Plandek is a UK-based data analytics company that helps organisations optimise software delivery using advanced metrics and data science. After more than seven years of growth, Plandek needed to refresh their web app and clarify the value of their metrics for a broad, global user base. I led UX strategy, content design, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design.
The Challenge
Plandek’s platform was powerful, but many users struggled to fully understand and apply its metrics. Different customers—from engineering leaders to delivery managers—used the product in very different ways, making it difficult to communicate value clearly and consistently.
The challenge was not just visual refreshment, but reframing the product narrative: helping users quickly understand what the metrics mean, why they matter, and how to act on them—without overwhelming them with data.
Research & Discovery
I collaborated closely with the Plandek team through a series of content design and information architecture workshops. These sessions focused on understanding user needs, aligning stakeholders, and defining a shared product narrative.
Key insights included:
- Users struggled to translate metrics into actionable decisions
- The same data needed to tell different stories depending on the user’s role
- Language and terminology were inconsistent and often too technical
- Key value moments were buried under dense layouts and dashboards
- Users wanted clearer guidance, not more data
These insights revealed that clarity, hierarchy, and storytelling were as critical as visual design.
UX Strategy
Based on these findings, I helped reposition the platform around decision-making rather than data display.
Strategic focus:
- Explain what each metric means before showing complexity
- Surface insights progressively instead of all at once
- Support multiple use cases with flexible but consistent patterns
User journeys were mapped across roles such as engineering managers, delivery leads, and executives to ensure each could quickly access what mattered most to them.
Primary UX goals:
- Improve comprehension of metrics
- Reduce cognitive load in data-heavy screens
- Strengthen the narrative behind insights
- Ensure scalability as the platform evolved
1. Metric Storytelling
Problem: Users struggled to understand what metrics meant in practice.
Design Solution: Clear explanatory context paired with visual trends and summaries.
Benefit: Faster comprehension and more confident decision-making.
2. Role-Based Views
Problem: One-size-fits-all dashboards didn’t suit all users.
Design Solution: Flexible views that supported different roles and priorities.
Benefit: Increased relevance and perceived value.
3. Progressive Data Disclosure
Problem: Too much information upfront overwhelmed users.
Design Solution: High-level overviews with optional drill-downs.
Benefit: Reduced cognitive load and improved focus.
4. Consistent Interaction Patterns
Problem: Inconsistent UI behaviours slowed users down.
Design Solution: Standardised components and interactions via the design system.
Benefit: Improved usability and learnability.
Final Design
The final product delivers a refined, intuitive analytics experience that unlocks the real power of Plandek’s metrics. The redesigned interface helps users quickly understand performance, uncover insights, and take informed action.
By combining clear content structure, thoughtful interaction design, and a robust design system, the platform now supports both everyday monitoring and strategic analysis with confidence.
The redesign strengthened the product’s ability to communicate value and support better decision-making.
Outcomes included:
- Clearer understanding of metrics and insights
- Improved usability across complex data views
- Stronger alignment between product narrative and user needs
- A scalable design foundation for future growth
