I was the sole designer for SAP Data Custodian. Over 18 months, I translated complex user stories into designs, delivering 3 new features, 9 feature improvements, and successfully implementing a new design system that satisfied company design standards. I worked closely with with PMs, product architects, and engineers to meticulously improve designs and ensure precise and timely implementation.
Tags: B2B |SaaS | Desktop
Project Time: Jan 2023 - Jun 2024
My Responsibility: Research & Design
Results: Delivered for implementation
SAP Data Custodian is a robust Software as a Service (SaaS) solution that protects sensitive data stored in public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments. This solution integrates with partnered public hyperscalers, SAP applications, and SAP managed clouds.
My responsibility is deliver designs for the key management (KMS) and transparency and control (TCS) experiences, improve the overall UI/UX, and squash bugs and inconsistencies. Specifically, to help customers operate clearly and successfully so they can get the most out of the product.
I translated complex user stories into designs, delivered 3 new features, 9 feature improvements, and successfully implemented a new design system that satisfied company design standards.
Stage 1
• The current design process is slow and cumbersome.
• 50% of user stories are not picked up by a design perspective.
• 40% of work has visual inconsistencies.
I integrated Figma into the workflow and worked closely with product managers in the Data Custodian team to understand design requirements.
Sample user story word document
Sample user story word document
Stage 2
How might I build the best experience for customers and help them better execute business functions?
Based on user needs I learned from research and business goals of SAP, I defined design characteristics before exploring solutions.
I had quick turnarounds on my items by starting early and often.
New warning message design in 2 days for error prevention
New warning message design in 2 days so users can
recognize, diagnose, and recover from errors
We prioritized these potential solutions by evaluating their technical feasibility and impact on customer experience.
Here are the top 3:
• Data Anonymization
• Tokenization
• AWS Key Support
Design Explorations
I used color and popups to bring attention to users' task at hand.
I ensured users had control over what they wanted to input.
I made sure forms were easily recognized as input areas with content design and spacing.
I collaborated with UA to ensure alignment of design, functionality, and documentation.
Stage 3
For every project, I produced multiple versions so the team has options to compare, contrast, and make design decisions with.
Old certificates table design
New key log design with better organization, verified with PM
New UI
In 2023, SAP released their newest design system, Fiori Next.
I leveraged the "Horizon" theme for desktop for past and present designs.
Identical information with the desktop version with some changes in design:
• Easier to browse by separating info into multiple pages.
• Align with design principles of SAP central design team.
• Seamless cross-platform experience between desktop and mobile.
This design showcases the characteristics of the new design system: rounded corners, new icons, new font, and new colors.
Old landing page design
New landing page design with new design system implemented
Old audit log design
New audit log design with new architecture and design system applied
Old pop-up design
New pop-up design with new shape and colors
As the sole designer for SAP Data Custodian, I played a pivotal role in shaping the product's success by delivering innovative, user-centric solutions in the complex field of cloud security.
Impact includes:
Driving Product Innovation: I delivered 3 new features that addressed key user pain points and enhanced the product's capabilities, ensuring it met the evolving needs of its enterprise users.
Improving User Experience: You implemented 9 feature improvements, refining workflows and interfaces to create a more seamless, intuitive experience for users.
Establishing a Scalable Design System: By implementing a new design system, I ensured consistency, scalability, and efficiency in design processes, reducing time-to-market for new features.
Achieving Measurable Results: My contributions directly supported business and financial goals, highlighting the tangible value of my design work.
All of my designs were implemented within their respective 2 month releases.
How did my work affect business and financial outcomes?
More Deals
• Apple signed a deal
• Coca-Cola signed a deal
Internal Recognition
• Praise from central design team
• Increase of visitors to blog page
More Quickly and Successfully
• Decrease in user time to complete actions
• Increase in usage
• Retention Rates increased
• What did I learn from this project?
1. Designing for Complexity: Learned how to simplify complex concepts in cloud compliance, data residency, and security for enterprise users.Understood the importance of balancing technical accuracy with user-friendly design.
2. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Gained experience working closely with product managers, developers, and stakeholders to align on technical requirements and user needs.Learned to navigate trade-offs between technical constraints and design intent.
3. System Thinking: Mastered designing scalable systems by creating a design system that maintained consistency across features while accommodating growth.
4. User Research in Niche Domains: Developed skills in conducting user research for a highly specific audience, such as security and compliance professionals.Gained insights into how users make critical decisions based on data visualizations and dashboards.
5. Delivering Business Impact: Learned to align design efforts with business objectives, demonstrating how design directly contributes to achieving measurable outcomes.
6. Iterative Design Processes: Experienced the value of iterating based on feedback to refine features, ensuring they met user and business expectations effectively.
• What are the most challenging parts of this project?
1. Balancing Technical Constraints and User Needs
Technical Limitations: Working within the constraints of cloud platforms and enterprise IT systems can limit design possibilities, requiring creative problem-solving.
Diverse User Base: Catering to different user personas (e.g., security admins, compliance officers, C-suite) with varying levels of expertise and priorities can be difficult to balance.
2. Cross-Functional Alignment
Stakeholder Buy-In: Gaining alignment from multiple teams—such as engineering, product management, and legal—on design priorities can be time-consuming.
Communication Gap: Bridging the gap between highly technical teams and non-technical users can require constant translation and advocacy.
First group of new grads in '21 to go on-site in Palo Alto
SAP suite at Chase Center for a Warriors game
SAP Holiday party at Palo Alto campus
SuccessFactors team lunch at Ramen Nagi in downtown Palo Alto, University Avenue
With past manager Marga visiting from Newport Beach office & past teammate Natalie
.avif)
SAP 50th anniversary celebration at PayPal Park in San Jose
49ers Players for a Purpose event at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara
Getting an autograph from wide receiver Deebo Samuel
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