Streamlining Urban Mobility
Enhancing accessibility and usability of Cubic Corporation's Central Management Console
Project Overview
As the Lead UX Designer for Phase 1 of the back-office software suite redesign, I focused on enhancing the accessibility standards for engineers, accountants, and customer service representatives who rely on these applications daily.
The Challenge
The Central Management Console interface, a component of Cubic Corporation's Urban Mobility Back Office suite, was initially constructed alongside development by software engineers. However, due to disparate teams working on the project, the interface lacked uniformity, leading to inconsistencies in user experience. Moreover, it failed to comply with accessibility standards critical for corporate software, hindering its usability for employees.
Exploration & Research
Collaborating closely with the Project Manager of Accessibility and Human-Centered Design, as well as the lead software engineer, I ensured that design decisions were strategically aligned. Continuous stakeholder consultations throughout the year guaranteed ongoing alignment with product goals.
Due to the complexity and scope of the project, advocating for additional research and extended timelines was crucial. Despite limited client funding for user research, I conducted interviews with stakeholders, engineers, and past designers involved in the project. Employing open-ended questions, I unearthed critical pain points and gained deep insights into project requirements.
Organize & Expose Hidden Content
To accommodate phased-out applications and inaccessible modal content, revising the site map was necessary. Modals, which previously housed up to 90% of application content, needed to be moved to their own pages.
Each phase of the redesign prioritized user journeys, optimizing accessibility and usability across the suite of applications.
Utilizing Optimal Workshop, I conducted card sorting exercises to re-categorize remaining applications. This approach enabled data gathering on user expectations across diverse perspectives, ensuring an intuitive navigation experience for all users.
Results
Throughout the redesign process, I actively engaged with employees tangentially involved with the Central Management Console (CMC), periodically demonstrating prototypes to solicit fresh, yet informed perspectives on the progress.
Key observations from these demo sessions included:
Improved Readability: The implementation of better color contrast garnered widespread acclaim for enhancing content readability. Users noted that text and interface elements were now more discernible and easier to engage with, resulting in a more comfortable and efficient user experience.
Enhanced Navigation: The introduction of expandable and collapsible primary navigation elements received positive feedback for simplifying access to key functionalities. Users appreciated the flexibility afforded by this feature, allowing them to customize their navigation experience according to their workflow preferences.
Enhanced Clarity and Organization: Feedback consistently highlighted the significant improvements in page cleanliness and organization. Users appreciated the streamlined layout, which facilitated more intuitive navigation and task completion.
Overall, these insights underscored the success of the redesign efforts in addressing usability concerns and improving the overall user experience of the CMC interface.
