Quicken Simplifi
UX Research
UX Research
UX Research
Year
'24
Tools
Figma, Google Sheets, Qualtrics
Role
UX Research
Year
'24
Tools
Figma, Google Sheets, Qualtrics
Role
UX Research
Year
'24
Tools
Figma, Google Sheets, Qualtrics
Role
UX Research
A comprehensive UX research initiative examining financial software usability for small business owners, conducted through systematic needs analysis and market evaluation to optimize personal-business finance management workflows
A comprehensive UX research initiative examining financial software usability for small business owners, conducted through systematic needs analysis and market evaluation to optimize personal-business finance management workflows
A comprehensive UX research initiative examining financial software usability for small business owners, conducted through systematic needs analysis and market evaluation to optimize personal-business finance management workflows
Research Process
Conducted comprehensive user research using multiple methodologies:
5 User Interviews - Semi-structured interviews with small business owners
Competitive Analysis - Evaluated 6 competitors across different categories
Heuristic Evaluation - Applied Nielsen's 10 usability principles
Usability Testing - 6 participants completing core tasks
Survey Design - Stratified sampling for broader insights
Key Insights
User Pain Points
Trust Gap: Users heavily rely on accountants due to lack of confidence in self-managing taxes
Privacy Concerns: Hesitation to share bank information online
Tool Resistance: Strong preference for familiar tools like Excel over new solutions
Information Overload: Difficulty finding key features and understanding complex terminology
Usability Issues
Inconsistent UI elements and navigation patterns
Missing confirmation dialogs for critical financial actions
Overlapping functionality creating user confusion
Poor mobile navigation and hidden features
User Persona
Solutions
Based on our research insights, I recommended four key solution areas:
1. Build Trust Through Transparency
Add clear security badges and privacy explanations throughout the interface
Integrate with trusted accounting professionals for seamless handoffs
Present tax information in familiar formats that match official tax forms
Include educational tooltips to build user confidence
2. Streamline Core Workflows
Redesign dashboard with customizable, priority-based widgets
Implement one-click invoice creation for recurring clients
Add confirmation dialogs for all critical financial actions
Create visual project timelines with automated progress tracking
3. Simplify Information Architecture
Reduce visual clutter through better spacing and color-coding
Consolidate overlapping features (tags, categories, flags) into unified system
Improve mobile navigation with larger, more visible menu items
Reposition tax section based on seasonal relevance
4. Enhance Integration Capabilities
Connect with popular business tools (Google Docs, Squarespace, PayPal)
Enable automated expense categorization from bank feeds
Implement Kanban-style project management for visual workflow tracking
Add bulk actions for managing multiple invoices and expenses
Impact & Results
Our research provided Quicken with actionable insights to better serve the small business market. Recommendations focused on building user trust, simplifying complex workflows, and integrating with familiar business tools.
Proposed metrics for success:
Reduced task completion time
Increased user adoption rates
Higher satisfaction scores for invoice and tax features
This project was completed as part of SI 622: Needs and Usability Evaluation at the University of Michigan.
Research Process
Conducted comprehensive user research using multiple methodologies:
5 User Interviews - Semi-structured interviews with small business owners
Competitive Analysis - Evaluated 6 competitors across different categories
Heuristic Evaluation - Applied Nielsen's 10 usability principles
Usability Testing - 6 participants completing core tasks
Survey Design - Stratified sampling for broader insights
Key Insights
User Pain Points
Trust Gap: Users heavily rely on accountants due to lack of confidence in self-managing taxes
Privacy Concerns: Hesitation to share bank information online
Tool Resistance: Strong preference for familiar tools like Excel over new solutions
Information Overload: Difficulty finding key features and understanding complex terminology
Usability Issues
Inconsistent UI elements and navigation patterns
Missing confirmation dialogs for critical financial actions
Overlapping functionality creating user confusion
Poor mobile navigation and hidden features
User Persona
Solutions
Based on our research insights, I recommended four key solution areas:
1. Build Trust Through Transparency
Add clear security badges and privacy explanations throughout the interface
Integrate with trusted accounting professionals for seamless handoffs
Present tax information in familiar formats that match official tax forms
Include educational tooltips to build user confidence
2. Streamline Core Workflows
Redesign dashboard with customizable, priority-based widgets
Implement one-click invoice creation for recurring clients
Add confirmation dialogs for all critical financial actions
Create visual project timelines with automated progress tracking
3. Simplify Information Architecture
Reduce visual clutter through better spacing and color-coding
Consolidate overlapping features (tags, categories, flags) into unified system
Improve mobile navigation with larger, more visible menu items
Reposition tax section based on seasonal relevance
4. Enhance Integration Capabilities
Connect with popular business tools (Google Docs, Squarespace, PayPal)
Enable automated expense categorization from bank feeds
Implement Kanban-style project management for visual workflow tracking
Add bulk actions for managing multiple invoices and expenses
Impact & Results
Our research provided Quicken with actionable insights to better serve the small business market. Recommendations focused on building user trust, simplifying complex workflows, and integrating with familiar business tools.
Proposed metrics for success:
Reduced task completion time
Increased user adoption rates
Higher satisfaction scores for invoice and tax features
This project was completed as part of SI 622: Needs and Usability Evaluation at the University of Michigan.
Research Process
Conducted comprehensive user research using multiple methodologies:
5 User Interviews - Semi-structured interviews with small business owners
Competitive Analysis - Evaluated 6 competitors across different categories
Heuristic Evaluation - Applied Nielsen's 10 usability principles
Usability Testing - 6 participants completing core tasks
Survey Design - Stratified sampling for broader insights
Key Insights
User Pain Points
Trust Gap: Users heavily rely on accountants due to lack of confidence in self-managing taxes
Privacy Concerns: Hesitation to share bank information online
Tool Resistance: Strong preference for familiar tools like Excel over new solutions
Information Overload: Difficulty finding key features and understanding complex terminology
Usability Issues
Inconsistent UI elements and navigation patterns
Missing confirmation dialogs for critical financial actions
Overlapping functionality creating user confusion
Poor mobile navigation and hidden features
User Persona
Solutions
Based on our research insights, I recommended four key solution areas:
1. Build Trust Through Transparency
Add clear security badges and privacy explanations throughout the interface
Integrate with trusted accounting professionals for seamless handoffs
Present tax information in familiar formats that match official tax forms
Include educational tooltips to build user confidence
2. Streamline Core Workflows
Redesign dashboard with customizable, priority-based widgets
Implement one-click invoice creation for recurring clients
Add confirmation dialogs for all critical financial actions
Create visual project timelines with automated progress tracking
3. Simplify Information Architecture
Reduce visual clutter through better spacing and color-coding
Consolidate overlapping features (tags, categories, flags) into unified system
Improve mobile navigation with larger, more visible menu items
Reposition tax section based on seasonal relevance
4. Enhance Integration Capabilities
Connect with popular business tools (Google Docs, Squarespace, PayPal)
Enable automated expense categorization from bank feeds
Implement Kanban-style project management for visual workflow tracking
Add bulk actions for managing multiple invoices and expenses
Impact & Results
Our research provided Quicken with actionable insights to better serve the small business market. Recommendations focused on building user trust, simplifying complex workflows, and integrating with familiar business tools.
Proposed metrics for success:
Reduced task completion time
Increased user adoption rates
Higher satisfaction scores for invoice and tax features
This project was completed as part of SI 622: Needs and Usability Evaluation at the University of Michigan.
Challenge
Quicken Simplifi had difficulty supporting small business owners and freelancers managing both personal and business finances, with its interface creating barriers for those favoring traditional methods
Solution
Our team conducted comprehensive user research including stakeholder interviews, competitive analysis, heuristic evaluations, and usability testing to understand how small business owners manage their finances and identify key improvement opportunities.
Challenge
Quicken Simplifi had difficulty supporting small business owners and freelancers managing both personal and business finances, with its interface creating barriers for those favoring traditional methods
Solution
Our team conducted comprehensive user research including stakeholder interviews, competitive analysis, heuristic evaluations, and usability testing to understand how small business owners manage their finances and identify key improvement opportunities.
Challenge
Quicken Simplifi had difficulty supporting small business owners and freelancers managing both personal and business finances, with its interface creating barriers for those favoring traditional methods
Solution
Our team conducted comprehensive user research including stakeholder interviews, competitive analysis, heuristic evaluations, and usability testing to understand how small business owners manage their finances and identify key improvement opportunities.
Padoo
Severance Poster
Padoo
Severance Poster
Padoo
Severance Poster