State-of-the-art fire protection solutions
End-to-end responsive website + Branding (Client)
UX Researcher, UX/UI Designer, Project Manager
Figma, FigJam, Google Forms, Maze, Fathom
8 Weeks – 2024
Vanguard Smoke and Fire Curtains is a provider, installer, and servicing business which caters exclusively to California and surrounding areas. Vanguard’s goal is to introduce a variety of innovative, passive fire protection solutions to a fairly new market. The company is preparing to introduce a new product to the fire containment industry and is hoping to increase interest as well as prospective customer contact rate.
Meeting with stakeholders gave me an opportunity to learn their product’s specific role, the overarching workflow, and details coordinating installation. I was able to establish clear expectations on the scope, deliverables, and timeline of their project after agreeing upon and consolidating a list of the business wants.
My research began with analyzing 4 top competitors in the smoke and fire curtain industry. These companies are both suppliers and distributors offering similar services to Vanguard’s focus region. All these companies offer similar products and services so it was important to note even the smallest details and features that differentiated Vanguard from the rest.
My competitive analysis led me to questioning both stakeholders and users to find details that distinguish a product from others on the market.
While conducting my user interviews I learned there are many intricacies between the handoffs required during design approvals between architects, fire protection engineers, and contractors.
I observed a user navigate a competitor website as a way to collect authentic feedback on how products are assessed. This helped to understand what the targeted audience needs to assess a site holistically.
The survey consisted of 7 questions which would help restructure the website navigation. Unfortunately, the test failed when I attempted to contact potential users but I received zero feedback.
Distilling the key points of research into a target user helped to maintain a user-centric mindset. The persona I created was referenced throughout the remainder of the design process.
Prior to brainstorming any possible solutions, I took an opportunity to perform a heuristic evaluation. This approach complemented the research phase by identifying potential usability issues. Taking note of these elements kept usability at the forefront of my potential designs.
Insights from user research revealed trust and brand identity were highly influential factors in a market where sellers can become indistinguishable based on their goods and services. Vanguard needs to become a company that stands out amongst their competition.
To establish brand trust I began by designing around key product details and crafting simple designs around familiar mental models to organize the information. When creating a cohesive visual, it allows the users to navigate the site and never feel lost or confused which builds confidence in the product.
The flows were crafted to maintain a logical sequence of events when researching smoke and fire solutions. The intent was to engage users to navigate through the website and progressively gain the information and details needed. Each section is structured for clarity and coherence, addressing potential user queries and guiding them towards relevant content. This approach caters not only to potential clients seeking information on products but also to professionals looking for technical details and industry updates.
Vanguard cannot disclose details like final pricing prior to a consultation. This limitation was addressed with a minimalistic layout and limited drop-downs. The minimalist design addresses confidentiality needs while simultaneously presenting information in a straightforward manner avoiding user fatigue.
My strategy was to clearly state the purpose, function, and specifications of the company products. Each layout and its components were crafted to be familiar and consistent. Establishing familiarity through design emphasizes a sense of identity and cohesiveness.
Throughout the interface design process, I was mindful to maintain elements that could translate easily to mobile screens .
Melding the existing UI and newly crafted layouts was the central concern of the visual design stage. It was important to stakeholders that their product maintains the brand’s tone throughout the redesign.
In preparation for this test, I recruited new users with architectural backgrounds in order to garner an authentic opinion of the target audience. The overall success rate of 83% across all tasks indicates a positive user experience.
The breakdown of individual tasks revealed specific areas of strength and improvement, guiding future design iterations.
Feedback from testing indicated a few design improvements that could be made to immediately improve the user experience.
Prototype walk through of final designs
Suggested features that require additional design iterations and workflows.
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