Workflow — SAIC
About the project
Date:
Client:
SAIC
Services:
UX Design
Project Details
The goal was to transform a legacy application plagued by usability failures into a modern, accessible, and mission-ready enterprise platform. Research and thematic analysis of user interview transcripts surfaced four core pain points: error notifications buried in bell menus that relied on system-level technical jargon, missing input constraints that caused users to bypass mandatory fields before submission, unclear system state indicators that created cognitive overload on the Run Workflow page, and an onboarding experience that dropped new users onto blank screens with no visual hierarchy or guided entry points.
The redesign addressed each of these systematically. Using an established design system, the interface was rebuilt with collapsible project overview cards, dual Table and Card view modes, and inline plain language error messages placed directly next to affected fields — replacing technical jargon with human readable guidance. Developer handoff was delivered through detailed interactive guides in GitLab with specific variable values to eliminate implementation ambiguity.
Things I Did
I led qualitative research and discovery from end to end — conducting user interviews, running moderated sessions, and executing thematic analysis on transcripts to map mental models and inform the information architecture. I authored user stories with defined acceptance criteria to drive the engineering backlog and served as the bridge between design and development, delivering interactive handoff guides that earned formal commendations from lead developers for clarity and precision.
I implemented a plain language content strategy informed by Nielsen Norman Group training, replacing all technical error messaging with inline human readable copy placed directly next to the fields that needed attention. I also proactively established direct stakeholder communication and led user interview sessions to maintain development momentum, ensuring the project never lost alignment or forward motion.
The final delivered interface achieved 100% design fidelity, full Section 508 and WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance, and a measurable increase in the percentage of users who could independently identify and correct form errors without external support.
