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Work

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RESUME

Label Manager: Data Grid Search 2.0

Monstercat · July-Sept 2022

Restructure the search experience & interface with seamless and intuitive navigation, enabling internal staff to quickly locate specific information.

LM-Searcg

Overview

Search Experience Improvement on Label Manger

Timeline

July - Sept 2022

Team

Front & backend developers, Head of Tech, Project Manager

Role

UX · UI Designer

Deliverable

Responsive Web

Target users

Internal Staff · Record Label

Overview

A software companion to the entire digital music ecosystem

Overview

A software companion to the entire digital music ecosystem

Label Manager is a software companion to the entire digital music ecosystem. It handles the initial creation of digital asset and stores the metadata, distribute to all platforms and streaming services, and collects and process royalty data, and paying out to stakeholders. It’s an all-in-one software for record labels from A to Z.

Label Manager is a software companion to the entire digital music ecosystem.

It handles the initial creation of digital asset and stores the metadata, distribute to all platforms and streaming services, and collects and process royalty data, and paying out to stakeholders.

It’s an all-in-one software for record labels from A to Z.

Label Manager is a software companion to the entire digital music ecosystem. It handles the initial creation of digital asset and stores the metadata, distribute to all platforms and streaming services, and collects and process royalty data, and paying out to stakeholders. It’s an all-in-one software for record labels from A to Z.

Process

How did the project start?

The main function of the tech team is to provide support to our internal teams, so, task prioritization is determined by C-level decision-making and incoming requests. The improvement of the search user experience was also one of high-priority task.

Validation

What’s been problematic?

1

Overall UI is unclear and has Insufficient guidance on how to use filters and operators.

2

Search operators are comprehensible to only a select few, and has a steep learning curve.

3

Search operators entirely rely on manual typing to fine-tune the results, It’s prone to err at typing and doesn't offer what options are available for each operator.

These validation resources were summarized from research gathered in the past. So, we conducted another user interview to observe whether these problems still match current user behaviours with 15 internal staff.

These validation resources were summarized from research gathered in the past.

So, we conducted another user interview to observe whether these problems still match current user behaviours with 15 internal staff.

User interveiw

Key findings of user behaviours

Text-based search first and
apply one or two filters

Text-based search first and
apply one or two filters

Never used or don’t know
what search operators are

Never used or don’t know
what search operators are

Never used or don’t know
what search operators are

Think they need education on
how to utilize the search

Think they need education on
how to utilize the search

Think they need education
on how to utilize the search

Constraints

Work within design constraints

Umm..why don’t we remove search operators then?

it appears not many users are happy with it.

Umm..why don’t we remove search operators then? it appears not many users are happy with it.

Umm..why don’t we remove search operators then? it appears not many users are happy with it.

Oh well, top 1% users in operation team make the most

use of search operators. Tech team also highly relies on

it to combine multiple criteria.

Oh well, top 1% users in operation team make the most use of search operators. Tech team also highly relies on it to combine multiple criteria.

Oh well, top 1% users in operation team make the most use of search operators. Tech team also highly relies on it to combine multiple criteria.

HMW

How might we make the search experience
more intuitive, allowing both novice and experienced
users to easily understand and navigate the search options?

How might we make the search experience more intuitive, allowing both novice and experienced users to easily understand and navigate the search options?

How might we make the search experience
more intuitive, allowing both novice and experienced users to easily understand and navigate the search options?

Ver. 2.0

Ver. 2.0

Usability Testing

How does this data grid search solution come up?

Usability Testing

Usability Testing

Both proposals A and B:integrate search operators and filters to streamline the learning curve. as text in the input field will automatically be updated when the filter UI is manipulated, and users are relieved from manually typing operator values.

Proposal A

Proposal B

Usability Testing

Proposal A displays all filters that user can operate at a glance with no depths.

Proposal A displays all filters that user can operate at a glance with no depths.

Pros

  • Enables users to gain a quick overview of what filters available.

Cons

  • Takes a longer time to navigate the desired filters due to all options with no rules.


  • It requires a longer time to determine which filters are applied, and remove them.


  • The filter tray obstructs the search results, making it difficult to check whether getting the results they want or not.


  • The physical distance between boolean operators and the values creates confusion on mapping, leading to difficulty in comprehension.

Usability Testing

Proposal B displays the limited number of filters and focuses on simplifying and clarifying.

Proposal B displays the limited number of filters and focuses on simplifying and clarifying.

Pros

  • UIs are easier to set, remove and modify applied filters.


  • Users can discover their desired filters in shorter time.


  • Appropriate grouping makes the mapping of search operators and values happens naturally.


  • UI allows the filter tray and search result visible, so it gives the user more control and flexibility when they are not getting the results they want, or if they want to see more (or fewer) results.

  • UIs are easier to set, remove and modify applied filters.


  • Users can discover their desired filters in shorter time.


  • Appropriate grouping makes the mapping of search operators and values happens naturally.


  • UI allows the filter tray and search result visible, so it gives the user more control and flexibility when they are not getting the results they want, or if they want to see more (or fewer) results.

Cons

  • These revealed filters need to be ordered in specific rules.

  • These revealed filters need to be ordered in specific rules.

Solution

What's the final solutions?

Solution 01

Use search operators as filters.

The users are accustomed to using general filter function in other softwares. In order to align with their existing mental model, we have ensured that the search operators work same as filters. As part of it, we have unified the UI, which reduces the learning curve associated with the search operators.

The users are accustomed to using general filter functions in other software. In order to align with their existing mental model, we have ensured that the search operators work the same as filters.


As part of it, we have unified the UI, which reduces the learning curve associated with the search operators.

Solution 02

Easy to notice, set, remove, and modify.

Strategic grouping facilitates a natural mapping between search operators and their corresponding values. These sets can be modified by clicking the operator buttons when necessary.

Strategic grouping facilitates a natural mapping between search operators and their corresponding values.


These sets can be modified by clicking the operator buttons when necessary.

Solution 03

Search and select how you want to tune. No more typing mistakes.

To mitigate the occurrence of typing errors and facilitate quick tuning of search results, we have implemented drop-down menus that present all available options for each search operator. This feature not only reduces the likelihood of errors but also enhances the efficiency of refining search results. The input field will automatically be updated when the filter UI is manipulated.

Solution 04

No Need to be educated Search Operator, the UI will.

One of the key findings was a majority of users believed they required education for search operators. To address this, we have set default operators for different type of filters. Observations showed that when searching for unique values like titles, IDs, and UPCs, users tend to utilize partial keyword searches. Conversely, when seeking results related to specific groups such as artists, users, or statuses, they opt for exact searches.

One of the key findings was a majority of users believed they required education for search operators. To address this, we have set default operators for different type of filters.


Observations showed that when searching for unique values like titles, IDs, and UPCs, users tend to utilize partial keyword searches.


Conversely, when seeking results related to specific groups such as artists, users, or statuses, they opt for exact searches.

Keyword type

Unique values

Unique values

Titles, IDs, and UPCs

Titles, IDs, and UPCs

Checkbox type

Specific groups values

Specific groups values

Artists, Users, or Statuses

Solution 05

Display only top five commonly used filters

To prevent users from experiencing cognitive overload, it displays only the top five commonly used filters initially.

Users still have the flexibility to add additional filters as needed, empowering them to customize their search experience according to their specific requirements.

To prevent users from experiencing cognitive overload, it displays only the top five commonly used filters initially.


Users still have the flexibility to add additional filters as needed, empowering them to customize their search experience according to their specific requirements.

Release section

Solution 06

Little guide when needed.

A dedicated help modal that guides users on utilizing operators.

A dedicated help modal that guides users on utilizing operators.

Retrospective

What's the outcomes?

Retrospective

What's the next step?

Let's recap the problems and solutions:

Let's recap the problems and solutions:

1

Overall UI is unclear and has Insufficient guidance on how to use filters and operators.

Overall UI is unclear and has Insufficient guidance on how to use filters and operators.

Solution 01

Use search operators as filters.

Use search operators as filters.

Solution 02

Easy to notice, set, remove, and modify.

Easy to notice, set, remove, and modify.

Solution 06

Little guide when needed.

Little guide when needed.

2

Search operators are comprehensible to only a select few, and has a steep learning curve.

Search operators are comprehensible to only a select few, and has a steep learning curve.

Solution 04

No Need to be educated Search Operator, the UI will.

No Need to be educated Search Operator, the UI will.

3

Search operators entirely rely on manual typing to fine-tune the results, It’s prone to err at typing and doesn't offer what options are available for each operator.

Search operators entirely rely on manual typing to fine-tune the results, It’s prone to err at typing and doesn't offer what options are available for each operator.

Solution 03

Search and select how you want to tune. No more typing mistakes.

Search and select how you want to tune. No more typing mistakes.

4

Not carefully prioritize the order in filters.

Solution 05

Display only top five commonly used filters

Display only top five commonly used filters

Education

Company-wise education workshop

What we educated

  1. Search operator in general

  1. Updates on search in Label Manager

  1. Practical examples how they can utilized it

What teams were involved

Financial, operation, partnership, marketing-design, music teams and C-levels.

Outcome

Feedback from staff

The search improvement got a lot of positive feedback from across the company and took a huge role of promoting me after 3 month working.

The search improvement got a lot of positive feedback from across the company and took a huge role of promoting me after 3 month working.

“The changes you made to the search functionality have made my work so much smoother. Thanks!”

“The changes you made to the search functionality have made my work so much smoother. Thanks!”

“Keep up the good work with these improvements! They're making a noticeable difference in our daily tasks.”

“Keep up the good work with these improvements! They're making a noticeable difference in our daily tasks.”

Thank you

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