. Our design system and its features seem to work efficiently for InsureLite.
Tool tabs & additional features
Now, it was time to dive a bit deeper into tool integrations to investigate if our system would be adaptable there as well. For this purpose, we tested our solution for Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft Excel integration.
Evaluation of the InsureLite stretching-out exercise
Seamless and efficient adaption of the brand's visual language & tone of voice to our design system.
The adaption of InsureLite's visual language & look and feel to our design system took less than a couple of hours. It was seamless and efficient both for the design team working on this exercise as well as the front-end developer who was in charge of bringing the dashboard for the InsureLite brand in life.
Brand 2: NomadShield
The Startup of independent consultants
To stretch our design system a bit further and step out of our comfort zone, we decided to set up a new brand. This time our brand should be NomadShield, a startup, working with independent consultants providing insurances for digital nomads.
About the brand
Core values, tone of voice & visual language
Defining the core values came a bit natural in this case, as we imagine such an insurance provider as adventurous, flexible, transparent, and efficient - all essential for the nomadic lifestyle. The tone of voice should be direct, brave, and transparent.
When it came to the visual language and the branding colours, we created a quick collection of images about what NomadShield team sees, and what their clients see. We decided on petrol, light-blue, and yellow colors the brand reflects the sea and the sun, most digital nomads enjoy on their adventures. At the same time, black reveals a timeless quality, efficiency, and boldness in their domain.
Will our design system work for NomadShield?
Having our second brand in place, we were ready to stretch-out our design system and discover how it would or wouldn't work for NomadShield and its brand.
The dashboard tab and its core features
Evaluating the dashboard overview, email integration, and client list feature, we got a positive outcome about our design system and features capability. All seems to work efficiently for NomadShield.
Tool tabs & additional features
As we also did for InsureLite, we would like to dive a bit deeper into the PowerPoint and Excel integration with our dashboard and determine whether our solution would cover their values, needs, tone of voice and visual language of NomadShield as well.
Evaluation of the NomadShield stretching-out exercise
Seamless and effincient adaption of brand's visual language & tone of voice to our design system.
Seamless and efficient adaption of the brand's visual language & tone of voice to our design system.Again, the adaption of our design system to the visual language, look & feel, and tone of voice of NomadShield took less than a couple of hours for all teams involved in the process.
Brand 3: Fin Power
The finance consulting agency of four
To investigate the efficiency of our solution for finance consulting agencies, we developed Fin Power, an agency of four, with 360° services around finance-consulting.
About the brand
Core values, tone of voice & visual language
Professional, strict, and quite old-fashioned, the brand tends to use business, severe speech, and tone of voice and have a business-classy and a bit outdated look with dark colours and gold finishes throughout its visual appearance.
Will our design system work for Fin Power?
Having our third brand in place, we were ready to stretch-out our design system and find out how it would or wouldn't work for Fin Power's brand.
The dashboard tab and its core features
Evaluating the dashboard overview, email integration and client list feature we got a positive outcome about our design system and features capability, which seem to work efficient for Fin Power.
Tool tabs & additional features
As we also did for InsureLite and NomadShield, we would like to dive a bit deeper into the PowerPoint and Excel integration with our Dashboard, and determine wether our solution would cover their values, needs, tone of voice, and visual language of Fin Power as well.
Evaluation of the Fin Power stretching-out exercise
The adaption of Fin Power's visual language & look and feel to our design system required a bit more effort than the other two brands, as an expansion of the current design system was needed to accommodate the brand's needs. However, after expanding the design system, the adaption proved to be seamless and efficient for all parties involved.
