Improving Navigation for a Complex Forensic Lab System
Client: Versaterm JusticeTrax
Role: Lead UX Designer
Timeline: June 2024 – September 2024
Deck available upon request.
Project Overview
After a recent acquisition, JusticeTrax sought to merge two versions (v3 and v5) of their Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), blending the flexibility of version 3 with the stability of version 5. Both versions were in need of a UI update. As this was a 30-year legacy system, any improvements had to be seamless, ensuring the system’s core functionality remained uninterrupted for its forensic lab users.
Challenges
Legacy System: The software was highly complex and had been in use for decades, making significant changes without disrupting users a challenge.
Scope and Resources: Limited resources and time meant prioritizing key areas for redesign rather than the entire system.
User Onboarding: Any changes had to avoid extensive onboarding or retraining for lab users.
Navigation Complexity: The software included 460 pages with submenus, wizards, and nonlinear workflows, which needed to be simplified without losing functionality.
Research & User Insights
Stakeholder & User Interviews: We started by interviewing key stakeholders and forensic lab users to understand which parts of the system were most frequently used and which were rarely touched. We discovered that while some features were underused, others were critical to day-to-day operations.
Main Focus: The most frequent pain point was the request editing section, where users had to horizontally scroll through wide tables with hidden data, making it difficult to access essential information quickly.
Design Approach
Prioritization: Given the scope of the project, we focused on high-traffic areas like the request editing interface. Users needed more information at a glance but without overwhelming them.
Bringing Hidden Actions to the Forefront: The current system buried key actions in a hamburger menu with multiple dropdowns. My solution was to bring those hidden actions onto the page, making them directly accessible without losing functionality.
Prototyping in Figma: I created a prototype in Figma, allowing the client to test the designs with users and provide feedback in real time.
Process
Agile Workflow: We worked in two-week sprints with weekly check-ins with the client, iterating on feedback from users and stakeholders.
Collaboration: As the lead designer, I coordinated with three other designers, receiving support as needed. Direct communication with the client through Figma comments ensured smooth collaboration.
Testing & Iteration: From user testing, we identified that while certain areas of the system could be consolidated, we needed to maintain a delicate balance between displaying enough information and overwhelming the user.
Outcome
Navigation Improvement: The redesign successfully combined the navigation items from both versions without sacrificing functionality. This simplification reduced the number of clicks required to access key actions, streamlining the user experience.
Enhanced Request Editing Section: The updated request editing section displayed more relevant information at once while reducing the need for horizontal scrolling and multiple clicks.
Seamless User Experience: By keeping changes minimal and focused, we ensured the updates were intuitive, requiring no retraining for forensic lab users.