Role
UX Designer
Timeline
04.2024 - Present
Tools
Figma
Jira
Notion
Product board
Amplitude
Miro
I joined CatalystOne during a pivotal time in the company's evolution, as it aimed to transition to a more product-centric and agile approach to development, while simultaneously upgrading the tech stack of its established SaaS HR platform. My primary focus was to redesign key interfaces that had been in use for a long time and had strong user adoption.
As always, I immediately sought to understand the existing customer base and internal dynamics, and advocate for thoughtful, user-centered changes. This typically involves creating prototypes and visualizations to communicate the value of new ideas and secure buy-in from stakeholders who were still adjusting to the presence of a dedicated design team.
Updating Legacy Interfaces
Redesigning long-standing pages meant navigating a delicate balance between maintaining the familiarity that existing users valued while introducing fresh, intuitive interfaces that aligned with the company's vision of innovation. I tend to ground my design choices in user research and internal feedback, so as to help bridge the gap between old and new, and ensure that the product remains relevant and user-friendly during a period of significant change.AI Concept Development
With the growing trend of integrating Gen-AI features into SaaS platforms, I developed and suggested some early-stage concepts for how AI could enhance our product.Advocating for Design Hygiene
I recognized early on the need for some elevation in design hygiene. Wherever possible, I took proactive steps to promote it within the team. From experience, I know how valuable it is to have design files well-organized and consistent - it makes it easier for the team to collaborate, share ideas, and build upon each other's work. This also fosters a sense of ownership and pride in our collective output.Spearheading Research Ops
To make sure that we are getting actionable insights that are easily available for all who need it, I am working on setting up ResearchOps processes and guidelines. The goal is that each designer has the right tools they need to do research; and that sharing the insight is easy. I am following best practices layed out by the Nielsen Norman Group and UX researchers such as Emma Boulton.
My first project was (and still is) to update and redesign the One to One Module as the team was shifting tech stacks.
One to Ones are regular and recurring meetings between two employees of a company, usually a manager and their employee, that can help with voicing feedback or spotting issues.
CatalystOne wants to help companies implement such a process and to make it more helpful by adding templates that the employees can follow.
One of the very first constraints that I had to overcome was that we were not supposed to touch the backend of the module, only change the UI. This became quite a struggle as it forced me to think differently about how to do designs and how to approach usability issues.
Employees consistently face a common challenge: repeatedly answering the same questions throughout their workday. This redundant task not only frustrates them but also consumes valuable time they often cannot spare from their already demanding schedules.
Recognizing this pain point, our team swiftly prioritized mobile device support for our One to One feature. As the lead designer on this initiative, I was tasked with developing a responsive mobile user interface that would minimize engineering overhead while maximizing usability.
The environment at CatalystOne presented several challenges, particularly around communication and team dynamics. The distributed nature of the team, combined with varying levels of proficiency in modern development practices, required a high level of adaptability and patience. While some communication difficulties were unavoidable, I focused on what I could control—being clear, collaborative, and solution-oriented at every step.
While I know that remaining diplomatic and professional, even when faced with difficult personalities or processes, is a useful trait, I believe that fostering a culture of respect, empathy, and shared goals is essential for producing high-quality work, and so I do my best to embody those values in every interaction.
Through careful navigation of complex organizational changes and challenging team dynamics, I helped drive meaningful improvements to CatalystOne’s design practices and product interfaces. By advocating for user-centered design, maintaining clear communication, and fostering collaboration across teams, I was able to deliver high-quality, thoughtful design solutions that balanced innovation with user needs.
© Henri Knutsen. All Rights Reserved 2024.