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April 04, 04:18 PM
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/TIND Research Data Repository.

/2025/

Client

TIND.io & Duke University

Methodology

Usability Testing

Year

Nov 1, 2025

Improving the user experience of TIND's repository software

In 2025, Duke University partnered with TIND.io to conduct formative usability research, surfacing critical UX issues before launch and saving an estimated $10,000 in development time.

View Research Report

View Research Report

/The Challenge/

A Vendor-Supported Solution with Risk of Costly Development & Usability Issues

A Vendor-Supported Solution with Risk of Costly Development & Usability Issues

A migration to a vendor-supported platform introduced new workflows and UX risk, with limited insight into user needs, raising the potential for costly rework and wasted development effort.

/The Solution/

Formative Usability Research to Reduce Risk

Formative Usability Research to Reduce Risk

I served as the sole researcher, conducting formative usability testing to evaluate critical repository workflows prior to full launch. The research surfaced high-impact UX issues early, enabling targeted, evidence-based recommendations that informed vendor development decisions and prevented costly rework, saving an estimated $10,000 in development time.





https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vTBrDgQk7LYsRwESRgxwZJUScpLk4CyJqVi5qk9o2lrgwKKv5G7AX05fCJ0ae9VYbHQupXJ6YE81OLj/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000

/The Process/

/001/

Empathize

Defined research questions and success criteria

Partnered with the Duke RDR team and TIND stakeholders to clarify business risks, user pain points, and high-priority workflows. Aligned on measurable success metrics (task completion, efficiency, severity) to guide study design and participant recruitment.

/001/

Empathize

Defined research questions and success criteria

Partnered with the Duke RDR team and TIND stakeholders to clarify business risks, user pain points, and high-priority workflows. Aligned on measurable success metrics (task completion, efficiency, severity) to guide study design and participant recruitment.

/001/

Empathize

Defined research questions and success criteria

Partnered with the Duke RDR team and TIND stakeholders to clarify business risks, user pain points, and high-priority workflows. Aligned on measurable success metrics (task completion, efficiency, severity) to guide study design and participant recruitment.

/001/

Badge

Defined research questions and success criteria

Partnered with the Duke RDR team and TIND stakeholders to clarify business risks, user pain points, and high-priority workflows. Aligned on measurable success metrics (task completion, efficiency, severity) to guide study design and participant recruitment.

/002/

Prepare & Conduct

Designed and executed usability testing

Developed task-based scenarios reflecting real repository workflows for both expert and novice users. Conducted moderated usability sessions, piloted scripts, and captured quantitative performance metrics alongside qualitative observations.

/002/

Prepare & Conduct

Designed and executed usability testing

Developed task-based scenarios reflecting real repository workflows for both expert and novice users. Conducted moderated usability sessions, piloted scripts, and captured quantitative performance metrics alongside qualitative observations.

/002/

Prepare & Conduct

Designed and executed usability testing

Developed task-based scenarios reflecting real repository workflows for both expert and novice users. Conducted moderated usability sessions, piloted scripts, and captured quantitative performance metrics alongside qualitative observations.

/002/

Badge

Designed and executed usability testing

Developed task-based scenarios reflecting real repository workflows for both expert and novice users. Conducted moderated usability sessions, piloted scripts, and captured quantitative performance metrics alongside qualitative observations.

/003/

Analyze

Measured performance and identified systemic patterns

Analyzed completion rates, time-on-task, and difficulty ratings across workflows. Conducted thematic analysis to identify recurring usability breakdowns, classify issue severity (impact × frequency), and uncover structural design risks.

/003/

Analyze

Measured performance and identified systemic patterns

Analyzed completion rates, time-on-task, and difficulty ratings across workflows. Conducted thematic analysis to identify recurring usability breakdowns, classify issue severity (impact × frequency), and uncover structural design risks.

/003/

Analyze

Measured performance and identified systemic patterns

Analyzed completion rates, time-on-task, and difficulty ratings across workflows. Conducted thematic analysis to identify recurring usability breakdowns, classify issue severity (impact × frequency), and uncover structural design risks.

/003/

Badge

Measured performance and identified systemic patterns

Analyzed completion rates, time-on-task, and difficulty ratings across workflows. Conducted thematic analysis to identify recurring usability breakdowns, classify issue severity (impact × frequency), and uncover structural design risks.

/004/

Deliver

Prioritized and operationalized recommendations

Synthesized findings into actionable design recommendations and facilitated stakeholder prioritization using a decision matrix (user impact × technical feasibility). Delivered high-priority changes to TIND prior to launch to mitigate UX risk and avoid costly rework.

/004/

Deliver

Prioritized and operationalized recommendations

Synthesized findings into actionable design recommendations and facilitated stakeholder prioritization using a decision matrix (user impact × technical feasibility). Delivered high-priority changes to TIND prior to launch to mitigate UX risk and avoid costly rework.

/004/

Deliver

Prioritized and operationalized recommendations

Synthesized findings into actionable design recommendations and facilitated stakeholder prioritization using a decision matrix (user impact × technical feasibility). Delivered high-priority changes to TIND prior to launch to mitigate UX risk and avoid costly rework.

/004/

Badge

Prioritized and operationalized recommendations

Synthesized findings into actionable design recommendations and facilitated stakeholder prioritization using a decision matrix (user impact × technical feasibility). Delivered high-priority changes to TIND prior to launch to mitigate UX risk and avoid costly rework.

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By submitting, you'll receive updates on new projects and have a peek inside my mind.

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/Stay in the loop.

Smart updates for smart people.

By submitting, you'll receive updates on new projects and have a peek inside my mind.

Abstract flowing waves in grayscale creating a smooth, undulating pattern with light and shadow gradients

(akb)®

/Stay in the loop.

Smart updates for smart people.

By submitting, you'll receive updates on new projects and have a peek inside my mind.

Abstract flowing waves in grayscale creating a smooth, undulating pattern with light and shadow gradients