Problem

Polaris was a powerful internal tool used by multiple teams, but its interface had become outdated, cluttered, and difficult to navigate. Users struggled with:

• Dense screens and inconsistent layouts

• Old UI patterns that made tasks slow

• No light or dark mode options

• Elements that did not scale with expanding features

• A lack of a cohesive design system across the product

The challenge was to modernize the experience, simplify workflows, improve readability, and create a flexible interface that could grow with the product.

Context

Polaris supported internal data operations and decision-making. Many users interacted with it daily, so small usability issues had a disproportionate impact on productivity.

The product needed:

• A visual refresh

• A cleaner, more intuitive layout

• A unified design system

• Scalable components

• Better visual hierarchy for data-rich pages

My Role

As the Product Designer, I owned:

• UX audits and heuristic analysis

• Wireframes and redesigned layouts

• High-fidelity UI for both light & dark mode

• Establishing and maintaining a design system in Sketch

• Collaboration with the CDO, CTO, and engineering

• Delivering developer-ready handoff files

I acted as the bridge between product leadership and engineering, ensuring design decisions aligned with both feasibility and long-term scalability.

Users

Primary Users:

• Operations teams

• Internal analysts

• Product and support teams

User Needs:

• Clean data presentation

• Reduced cognitive load

• Clear navigation

• Consistent UI patterns

• Dark mode for extended daily use

What I Did

1. Conducted a UI/UX audit

• Identified inconsistencies

• Mapped friction points

• Highlighted areas with poor readability

2. Created wireframes for improved layouts

• Simplified navigation

• Introduced visual hierarchy

• Reorganized key sections for clarity

3. Designed high-fidelity mockups

• Modern, clean interface

• Better spacing, padding, and typography

• Componentized UI elements

4. Designed both light and dark modes

• Ensured visual balance

• Adapted color tokens for accessibility

• Created a mood-appropriate UI for different work environments

5. Built and maintained the design system

• Component library in Sketch

• Button styles, typography scales, card patterns, tables, forms

• Tokens for light/dark mode

• Documented usage guidelines

6. Collaborated with CDO, CTO & developers

• Weekly check-ins to validate requirements

• Adjusted designs based on tech constraints

• Delivered pixel-perfect assets

Old vs New Designs

Old Design

• Cluttered screen layouts

• Inconsistent spacing

• Outdated colors and icons

• Dense, hard-to-read data tables

• No visual hierarchy

New Design

• Modern, minimal visual language

• Clear separation of content

• Improved data readability

• Refined spacing + typography

• Scalable components from the design system

• Light & dark mode versions

Notebook - Custom Design

Old Design / Wireframe

New Design / Mockup