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Project Overview
In one of the key projects showcased in her portfolio, Saara Vällik partnered with a prominent international electronics distributor to tackle significant challenges within their sales unit. The project aimed to streamline complex processes, reduce manual work, and improve overall user satisfaction by enhancing transparency and automating key tools. The ultimate goal was to boost sales efficiency while ensuring the solutions met the needs of both the business and its end-users.
Project Approach and Methodology
Saara Vällik employed a structured, user-centered approach to address the client’s challenges. The project began with an initial meeting to align on objectives, followed by a comprehensive discovery phase that included a kickoff meeting, system demos, and user interviews. Saara and her team utilized design sprint methodology, moving through the stages of discovery, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing to deliver a solution that was both effective and feasible.
1. Discover Phase: In this phase, Saara collaborated closely with another designer to conduct user interviews, shadow end-users in their daily tasks, and gather in-depth insights into their workflows. By observing and engaging with users in their actual work environment, Saara identified key pain points and inefficiencies in the existing processes. The interviews were structured with a carefully crafted agenda that moved from general to specific questions, incorporating methods like card sorting and the cone method to prioritize issues based on their impact and user frustration.
2. Define Phase: Following the data collection, Saara and her team analyzed the findings using the Job Stories and Problems to be Solved methods. This analysis helped prioritize user jobs and pain points, leading to the selection of the most critical use case for further development. The insights gained from this phase refined the project scope and set the stage for the ideation and prototyping efforts.
3. Ideation and TO-BE Workshop: Saara facilitated a TO-BE workshop with key stakeholders, including eight end-users and two designers. The workshop was designed to build on the insights from the discovery phase, focusing on two main use cases that emerged as top priorities. Using techniques such as ice breakers, context building, Crazy Eights, and solution wireframing, the team collaboratively explored potential solutions. The workshop culminated in a presentation and discussion session, where the group aligned on the most promising approach to move forward.
4. Prototype and Testing: Saara and her co-designer led the creation of a high-fidelity, clickable prototype based on the selected use case. This prototype was then tested with end-users to gather feedback and refine the design. The iterative testing process ensured that the final prototype addressed user needs effectively and was ready for the development phase. The feedback gathered from testing was used to make necessary refinements, ensuring that the solution was both user-friendly and technically feasible.
5. Production and Delivery: The project concluded with an executive presentation, where Saara and her teammates delivered an executive summary, provided access to the clickable prototype, and showcased a video of the user journey. This presentation included a proposal for development, an assessment of technical feasibility, and recommendations for next steps. Once the discovery sprint was complete, the project transitioned to the build phase, during which the solution for the selected use case was fully developed and rolled out.
Project Impact and Deliverables
The comprehensive approach taken by Saara Vällik resulted in a solution that significantly enhanced the sales unit’s efficiency and user satisfaction. The key deliverables included a detailed executive summary, a fully interactive prototype, and a video demonstrating the user journey. The successful implementation of this project underscores Saara’s ability to lead complex service and product design initiatives, from discovery to delivery, ensuring that the final product is both effective and aligned with the client’s strategic goals.
