UX audit
The audit focused on assessing the user experience of the BoardEffect software and the in-house Atlas design system. The project was developed remotely in collaboration with Lead Researcher Alex Card at Diligent Corporation’s Galway branch.
Research & analysis / UX
2021
Diligent Corporation is an American software-as-a-service (SaaS) company specializing in governance solutions.
BoardEffect is a management solution for governance of nonprofits and higher education institutions.
Users
BoardEffect software consists of different workspaces called workrooms, where users can manage members, create events, and compile books. Collaboration among workroom members is a core function of the software.
BoardEffect has three main target user roles, which sometimes have overlapping functions and tasks:
The first two roles, collectively referred to as enablers in this report, also serve a supporting function by organizing, enabling, and streamlining workspaces, workspace content, and related activities.
BoardEffect has three main target user roles, which sometimes have overlapping functions and tasks:
- System Administrator
- Workroom Administrator
- Board Member
The first two roles, collectively referred to as enablers in this report, also serve a supporting function by organizing, enabling, and streamlining workspaces, workspace content, and related activities.
Information architecture flow
A key issue in the current BoardEffect workflow is that many tasks and functionalities are hidden in sections that don’t align with the logical order of completion, users’ mental models, or established conventions.
One of the biggest problems is the settings area, which contains primary workflows, such as workroom creation and user management, in a misleading and hard-to-find manner.
The BoardEffect interface is not effective in guiding users through the suggested workflow or helping them populate and manage different sections.
One of the biggest problems is the settings area, which contains primary workflows, such as workroom creation and user management, in a misleading and hard-to-find manner.
The BoardEffect interface is not effective in guiding users through the suggested workflow or helping them populate and manage different sections.
Onboarding flow
A redesign of the interface is needed to align with the goals and tasks of the three main user profiles, presenting a more logical order.
Given their different functions, enabler profiles require a more task-oriented interface that supports productive and organizational activities. On the other hand, board members, also called beneficiaries, need an interface that facilitates content consumption.
Given their different functions, enabler profiles require a more task-oriented interface that supports productive and organizational activities. On the other hand, board members, also called beneficiaries, need an interface that facilitates content consumption.
Navigate through one of the critical assessment maps
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The structure of the maps follows the journey of a first-time user interacting with the platform. The analysis provides an overview of the information architecture, navigation, and workflows. Different sections were examined, with a special focus on critical aspects, pain points, and inconsistencies.
BoardEffect does not provide an optimal or intuitive user experience. The platform features an outdated user interface, both in style and approach, along with several critical issues.
Eight macro areas related to core UX and UI design principles were identified. This report provides design strategy proposals to improve the overall user experience, focusing on:
BoardEffect does not provide an optimal or intuitive user experience. The platform features an outdated user interface, both in style and approach, along with several critical issues.
Eight macro areas related to core UX and UI design principles were identified. This report provides design strategy proposals to improve the overall user experience, focusing on:
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Information architecture
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Guidance
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Naming & conventions
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Navigation
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Prioritization
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Workflows
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Call-to-action elements & states
- Design system
Navigate through a sample of the audit report
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A redesigned interface layout and navigation order were introduced based on user roles, prioritizing the most frequently used sections and tasks. A simple welcome modal could either determine the user’s profile or display their assigned role during the initial registration steps.
Three different onboarding experiences, ‘get started’ sections, and interface layouts could be developed to guide users and familiarize them with their core activities and tasks.
Three different onboarding experiences, ‘get started’ sections, and interface layouts could be developed to guide users and familiarize them with their core activities and tasks.
The redesign focused on improving the information architecture and navigation strategy to optimize the user flow. The goal was to better prioritize primary sections and tasks while providing users with clearer guidance and support.
Given the complexity and depth of the navigation structure, the redesign aimed to simplify it by reducing the number of items and establishing distinct primary and secondary areas of interest. The order of navigation items was adjusted, giving greater prominence to workroom sections and enhancing navigation capabilities.
One of the main ideas was to expand workrooms in the navigation bar and turn them into dropdowns that users can pin to the top of the list based on usage frequency. Each workroom dropdown includes an internal navigation menu, eliminating the need for a tertiary navigation level within the webpage.
A call-to-action button for creating new workrooms can be made easily accessible directly from the navigation bar. Secondary functions—such as profile management, notifications, the help section, and log-out—can be moved to the top right corner of the window, reducing their prominence.
Given the complexity and depth of the navigation structure, the redesign aimed to simplify it by reducing the number of items and establishing distinct primary and secondary areas of interest. The order of navigation items was adjusted, giving greater prominence to workroom sections and enhancing navigation capabilities.
One of the main ideas was to expand workrooms in the navigation bar and turn them into dropdowns that users can pin to the top of the list based on usage frequency. Each workroom dropdown includes an internal navigation menu, eliminating the need for a tertiary navigation level within the webpage.
A call-to-action button for creating new workrooms can be made easily accessible directly from the navigation bar. Secondary functions—such as profile management, notifications, the help section, and log-out—can be moved to the top right corner of the window, reducing their prominence.
