Synthesis: Collaborative Tool for  Migration Research

OVERVIEW:

Synthesis is a collaborative platform for migration researchers, combining geo-spatial data discovery with networking opportunities. It integrates an interactive map, project creation tools, and an internal workspace while offering personalized recommendations. No existing platform specifically addresses the needs of migration research. Synthesis is uniquely designed for both academics and national security advisors.

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My Role

As the primary UX Researcher & Designer for this project, I was responsible for product discovery, user research, and UX design. I also leveraged my expertise in migration studies to help ensure the platform met the nuanced needs of this field.

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Key Challenges

• Designing for a diverse user base: Academics and security officials have different priorities, perspectives, and workflows.

• Combining multiple complex features: Balancing geo-spatial data discovery, researcher collaboration, recommendations, and additional functions within a unified, intuitive interface.

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Solution

By focusing on overlapping user needs, I designed the final UI to consist of a side navigation bar with three icons in each panel, representing the platform's core functions. I added a project selector in the header which impacts recommendations and other functionality at a project-specific level. This simplified the interface and enabled easy navigation without overwhelming users, prioritizing the most important functionalities based on user needs.

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​Final UI  -- home / default page (modified logo due to contract agreements)

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Key Responsibilities

• Defined product goals through collaborative workshops

• Conducted user research to guide feature development and usability

• Created user personas, journeys, and flow diagrams

• Designed low, mid, and high-fidelity wireframes and prototypes

• Led usability testing and iterated designs based on user feedback

• Produced onboarding materials to improve learnability and user retention

• Collaborated with developers to align design with technical feasibility

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Process

1. Product Discovery & Defining Requirements

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Upon joining the project, I facilitated a Miro workshop to align the team’s goals and address product challenges. I developed user questionnaires to understand the diverse needs of our target audience.

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Impact:

• Established a clear product direction in an agile environment, focusing on user-centered design

• Gathered essential user insights from 200+ questionnaire respondents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Screenshot from a product discovery workshop I facilitated​

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2. User Personas, Feature Development, & Journey Mapping

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Based on questionnaire feedback, I created personas for our two primary user groups: academics and national security officials. I also developed user flow diagrams that prioritized core features based on user needs.

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Impact:

• Developed user personas and flows that guided feature prioritization, ensuring the platform stayed focused on users’ main tasks without overwhelming the user

• Mapped out clear navigation paths to reduce cognitive load and streamline the user experience

• Utilized user research materials to conceptualize early wireframes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Screenshot from a User Persona. Click to enlarge

 

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3. Wireframing & UI Design

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Referencing the personas and user flows, I then created low-fidelity wireframes. The original interface featured dual panels on opposite sides of an interactive map—one for data discovery and one for collaboration, corresponding to the two main product functions. Users could toggle between panels with a menu icon. I created wireframes for other important features including projects and user profiles, working closely with developers to ensure designs aligned with technical constraints.

 

Impact:

• Dual-panel design minimized clutter and distributed information evenly across the interface, enhancing clarity 

• All major functions were housed between two panels, making related functions like data discovery and data recommendations easy to navigate between (i.e. left panel for data, right panel for collaborating on projects)

• Produced a testable UI and laid the foundation for the system’s navigation and information hierarchy

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​Low/mid-fidelity wireframe showing the left-hand panel. The menu icon at the top left corner of the UI could toggle the right-side panel, which contained Projects and a collaborative workspace, as well as messages and researcher recommendations.

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4. Usability Testing & Iterations

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I conducted the first round of moderated usability testing with subject matter experts who  each completed five core tasks. I followed each task with targeted questions to understand their attitudes, decisions, and pain points. Users found switching between the separate panels for data and collaboration recommendations tedious and confusing. To address this, I consolidated all recommendations into the left-side panel, adding subtabs to differentiate between data and collaboration recommendations. I kept the right-side panel for projects and advanced networking searches.

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In the second round, I tested this revised interface with four external subject matter experts and an internal user from the initial test. I used the same tasks and questions to maintain consistency and compare these iterations. This second round provided valuable insights into our user’s experience and workflow.

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Impact:

• Enhanced user understanding and reduced cognitive load by streamlining all recommendations into a single panel 

  • The returning user completed recommendation-related tasks 8 seconds faster and with 2 less clicks in the iteration with consolidated recommendations 

  • New users in the 2nd test completed recommendation-related tasks 5 seconds quicker and with 2 less clicks on average than the external user in the first study

• Revealed users’ need to switch quickly and often between projects, collaborating, and data searches, strengthening our understanding of user workflow

• Only one participant used the geographic boundary toolbar while others preferred using the search fields

  • This insight led me to remove the toolbar in future iterations, freeing up space and reducing visual clutter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Comparative view of the UI after the 1st usability test and iteration vs the UI following the second test and iteration.

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5. Feedback Implementation & Prototyping

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Based on feedback from the second testing round, I refined the design into a high-fidelity prototype that included a left-hand side navigation bar with a collapsible panel, removing the right-side panel entirely. This new navigation structure provided consistent access to core functions, enhancing clarity and allowing users to toggle efficiently between collaboration and data discovery on the same panel. This iteration made the menu icon obsolete and was therefore removed.

 

I also removed the geographic boundary elements and added a project selector in the header, establishing a clear information hierarchy since projects impact recommendations and collaborations . This upgrade provided users with easy, continuous access to change projects as needed, and ensured quick toggling between data discovery and collaboration.

 

Impact:

• Simplified the interface with a side navigation bar, reducing cognitive load and minimizing visual clutter

• Making a single, collapsible panel for all major functions, provided users more autonomy over their workspace

• Removing the Menu button reduced the number of clicks needed to perform tasks, provided more intuitive interactivity, and allowed extra space in the header to insert the application logo as a Home button

• Adding the project selector in the header improved information hierarchy, allowing for quicker access to critical features like project management

  • Provided tailored  recommendations for each project and allowed users to collaborate on project-specific level

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UI with Projects tab (highlighted paper icon) selected, showing project details and allowing the user to edit or duplicate the current project.

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6. Implementation & Onboarding

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In a third round of usability testing with two returning users, they still struggled to recall the functions of certain icons in the side navigation bar. To address this, I introduced hover tooltips to provide constant clarification on each icon’s purpose. Additionally, I developed walk-throughs and tutorials to guide users through the platform’s main functions, enhancing the onboarding experience. I also worked closely with developers to ensure efficient implementation. 

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Impact:​

•      On average, tooltips and tutorials reduced user errors by 20%, demonstrating improved learnability and usability

•      Working with developers ensured smooth implementation of designs, minimizing potential delays in development

•      Enhanced recommendation accuracy with domain-specific insights, improving the platform's value to users and stakeholders

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Screenshot of a user hovering over an icon to see what that icon represents. Note that the background cover of the hovering tool tip "My Projects" may not represent the final color and font size.

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Results & Next Steps

Synthesis secured multiple rounds of funding due to its innovative approach and strong focus on user needs. The platform received positive feedback for streamlining research collaboration and data discovery in migration research. Future iterations will incorporate collaborative workspace designs and improved recommendation features, with ongoing usability testing planned.

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