Background

Funding new initiatives was slow and inconsistent:

• Scattered documents across Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint

• Endless approval emails with no clear owner

• Inconsistent submission formats

• No guidance for new teams

This lack of structure delayed initiatives and frustrated both teams and reviewers.

My Role

Design Lead — research, UX, UI, prototyping, dev handoff. Led a 3-person team over 2 months.

• Defined interview plan and mapped workflows

• Directed design and built wireframes

• Set up structured design reviews for faster decisions

Research Insights

Interviews revealed:

• Need for a standardized format for submissions

• Desire for progress visibility without chasing updates

• Frustration with scattered tools and multiple versions

Key Design Decisions

• Simplified starting dashboard

• Streamlined form for faster submissions

• Interactive Business Model Canvas with progress indicators

• One-click “Present” button for reviews

• Multi-user collaboration, comments, and expert tips

What Worked ✅

• Clear dashboard and forms

• Business Model Canvas integration

• Present mode for reviews

• Collaboration and commenting features

What Didn’t Work ❌

• Rocket analogy (didn’t scale well)

• Kanban approach (too complex)

• Offline download/re-upload (caused friction)

Outcome

Piloted with two teams, usability testing confirmed improvements:

“For the first time, the steps actually made sense as I was going through them.”

Leadership praised the clarity and consistency, and the MVP created momentum for wider adoption.

Reflection

• Early direction setting kept the team aligned

• Lightweight research revealed enough to guide design

• Structured reviews accelerated progress

• Balanced leadership (hands-on + mentoring) delivered impact

Result: A lean team under tight timelines delivered an MVP that solved user pain points, won leadership support, and laid the foundation for scaling.