Situation
The Winklevoss ProVal team has long been a leader in the field of actuarial software for pension planning. Its products bring new capabilities to the market and ultimately lead to better-informed decisions and higher efficiency. The team wanted to improve the user experience of its world-leading pension software through a collaborative, in-house effort.
Collaboration
Designit worked with members of the ProVal team to explain the fundamentals of human-centered design, guiding them as they applied those methods to work on their flagship product.
The program began with a coaching program in which participants learned best practices for planning research, conducting customer interviews, research synthesis and modeling, and ideation. Designit’s coaches then mentored ProVal team members as they applied what they learned to their own product.
Through a series of workshops and remote sessions, team members received feedback and guidance on their interview guides, interviewing skills, synthesis approach, personas, and ideas for the future of the product. The coaches also advised ProVal members when they encountered unexpected challenges along the way. For a very analytical and data-driven team, the coaching program demonstrated how the end-user perspective can and should be applied to the scientific process.
Outcomes
The lessons learned helped to inform the evolution of Winklevoss’ flagship product and how it supports today’s market. Winklevoss has incorporated design thinking into all stages of its product development. The ProVal team has also continuously rolled-out product changes in order to better meet user needs and expectations, resulting in an improved user experience.