Unified Settings Framework
Redesigned the settings experience in Rubrik Security Cloud to accommodate an expanding array of settings items, ensuring the interface remains scalable and easily navigable.
I was the lead designer on this project working with a cross-functional research, product, and engineering team. Check out the main highlights of the design below. If you'd like to learn more, shoot me an email at anambhatia22@gmail.com.
Unified Settings Framework
Redesigned the settings experience in Rubrik Security Cloud to accommodate an expanding array of settings items, ensuring the interface remains scalable and easily navigable.
I was the lead designer on this project working with a cross-functional research, product, and engineering team. Check out the main highlights of the design below. If you'd like to learn more, shoot me an email at anambhatia22@gmail.com.
Unified Settings Framework
Redesigned the settings experience in Rubrik Security Cloud to accommodate an expanding array of settings items, ensuring the interface remains scalable and easily navigable.
I was the lead designer on this project working with a cross-functional research, product, and engineering team. Check out the main highlights of the design below. If you'd like to learn more, shoot me an email at anambhatia22@gmail.com.
Context
Context
Originally, Rubrik Security Cloud launched with its flagship data protection and recovery application, enabling users to backup and secure their data. As the platform expanded, we introduced additional applications such as threat monitoring and investigation, and data security posture. Settings were traditionally accessible via a dropdown in the top navigation bar, listing each setting option.
Originally, Rubrik Security Cloud launched with its flagship data protection and recovery application, enabling users to backup and secure their data. As the platform expanded, we introduced additional applications such as threat monitoring and investigation, and data security posture. Settings were traditionally accessible via a dropdown in the top navigation bar, listing each setting option.
Original Settings interface in Rubrik Security Cloud.
Data Security Posture app accessed via the App Switcher dropdown on the Navbar
Data Security Posture app accessed via the App Switcher dropdown on the Navbar
Problem
Problem
The settings interface faced three main issues:
Scalability: With new applications added, the dropdown menu became increasingly cluttered with more settings, making it harder for users to find and manage these configurations efficiently.
Consistency and Clarity: The uniform appearance of settings across all applications led to confusion, as it implied that settings were specific to each application when they were actually global. This was misleading and necessitated a centralized management approach.
Misleading Categorization: The categorization of settings was not intuitive, leading to confusion among customers. This unclear grouping made it difficult for users to quickly find the settings they needed, further complicating the discovery process.
The settings interface faced three main issues:
Scalability: With new applications added, the dropdown menu became increasingly cluttered with more settings, making it harder for users to find and manage these configurations efficiently.
Consistency and Clarity: The uniform appearance of settings across all applications led to confusion, as it implied that settings were specific to each application when they were actually global. This was misleading and necessitated a centralized management approach.
Misleading Categorization: The categorization of settings was not intuitive, leading to confusion among customers. This unclear grouping made it difficult for users to quickly find the settings they needed, further complicating the discovery process.
Solution
Solution
We addressed the challenges by implementing a comprehensive redesign of the Settings interface:
We addressed the challenges by implementing a comprehensive redesign of the Settings interface:
Centralized Access: We relocated the settings access point to the App Switcher, which also hosts all other Rubrik applications. This change clarifies that settings are a global control, distinct from individual applications.
Centralized Access: We relocated the settings access point to the App Switcher, which also hosts all other Rubrik applications. This change clarifies that settings are a global control, distinct from individual applications.
Intuitive Navigation and Improved Information Architecture: The newly designed 'Settings Room' features a searchable side navigation panel enhanced by a categorization system that was redefined through user research and extensive card sorting exercises. This ensures that the settings are logically organized, making them easier to navigate and discover.
Intuitive Navigation and Improved Information Architecture: The newly designed 'Settings Room' features a searchable side navigation panel enhanced by a categorization system that was redefined through user research and extensive card sorting exercises. This ensures that the settings are logically organized, making them easier to navigate and discover.
Enhanced User Experience: Users can now seamlessly switch between various settings and sub-settings without losing context. The side panel's collapse and expand functionality allows for a more flexible and dynamic user interface, enabling users to minimize distractions while configuring settings.
Enhanced User Experience: Users can now seamlessly switch between various settings and sub-settings without losing context. The side panel's collapse and expand functionality allows for a more flexible and dynamic user interface, enabling users to minimize distractions while configuring settings.
Workflow Integration: We included back links for users drilling down into settings from different Rubrik applications. These links facilitate a quick return to users' prior workflows, minimizing disruptions in their journeys.
Workflow Integration: We included back links for users drilling down into settings from different Rubrik applications. These links facilitate a quick return to users' prior workflows, minimizing disruptions in their journeys.
Conclusion
Conclusion
This comprehensive redesign of the settings interface not only resolves the initial scalability and information architecture issues but also significantly enhances overall usability, making the management of settings intuitive and integrated within the users' daily operations.
During the redesign, we encountered challenges, particularly in collaboration with the development team. Integrating all settings into the new side navigation experience required extensive refactoring. Although initially anticipated as a straightforward task, the actual implementation demanded considerable time and effort from the engineering team. Despite these hurdles, the outcome has been highly positive.
Customer feedback highlighted the ease and intuitiveness of the new interface. The addition of back links, allowing users to seamlessly return to their workflows, has been particularly well-received.
This comprehensive redesign of the settings interface not only resolves the initial scalability and information architecture issues but also significantly enhances overall usability, making the management of settings intuitive and integrated within the users' daily operations.
During the redesign, we encountered challenges, particularly in collaboration with the development team. Integrating all settings into the new side navigation experience required extensive refactoring. Although initially anticipated as a straightforward task, the actual implementation demanded considerable time and effort from the engineering team. Despite these hurdles, the outcome has been highly positive.
Customer feedback highlighted the ease and intuitiveness of the new interface. The addition of back links, allowing users to seamlessly return to their workflows, has been particularly well-received.