PM ReDesign — IRA DENNIS

ProjectManager App ReDesign

ROLES

Project Management

Project Leadership

Strategic Thinking

Research

User Testing

UX Design

UI Design

Prototyping

PLATFORM

Web

Tablet

YEAR

2021

RESULTS

Time Spent on app up 2x

Retention 2x for weekly visitors

Feature usage 2x

Conversion clicks up 4.6x

Self-serve conversion up 1.8x

Time to convert decreased

MMR net new increased 2x

*60 day rolling (prior vs release)

Revitalizing Collaborative Work Management: A Transformation Journey

ProjectManager was in dire need of a makeover when I assumed leadership. While rich in functionality, it suffered from outdated design and poor user experience, causing a decline in customer adoption. To halt this exodus, I spearheaded a redesign initiative, partnering with a design agency for early conceptual models.

My role involved driving the vision and strategic design. I maintained bi-weekly communication with the c-suite to ensure alignment with their goals. Post agency hand-off, I transformed the schematics into usable app designs, comprising over 125+ screens, a new search function, task card, navigation, and dark/light modes. This phased delivery spanned three months, during which I led the product delivery strategy and ensured development quality.

The results were staggering: within 60 days of rollout, retention doubled for weekly visitors, time spent on the app doubled, feature usage doubled, conversion clicks for upgrades surged by 4.6x, self-service conversion rates rose, and time to conversion decreased significantly.

Credits: Ira Dennis, Steph Ray, Andrew Spear, Marco Caadiang, Leslie Su, Radu Cioienaru, Leon Kim

Research

We pinpointed over 20 features capable of bridging the gap in the current market, delivering substantial value to users, especially through the development of key functionalities. Our visual approach aimed to distinguish ProjectManager from the crowded marketplace, ensuring it possessed a distinctive and unique look and feel. Our target audience was highly skilled technical and professional users. Through team interpretation sessions and design retros we solved problems in a customer-backed way.

Themed Narrvative Workshop (agency collaboration)

Projected Feature Set (agency collaboration)

Refined Design Boards (agency collaboration)

User Narratives

In collaboration with the Agency, we crafted three distinct user profiles. By leveraging the 'Jobs to be Done' framework, these profiles enabled us to tailor features and screens uniquely for each user group. The goal was to enhance their efficiency and speed in completing tasks using ProjectManager.

Portfolio or Executive (agency collaboration)

Team Member Dashboard (agency collaboration)

Team Lead Dashboard (agency collaboration)

Executive Dashboard (agency collaboration)

Navigation Dynamization

During the redesign process, user feedback consistently highlighted that many were unaware of the app's extensive features. A glance at the original navigation reveals the reason: its linear and sometimes deeply layered structure made discovering specific functions challenging. To address this, we prioritized essential features like Discussion, Portfolio (Projects), Dashboards, and Reporting, moving them to the forefront of the navigation instead of keeping them hidden. This not only enhances discoverability but also showcases the value that ProjectManager provides. Additionally, the restructured design eradicates the previous deep and linear pathways, enabling users to navigate seamlessly within the app. Our tests affirmed our approach, showing a significant uptick in page visits to Dashboards, Project views, and Discussions - which were our primary objectives.

Original PM Nav Structure (Deep & Fragmented)

Final Design

For us, it's about the perfect blend of functionality and aesthetics. We strive for a design that is not only highly functional but also minimalistic and a joy to use. See the video below.

Before & After

The redesigned Gantt stands out distinctly from the original. While the initial ProjectManager featured a three-tiered navigation and an Excel like Gantt chart, the revamped version streamlines navigation, freeing up more space for content. Additionally, the updated Gantt has broader time segments, enhancing its readability and usability.

Core Features

The Gantt, List, Board, and collaboration elements were pivotal driving forces behind the redesign. We approached this project with a strong emphasis on collaboration and the strategic presentation of critical data throughout the entire app. Dark and Light mode featured heavily during the redesign.

User Specifc Dashboards

Our ultimate vision for dashboards is to establish a fully customizable and modular system seamlessly integrated with reporting. As our initial step, we crafted three carefully curated dashboards tailored to our persona targets (My Home, Team, and Portfolio). We also extended these principles to the redevelopment of the Task card.

Modular Task Cards

Modular principles were extended to redevelopment of the Task card, allowing for customization and future expansion.

Smart Search & Key Commands

As part of the redesign, our goal was to modernize the entire UX and UI. The existing search function was linear and single-focused, lacking user guidance and context. To address this, we introduced typeahead functions to assist users in finding what they needed. Additionally, we incorporated contextual hints such as recent searches and collaborations. Moreover, to appeal to technical professionals we championed a keyboard-centric actions, ensuring that all commands and actions could be executed without the need for a mouse.

ProjectManager recognized the demand for a mobile version, as users increasingly requested on-the-go capabilities for tasks such as creation, modification, status updates, and communication. In response, we developed a mobile solution aimed at providing maximum value in the most efficient timeframe. Since its launch, the app has consistently attracted an average of 2000 daily users.
Credits: Andrew Spear (Designer), Ira Dennis (Project Lead)