Application Advisor

Our team set out to tackle several user pain points that were commonly addressed around updating & maintaining dependencies for Spring Applications. We aimed to streamline the process, reducing the complexity and time required to manage these dependencies effectively. This initiative not only improved the efficiency of development teams but also enhanced the overall security and stability of their Spring applications.

User Research | DevEx | UX | Visual Design

Project Overview

My Role

Lead Designer & Researcher - Facilitating workshops to understand the problem space, Research, UX Design, Visual Design, Prototyping

Team

Raquel Pao PM, Alberto Calleja SWE, Tiago Fernandez SWE

Timeline

5 Months

Overview

In response to customer feedback highlighting the extensive time required to update and maintain applications with each Spring release, our team developed a tool to efficiently address this issue. This tool alerts users to both vulnerabilities and available upgrades for their dependencies, facilitating a streamlined process for vulnerability remediation and dependency updates. The project, guided by direct user research and feedback, underwent multiple rounds of iteration to refine its functionality and user experience. The focus was on creating a practical, user-friendly solution that significantly reduces the time and effort customers spend on application maintenance and security.

Process

Workshopping

Our initial workshops with SMEs were instrumental in understanding the nuances of the challenges faced by portfolio managers. These sessions helped us list our assumptions and unknowns, which then became the foundation for our user feedback sessions.

Prototyping & Research

With a clear understanding of the problem, we moved to the design phase, rapidly creating prototypes. These designs were then presented to users, and their feedback was invaluable in refining our solution.

Polishing & Handoff

In the final phase of our project, we focused on integrating our tool's design with the broader product suite, ensuring visual and functional consistency. Collaborating with the product team's designers, we aligned our tool's color schemes, typography, and iconography with the existing product ecosystem. This effort aimed to maintain a unified user experience and aesthetic across the platform. During the developer handoff, we provided clear specifications and prototypes, emphasizing the need for seamless integration into the larger product. This direct approach facilitated a smooth transition from design to development, ensuring our tool complemented and enhanced the overall product experience without compromising on design quality or user interface coherence.

Highlights

Remediation Assistant

The key feature of Application Advisor is its remediation assistance, which distinguishes it from other portfolio management tools. Unlike tools that only identify issues, Application Advisor also offers specific guidance for each problem identified. This means users receive direct instructions on how to fix issues, making the resolution process faster and more straightforward.

Historical Findings

The Application Analyzer includes a feature that visualizes historical data, helping users learn from past issues. It allows users to identify patterns, spot recurring problems, and check the effectiveness of their fixes over time. This visual tool gives portfolio managers a complete overview of their applications' health, enabling informed, data-based decisions.

Findings & Recommendations

Another feature that gained importance for how well it tested with users was our findings and recommendations settings. Users appreciated the simple approach to alert them to everything that needed their attention within the application.

Results

User Satisfaction

The Application Analyzer was met with positive feedback, with users highlighting its efficiency and the value it added to their workflows.

Feedback Loop

Continuous feedback from the MVP users is shaping the roadmap for the next version, ensuring the tool remains relevant and user-centric.

Lessons Learned

Power of Collaboration

Engaging with SMEs and users from the outset ensured a product that was both technically sound and user-centric.

Iterative Design Wins