Context

• Sample type: Content design for in-application announcements
• Product: Application getting a UI refresh to prepare to merge it into a unified enterprise AI/ML platform
• Users: Data scientists, data engineers, and business analysts
• Constraints: Because the first announcement sits on the old UI, it must use older styling—giving it a slightly dated look, but the second announcement, on the updated UI, has current styling and looks more fresh

Approach

• I learned what changes were going to be made, and the value of each to users
• I thought through a strategy (what to tell users when) to help users adapt
• For an initial alert, I used a standard UI component. Using Pendo, I created a guide to which the alert links for more information—and a second guide to appear when the UI refresh releases
• Pendo guides sit on top of the interface and are part of the product experience—but best used minimally to keep the team focused on improving the UI itself

Rationale

• Even small changes to a UI can throw off users
• By giving them a heads up, describing the changes to come, then pointing out each one in place, the product is being transparent and trustworthy

Outcome

• A pre-announcement that gives users a heads up 2 weeks prior to the release
• An announcement and brief tour that appear when the changes are released
• Language that speaks to benefits, so users understand and feel good about the changes

Artifacts (best viewed on a computer)

Annotated screenshots in PowerPoint

Pre-announcement