Datalign Advisory
Portal Navigation - Redesign Proposal
Project Overview
Role: Lead UX UI Designer
Skillset: Problem defining, complex multi-user flows, internal and external use case, user research
Team: 1 Product Manager, 1 Designer (me), 1 Engineers
Timeline: April - Dec. 2024
Deliverables: Sitemap, Proposal
5 Second Takeaways
Problem
Datalign’s core product for communicating with financial advisors was running out of room for new features. Additionally, any ‘quick fixes’ or small features didn’t have a clear place in the product, leaving customers confused with unintuitive labeling and little distinction between internal and external account types.
Solution
Provide a redesigned layout of the app’s navigation to provide an intuitive experience and build a robust foundation for growth.
Outcome
As of Q1 2025, a new and approved concept was being tested against some of the biggest additional features on the product roadmap.
Users
Primary
New & existing Publishers
New & existing Registered Investment Advisors (RIA)
Secondary
Internal DA users (Account Managers & Customer Success)
Current Experience
Datalign View
Navigation layout
Publisher View
Advisor View
Predictable
We will not move the light switches. Users should feel that the interactions are familiar and predictable to their “regular tools” and have minimal learning curve.
Relevant
The navigation & sub navigation must provide context to the user as they explore the portal.
Streamlined
We will avoid user confusion at all costs. We will err on the side of consolidating similar terms and overlapping features under a single umbrella.
Efficient
Users should be able to access the deepest nested page within 2 clicks.
Design Tenets
Building Context
Type of Content
Auctions
Customizations
Integrations
Performance
Routing
Account Management
Primary and secondary guides
With Figjam, we started collecting topics and organizing layers of how one would navigate the portal. Sticking to the tenet of only using two clicks to reach certain information, we planned out current features and upcoming features in the sitemaps below.
Final Sitemaps
Possible Solutions
Steps to Implementation
develop a roadmap against other influential business initiatives
approve with broader team
User test one current feature task with the new navigation for recording and feedback