The document summarizes work done to redesign the user interface of a data analytics platform called Koa. It includes: 1. An agenda outlining the project goals, strategy, user research conducted, prototype design, and next steps. 2. Insights from comparing other data tools and interviewing users which informed the new design focused on simplifying navigation, contextualizing actions, and improving learnability. 3. A prototype of the redesigned interface created based on user research, with feedback indicating it was intuitive to use though some aspects like symbols and labeling could still be improved.

1. Michael Salmon
Lindsay Kovnat
Nicholas Tejada

2. Agenda
1. Project Goals and Strategy
2. Comparing Data Tools
3. Empathizing with Users
4. New Design and Prototype
5. Next Steps and Path Forward

3. Project Overview
Goal:
• Increase ease and speed of user interacAon with the
applicaAon
Objec-ves:
• Create consistency across plaDorm
• Improve navigaAon
• Redesign query and reporAng processes

4. Koa Platform Strategy
1 2 3
Data Mgmt Tool
(MVP)
Reporting Tool Analytical Tool
Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3

5. Analyzing data management
tools
Effects on the final design:
• Simplified navigaAon
• Contextualized acAons
• Maximized use of screen real
estate
• Improved learnability
• Greater flexibility and
customizaAon

6. User Interview Takeaways
We interviewed students
at GA with a background
in data analysis

7. CustomizaAon
I want to adjust preferences based on what metrics I
am looking for.
-Kristen
Used a lot of filters/categories to query very
specific data
-Tim
PorJolio customiza-on could be really helpful
-Josh
Web data tools need a "friendliness factor”
-Kristen

8. Querying
It was hard to go through a web tool to query for
specific data
-Kristen
Would take 30 minutes just to figure out what
everything means.(where to find the data I need)
-Kristen
Lots of websites (for querying data)
were difficult/not intui-ve
-Kristen

9. Excel as Safe Zone
Excel does transform into
visualiza-ons at a granular level
-Josh
Excel is most common - I did
all my analysis in Excel.
-Josh
Excel is my safe zone. We all used
excel for our analysis
-Tim

10. Persona
Adam the Analyst
Age: 24
Work: Hedge Fund Analyst
Family: Girlfriend
Location: NYC, NY
Character: The Analyst
Analytical Professional Sense of Humor
Brands
Goals
Adam hopes to get promoted to a PM at the hedge fund he works at
Adam needs to evaluate a new deal using the Koa softare his firm uses
Adam hopes to move in with his Girlfriend, Annie, back home in
New Jersey
He loves sports and is currently in a fantasy league with his college
buddies from Penn State
Going through a complicated reporting and exporting
process
Putting together complex reports without having all
of the information available
Knowledge &
Skills
Tech Savvy
Coding
Excel
Data Driven
Frustrations
Adam is very motivated analyst at the small hedge fund he works at.
He likes to be as efficient as he can at work and doesn’t like to have
to learn new programs.
He has been provided the task of looking into a specfic deal and
the loans inside of it to help determine the health of that deal. Adam
has to find the reporting around that deal and will have to export it
and send his findings to his manager for the buying decision
Bio
Introvert Extrovert
Creative Analytical
Passtive Active
Personality
“Excel is my safe zone.”

11. Koa needs navigaAon that allows users to efficiently query for
data so they can easily find the informaAon they seek.
Problem Statement

12. Current Koa Web Site
Usability Feedback:
• Steep learning curve
• NavigaAon wasn’t intuiAve
• Finding fields was Ame
consuming
• Unsure what was
acAonable
• Difficult to determine
order of operaAons
Current Koa Web Site

14. The IniAal Design
“I’ve done reporting before so
looks a lot like what I used to use.”
What Went Well:
• Learnability
• Recognition
• Intuitive User Flows
• Useful (in some cases delightful) Functionality
“As soon as I clicked deal info it was very intuitive that
the symbol meant it’s a table”
“The more I used it, the more it
made sense to me.”
Opportunities for Improvement:
• Symbols and Signifiers
• Contextualizing Actions (Action menus)
• Clearer Terms and Labeling
• Directing User Attention
“I went straight to the table
actions because I am exporting
the table.”
“I didn’t know to hit plus, but
guessed”

15. Usability TesAng Feedback
“I don’t know what the back buYon does. Does it clear
columns or refresh data? A rewind icon may work
beYer.”
“I thought pressing the plus sign would populate the data
graph. Look at Excel for ideas such as it’s ability to handle
lots of data at a Ame.”
“It’s a lot of informaAon to look at at first but when
given a task it all made sense and was very simple to
use.”
“Does the hamburger icon give me more informaAon?”

16. See only what you need,
exactly when you need it.
Flexible Analysis
Custom Data Tables
Custom Filters
Custom Pivots
Customized ReporAng
Drill down from the module level to the loan level
Export custom datasets for analysis in proprietary tools
Find and move specific loans to sale and securi-za-on
Fast Searching
Focused Results
Dynamic Search
Analyze mul-ple loans at once

17. Prototype

18. Next Steps: Usability TesAng
• Keep exisAng deal to loan drill down
• Most useful default reports to include
• Default page content for Pricing, Due Diligence and
Asset Management Modules
• LocaAon and wording of acAons in acAon menus
• If pivot fields are likely to be used improperly when
conducAng queries

19. Next Steps: Features
• Individually saved filter and pivot
combinaAons
• Bring back individual column
filters as seen in current tool and
excel
• Tabbed data tables for comparing
mulAple datasets
• More focused/ more useful
default reports
• Pre-set column, filter, and pivot
groupings to serve as search
“building blocks”
• Enhanced pre-packaged reports
• Saved preferences Aed to user
profiles
• IntegraAon with the dashboard
Near Term: Long Term: