Overview
The Contextual Info component is designed to enhance user interaction within the platform by providing detailed, supplementary information accessible through a simple click. This component is intended to offer extended content beyond the limitations of traditional tooltips, without requiring users to navigate away from their current tasks, thereby maintaining an efficient workflow.
Aim
This project aims to standardize the presentation of detailed information across the monday.com platform, improving usability and accessibility. By integrating this component, users can access comprehensive contextual details effortlessly, which supports better decision-making and usability without interrupting the user flow.
Role & Duration
Design System Intern
User Research, UX/UI Design
4 weeks
Why was this component needed?
Monday.com users navigate platforms that offer a wide array of functionalities, which often require detailed guidance or additional information. However, this information cannot always be permanently displayed to avoid cognitive overload and cluttered interfaces.
Existing solutions like tooltips and tipseens, designed for brief snippets and onboarding, were insufficient for the depth of information required.
To adress this need and to ensure consistency across the platform, the Contextual Info component was developed. The new component offers detailed information on demand and integrates smoothly into users’ workflow, providing necessary details without adding to the UI complexity.
Understanding Tooltips & Tipseens
Tipseen is used for onboarding purposes and opens automatically
Tooltip is triggered by a hover and is for shorter supplemental information and intended to be brief
Research
To develop the new Contextual Info component for monday.com, it was essential to explore potential atoms of this component, such as titles, body text, links, CTAs, and images, along with potential triggers like hover or click.
To identify best practices, I conducted an extensive analysis of 5 leading design systems to understand their approaches to similar components.
Material Design
Within the design system
Within the platform
User-Research
To ensure the redesign addressed real user needs, I conducted interviews with clients (survivors) and donors. The goals were to understand survivors’ most common needs and their challenges in accessing information, as well as what motivates donors. These conversations revealed key challenges and emotional drivers for each group, shaping the redesign approach.
“I was scared my partner might see what I was looking at, so I needed to do everything very quickly. There was too much text and not enough immediate clarity on what services were offered.”
- Client
“Knowing that my contribution directly helps survivors regain control over their lives is very meaningful to me.”
- Donor
From Interviews to Personas
Using insights from the interviews, I developed two personas to represent Rose Haven’s primary user-types:
Sarah, the Client: A single mother seeking quick and reliable access to services for herself and her children. She values clear, accessible information and discreet safety features to protect her privacy.
Lily, the Donor: A dedicated supporter who seeks transparency and a clear understanding of how her contributions directly impact the community.
These personas served as guiding tools for aligning the redesign with user needs.
Analyzing Competitors
To gather additional ideas and inspiration, I conducted a competitive analysis of similar nonprofit websites.
Key Takeaways
Clear Navigation: Competitor websites emphasize the importance of making essential resources easily accessible by avoiding overly complex or deeply embedded structures.
Safe Exit Feature: A critical feature observed is the inclusion of a "safe exit" button, enabling users to quickly leave the site while redirecting to a neutral page (e.g., a Google search for recipes) and clearing browsing history for added safety.
Symbolic Use of Purple: Many nonprofit domestic abuse websites incorporate purple as a core design element, leveraging its symbolic connection to peace, courage, survival, honor, and a commitment to ending violence.
Current Design Analysis
A heuristic evaluation of the original website was conducted, focusing on user needs revealed by the research.
Core Issues Identified:
Ambiguous service icons on the homepage.
Outdated information about COVID-19's impact on services.
Accessibility issues with color and font.
Insufficient emphasis on donations.
Outdated terminology (e.g., "helping" vs. "our impact").
Missing critical "Safely Exit" button for domestic abuse victims.
The Redesign
Building on user research, competitor analysis, and heuristic evaluation, I developed a focused redesign with the following updates:
Safety Features: Added a "Safely Exit" button that redirects to a neutral page and disables the back button to protect user privacy.
Service Accessibility: Highlighted essential services on the homepage for quick access and redesigned the services page for clarity.
Purposeful Use of Purple: Integrated purple into the design to evoke peace, courage, and hope, reinforcing the mission to support survivors.
Updated Information: Ensured content reflects the latest impact of COVID-19 on services.
Inclusive Design: Modernized terminology and applied a refreshed, accessible design system.
Donation Focus: Featured a prominent "Donate" button, paired with stories and impacts of past contributions to inspire and build trust among donors.
Client Path Prototype
Donor Path Prototype
KPI’s
Clients spend 15% less time on the site because they find the information they need in a smoother and quicker manner
Donors spend 10% more time on the By The Numbers page
Online donations increase by 10%
30% less calls and questions to staff, as all the information is easily found on the website
Lesson for the future
Understanding your user is key - Initially defined only the client, but quickly realized the donor’s significant role in the use of the website.
Next steps would be
Collaborate with an overnight shelter to provide basic information on how to reach their services
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