Let me take you through the task:
I modified the project to include it in my portfolio while respecting ownership guidelines

Let me take you through the task:
I modified the project to include it in my portfolio while respecting ownership guidelines

How an empty state design increased active users

How an empty state design increased active users

How an empty state design increased active users

Crazy, isn't it? I'm totally blown away too! 😲

Crazy, isn't it? I'm totally blown away too! 😲

Crazy, isn't it? I'm totally blown away too! 😲

Role

Role

UX/UI Designer

UX/UI Designer

Collaboration

Manager, Developer

Task duration

Task duration

3 Weeks

3 Weeks

Collaboration

Collaboration

Manager, Developer

Manager, Developer

On a nice sunny day at the office,

On a nice sunny day at the office,

The problem surfaced, How?

The problem surfaced, How?

The problem surfaced, How?

During my onboarding to new team, I spent a lot of my time looking at user recordings in Posthog (a product analytics tool). Here is what I saw:

During my onboarding to new team, I spent a lot of my time looking at user recordings in Posthog (a product analytics tool). Here is what I saw:

During my onboarding to new team, I spent a lot of my time looking at user recordings in Posthog (a product analytics tool). Here is what I saw:

  1. Many users would be in an empty dashboard trying to look for something.

  2. It was frustrating to watch as I could not guess what they are looking for.

  1. Many users would be in an empty dashboard trying to look for something.

  2. It was frustrating to watch as I could not guess what they are looking for.

I then wanted some numbers to validate

I then wanted some numbers to validate

Decifering data

Decifering data

Decifering data

I discussed the problem with my manager and we collaborated to know what's going on and we were shocked to see the numbers 🤯

I discussed the problem with my manager and we collaborated to know what's going on and we were shocked to see the numbers 🤯

I discussed the problem with my manager and we collaborated to know what's going on and we were shocked to see the numbers 🤯

Users saw an empty dashboard in a month

Users saw an empty dashboard /month

2,545

2,545

Users returning to webshop

Users returning to webshop

40%

40%

Avg. time spent on empty dahsboard

Avg. time spent on empty dahsboard

6 mins

6 mins

Where do they want to go?

Where do they want to go?

Based on the "jobs to be done", we needed map how do we make sure they reach their end goal

Based on the "jobs to be done", we needed map how do we make sure they reach their end goal

User journey mapping

User journey mapping

Asking users through PostHog Survey

Asking users through PostHog Survey

What was the purpose of your visit?

What was the purpose of your visit?

What was the purpose of your visit?

Upon looking at the results we got to know what they are looking for

Upon looking at the results we got to know what they are looking for

Answer

Shop new products

Check my orders

Reach out to Support

Look at my products and services

Others

% of respondents

44%

26%

17%

1%

13%


12%

User journey mapping

Where do they want to go?

Where do they want to go?

Based on the "jobs to be done", we needed map how do we make sure they reach their end goal

Based on the "jobs to be done", we needed map how do we make sure they reach their end goal

Inspiration

Inspiration

Looking for the best practices

Looking for the best practices

Looking for the best practices

Designing based on the common practices reduces the brain load of users and makes them take decisions quickly

Designing based on the common practices reduces the brain load of users and makes them take decisions quickly

Designing based on the common practices reduces the brain load of users and makes them take decisions quickly

Solution mode

Solution mode

Design-test-iterate-test-iterate-test

Design-test-iterate-test-iterate-test

Design-test-iterate-test-iterate-test

I had an opportunity to test the design with 15 users of the website. I iterated based on their feedback.

I had an opportunity to test the design with 15 users of the website. I iterated based on their feedback.

I had an opportunity to test the design with 15 users of the website. I iterated based on their feedback.

Interview Highlights

Interview Highlights

Interview Highlights

Quoting top 5

Quoting top 5

Quoting top 5

  1. I usually don't go to Support page as I feel its gonna take a lot of time

  1. I usually don't go to Support page as I feel its gonna take a lot of time

  1. Why don't I see product details

  1. Why don't I see product details

  1. "Go to Shop" makes me wonder if I have to start from the beginning

  1. "Go to Shop" makes me wonder if I have to start from the beginning

  1. Since I have logged in, I expect to be in the right place

  1. Since I have logged in, I expect to be in the right place

  1. How would I know if I am in a wrong dashboard

  1. How would I know if I am in a wrong dashboard

At one point, users found the task so simple and obvious that they completed it in no time. That's when I knew I got it 🥳

At one point, users found the task so simple and obvious that they completed it in no time. That's when I knew I got it 🥳

Final iteration

Final iteration

Final iteration

A dashboard with two clear call-to-actions:

  1. For people who want to go back to the website.

  2. For those who want to request access to the dashboard.

  3. A skeleton screen displaying what they are missing without accesss

A dashboard with two clear call-to-actions:

  1. For people who want to go back to the website.

  2. For those who want to request access to the dashboard.

  3. A skeleton screen displaying what they are missing without accesss

New Puzzle

New Puzzle

How do we give access to Dashboard?

How do we give access to Dashboard?

How do we give access to Dashboard?

Unlike the usual Saas products, we coud not let users Request Access to their admins through our platform because of Security reasons. User might not even be aware that they do not have access and that is why their dashboard is empty

Unlike the usual Saas products, we coud not let users Request Access to their admins through our platform because of Security reasons. User might not even be aware that they do not have access and that is why their dashboard is empty

Short term solution

Short term solution

Solution to data security problem

Solution to data security problem

Solution to data security problem

Upon requesting access, we show a pop up with 2 options to get access
1. We explain them that the quickest way to get access is by asking their admin
2. If they are unaware of their admin, we ask them to Contact support right away

Upon requesting access, we show a pop up with 2 options to get access
1. We explain them that the quickest way to get access is by asking their admin
2. If they are unaware of their admin, we ask them to Contact support right away

If all the users click on Contact support,

If all the users click on Contact support,

How to make sure that Support team does not get 1000's of requests?

How to make sure that Support team does not get 1000's of requests?

How to make sure that Support team does not get 1000's of requests?

Let us get on a chat to know more 😉

Let us get on a chat to know more 😉

The design is now live

The design is now live

Here is the result in 1 month

Here is the result in 1 month

Here is the result in 1 month

We integrated analytics right after launch, here is the over view of Posthog data

We integrated analytics right after launch, here is the over view of Posthog data

Over view of users who saw the empty dashboard

Over view of users who saw the empty dashboard

Users got access by asking their admin

Users got access by asking their admin

30

30

Users reached out to Support team

Users reached out to Support team

36

36

Over all increase in active users

Over all increase in active users

66

66

Conclusion 💭

Conclusion 💭

Every small step matters

Every small step matters

Every small step matters

  1. Data helped me convince both myself and the stakeholders about the problem.

  2. Talking to users provided direction for the solution.

  3. Teammates who encourage your initiatives push you to achieve more than you think you can