The Right Data at the Right Time
dBocl is an easy-to-use, web-based organizational tool to manage all the back-of-house event details that drive even the most cool headed of us crazy!
dBocl: Transforming Event Logistics Coordination
Background
dBocl is an event logistics coordination company that manages complex, fast‑moving projects in which timing and collaboration are critical. Their existing workflow relied heavily on dropdown menus, grids, and spreadsheets to track tasks and emergencies. While functional, this system left team members siloed no one had visibility into what others were working on, which prevented collaboration and made it difficult to respond effectively when problems escalated.
Research
To understand the pain points, we conducted 1:1 interviews with stakeholders, staff, and external users of the current system. The research revealed a consistent theme: lack of transparency and poor communication across teams. Staff felt isolated, unable to step in and support one another when workloads spiked or emergencies arose.
Design Approach
Based on these insights, we developed three prototypes:
Iterative Improvement: A refined version of the existing product with improved information architecture, designed to reduce friction while staying familiar.
Dashboard Spoke Model: A slightly different approach that organized tasks around a central dashboard, providing clearer visibility into responsibilities.
Task‑First Redesign: A radical rethinking of the workflow, making tasks—not data—the primary focus. This prototype introduced an organic circle‑and‑bubble interface, allowing users to pivot views across variables and see relationships dynamically.
Usability Studies
We conducted usability studies with both current users of dbocl. The design was iterated and we repeated the studies until success for new users was around 80% on all tasks across the board.
Outcome
The client chose to pursue the unconventional task‑first UI. The results were striking:
Teams reported they could complete entire projects with half the staff.
The interface was so intuitive that training was virtually unnecessary.
Collaboration improved dramatically, with staff able to see and support one another in real time.
Impact
By shifting the focus from static data structures to dynamic task visualization, dBocl transformed its event logistics coordination. The new system not only streamlined operations but also fostered a culture of shared responsibility and agility critical in high‑pressure event environments.
Smarter solutions. Greater velocity of work.
I specialize in delivering timely, targeted insights that keep teams aligned and moving forward. By surfacing the right data at the right moment, I help clients make confident decisions, avoid costly missteps, and accelerate product momentum.
Smartsheet: Establishing a Scalable UX Benchmarking Framework
Background
Smartsheet engaged our team to conduct a series of UX benchmarking studies across several of the product’s core pillars. Each pillar represented a distinct functional area with its own workflows, user expectations, and design patterns. The goal was to understand how well each area performed in terms of usability, efficiency, and overall user satisfaction.
Research & Benchmarking
Over multiple cycles, we executed a large number of benchmarking studies, each using consistent tasks, metrics, and evaluation criteria. These studies provided a clear view into the strengths and weaknesses of individual product areas, but as the dataset grew, a new opportunity emerged: identifying patterns that cut across pillars.
Meta‑Analysis
Smartsheet asked us to step back and perform a meta‑analysis across all completed benchmarks. By synthesizing results from every pillar, we uncovered recurring usability issues, repeated friction points, and systemic inconsistencies that weren’t visible when looking at each area in isolation. This cross‑pillar perspective revealed:
Common interaction patterns that confused users
Repeated terminology mismatches
Inconsistent navigation and information hierarchy
Variability in error handling and feedback
These insights helped the organization identify not only what needed improvement but also why these issues recurred.
Creating a Scalable Benchmarking Process
In addition to the meta‑analysis, Smartsheet asked us to document our entire benchmarking methodology so the organization could continue running studies with the same level of rigor and consistency. We created a comprehensive, step‑by‑step process covering:
Study design and task selection
Metrics and scoring frameworks
Participant recruitment guidelines
Data collection and analysis methods
Reporting templates and best practices
This framework ensured that future benchmarks, whether run internally or with external partners, would produce reliable, comparable results.
Outcome & Impact
Smartsheet adopted our benchmarking process as its official internal standard. With a unified methodology and a clear understanding of cross‑pillar issues, the product organization gained:
Stronger internal consistency across features and workflows
A shared language for discussing usability
WACEFE
Washington Council for Economic and Financial Education
WACEFE: Redesigning a Nonprofit Website Through Audience Clarity
Background
The Washington Council for Economic and Financial Education (WACEFE) is a nonprofit dedicated to improving financial literacy in K–12 education. They approached us with a dual challenge: redesign their website to attract teachers to adopt their curriculum and appeal to potential board members who could support their mission.
However, the organization faced a fundamental roadblock—the existing board could not agree on who their primary audience actually was. Without clarity on who they were designing for, the website couldn’t effectively communicate WACEFE’s value or drive engagement.
Research Goals
WACEFE asked us to determine:
Who their true audiences were
What those audiences needed, valued, and expected
How the website could serve both educators and potential board members in a meaningful, motivating way
Research Approach
We used a multi‑layered research strategy to uncover the motivations and expectations of each potential audience group.
1. Executive Interviews
We began with in‑depth interviews with C‑level board members to understand organizational goals, internal assumptions, and the differing viewpoints that had stalled progress.
2. Statewide Teacher Survey
Next, we surveyed teachers across Washington state to gather broad quantitative insights into:
Awareness of WACEFE
Interest in financial literacy curriculum
Barriers to adoption
What educators look for when evaluating new teaching resources
3. 1:1 Teacher Interviews
To deepen our understanding, we conducted follow‑up interviews with individual teachers. These conversations revealed the emotional drivers, practical constraints, and real‑world classroom needs that surveys alone couldn’t capture.
Synthesis & Persona Development
We combined data from all research streams to create two core persona sets:
Educators seeking credible, easy‑to‑implement curriculum that improves student outcomes
Prospective board members motivated by impact, community engagement, and organizational clarity
These personas aligned the board around a shared understanding of who they were serving and what those audiences cared about.
Design Solution
Using the personas as our foundation, we redesigned the WACEFE website to:
Clearly communicate the value of the curriculum to teachers
Highlight WACEFE’s mission, impact, and opportunities for leadership to attract board members
Provide intuitive pathways tailored to each audience’s goals
Present information in a modern, trustworthy, and educator‑friendly format
Outcome & Impact
WACEFE adopted the new design and continues to use it today. The organization now has:
A website aligned with real audience needs
A clear, research‑driven understanding of who they serve
Stronger appeal to both educators and potential board members
Publicly shared impact statistics on WACEFE.com, demonstrating increased engagement and reach
By resolving internal misalignment and grounding the redesign in rigorous user research, we helped WACEFE create a website that not only informs but inspires action. The result is a digital presence that supports their mission, strengthens their credibility, and expands their impact across Washington state.