Project Overview
Client: LINQ – Food Distribution Platform (FDP)
Industry: Education & Food Distribution
Project Type: Platform Redesign & Feature Development
Role: Lead Designer
Project Summary
At LINQ, I had the opportunity to work on the Food Distribution Platform (FDP), which is used by 23 states to manage food distribution across school districts. My role involved designing and improving several key areas of the platform, including the login system, dashboard, participation agreements between states and school districts, and the food ordering survey. The project aimed to streamline the user experience for state and district administrators, ensuring that the system was easy to navigate and supported the efficient management of food distribution programs.
Goals & Objectives
The primary goal of this project was to enhance the usability of the FDP platform by redesigning key features to make it more intuitive for state and district users. Specific objectives included:
- Improve Platform Usability: Redesign the login system and dashboard to provide a seamless, user-friendly experience.
- Streamline Participation Agreements: Simplify the process of managing participation agreements between states and school districts.
- Enhance the Food Ordering Survey: Make the food ordering process more efficient by improving the survey experience, allowing districts to order food easily and accurately.
Research & Discovery
User Research:
To better understand the needs of state and district users, I conducted interviews and collected feedback from users in several of the 23 states that use the FDP. The research revealed several key challenges:
- Complex Navigation: Users often found the dashboard cluttered and difficult to navigate, with important information buried under multiple layers of menus.
- Manual Agreement Management: Managing participation agreements between states and school districts was time-consuming, with users needing clearer workflows and easier access to agreements.
- Time-Consuming Surveys: The food ordering survey was lengthy and required multiple steps, making it inefficient for district users.
Competitive Analysis:
I also reviewed other government and enterprise systems used in similar food distribution and management capacities. This helped identify best practices for simplifying workflows and improving the user interface.
Design & Strategy
The design strategy focused on creating a more intuitive, streamlined experience for users, improving efficiency across the key areas of the platform.
1. Login System Redesign
Objective:
Create a simple, secure login experience that minimized barriers for users accessing the FDP platform.
Design Approach:
The login system was redesigned with a clean, straightforward interface that provided easy access for state and district users. I incorporated two-factor authentication to enhance security, while also optimizing the system to remember user preferences for quicker logins.
Key Features:
- Simplified login form with two-factor authentication.
- Fast access for frequent users, remembering login preferences.
- Secure access to maintain compliance with state-level data privacy regulations.
2. Dashboard Redesign
Objective:
Simplify the dashboard to provide users with clear, immediate access to the most important data and functions.
Design Approach:
I restructured the dashboard to present key data upfront, using widgets and cards to display information such as food orders, agreement status, and upcoming deadlines. The new layout used a modular design, allowing users to customize the dashboard to suit their individual needs, reducing clutter and increasing focus.
Key Features:
- Modular dashboard with customizable widgets.
- Clear, concise data presentation for quicker decision-making.
- Improved navigation with quick links to high-use areas such as surveys and agreements.
3. Participation Agreement Management
Objective:
Simplify the process of managing participation agreements between states and school districts.
Design Approach:
I streamlined the agreement management process by designing a centralized interface where users could easily create, review, and update participation agreements. The system allowed users to track the status of agreements, receive notifications about upcoming renewals, and ensure that all parties were in compliance.
Key Features:
- Centralized management of participation agreements.
- Real-time tracking of agreement status and deadlines.
- Notification system for upcoming renewals and required actions.
4. Food Ordering Survey Redesign
Objective:
Improve the efficiency of the food ordering survey, making it easier for districts to complete their orders.
Design Approach:
The food ordering survey was redesigned to reduce the number of steps required and improve data accuracy. I incorporated auto-fill options and dropdown menus to make the survey quicker to complete, while ensuring that all required fields were clearly marked. Additionally, I integrated a progress tracker so users could easily see how far along they were in the survey.
Key Features:
- Simplified, streamlined survey interface with auto-fill options.
- Dropdown menus and validation for improved data accuracy.
- Progress tracker to help users understand their completion status.
Implementation & Development
Throughout the implementation phase, I worked closely with the development team to ensure that the designs were translated into functional, user-friendly interfaces.
Responsive Design:
The new features were developed to be fully responsive, ensuring that users could access the platform from any device, including tablets and desktops.Real-Time Data Integration:
The dashboard and participation agreement management system were designed to pull real-time data, ensuring that users always had access to up-to-date information.User Testing:
Multiple rounds of user testing were conducted with state and district administrators to gather feedback on the new features, ensuring they met user needs and worked efficiently.
Outcome & Results
The redesigned FDP platform delivered significant improvements in usability and efficiency for state and district users:
Improved Login Experience:
The simplified login system reduced user frustration, resulting in a 20% increase in successful first-time logins after launch.More Efficient Dashboard:
The new modular dashboard improved user engagement, with users reporting a 30% reduction in time spent navigating to key areas of the platform.Streamlined Agreement Management:
The participation agreement management system reduced the administrative burden on users, resulting in a 25% decrease in time spent managing agreements.Faster Survey Completion:
The food ordering survey redesign improved the completion rate, with users completing the survey 40% faster on average compared to the previous version.
Lessons Learned & Reflections
Working on the FDP platform highlighted the importance of simplifying workflows in systems that handle complex data and processes. By focusing on the key pain points for users, we were able to redesign the platform in a way that made it more efficient and user-friendly. One key takeaway was the value of user feedback—incorporating their input early and often in the design process led to features that directly addressed their needs.
Moving forward, I would recommend further iterations based on user feedback and exploring additional features that could enhance reporting and analytics for state administrators.