ark.ai: The keystone for DoD data

Disclaimer: Due to the sensitive nature of the design work I was involved in and the strict non-disclosure agreement (NDA) I have signed, I cannot publish any specific details or information about my work. Please understand that this is not a reflection of my willingness to be transparent or helpful, but rather a necessary measure to protect the confidentiality of the project I am working on. If you would like more specifics on the work I did at Govini, I am happy to hop on a call to discuss. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Project Overview

A Fresh Start

I started at Govini in October 2021 as a Junior User Interface Designer. This was in the middle of a huge internal pivot; they had just decided to retire their old product and start fresh. The original scope of my role was as a UI Designer; however, as I grew into my role, so did my job responsibilities. I began to wear many different hats, which included user experience design & research, product management, design system creation & management, and more. My primary focus was designing and creating intuitive, user-centered interfaces that were visually appealing and easy to navigate.

Our team of two designers spent 10 months designing 21 features total.

My Responsibilities

UX/UI Designer

As a UX/UI Designer, I conducted user research to gain insights into user needs, behaviors, and preferences. I used these insights to inform the design of wireframes, prototypes, and final designs. I collaborated with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and other designers, to ensure that user needs were met and that designs were feasible and scalable. I also conducted usability testing, using user feedback to refine and improve features.

Design System Creator

I was also solely responsible for building a design system for the new product from the ground up. My process for creating the design system included the following:

1. Defining design principles and goals: My first steps involved identifying the key design elements and defining the goals and objectives I wanted to achieve with the system. This included consistency and scalability so we could build out each feature quickly while maintaining a consistent user experience.
2. Develop the core elements: I began by developing the core elements of the design system. This included creating a visual language, typography, color palette, and iconography.
3. Follow atomic design principles: Once the core elements were complete, I built out more basic components following atomic design principles.
4. Create documentation and guidelines: As I developed the core elements of the design system, I created documentation and guidelines to ensure consistency and clarity. This included creating style guides, pattern libraries, and clear design guidelines that designers and developers could use.
5. Test and iterate: Once I created the initial design system, I tested and iterated on it to ensure it was effective and met user needs. This involves conducting user testing and gathering stakeholder feedback to identify improvement areas.
6. Implement and maintain: As more features were built, I established processes and procedures for maintaining the design system, including updating and evolving it over time.

Product Management

Due to staffing constraints, I also did a good amount of product management during my time at Govini. I was responsible for defining and prioritizing product requirements for the features I designed and working with stakeholders to understand business needs. I also helped manage the product roadmap, prioritize feature development, and define product metrics & KPIs.