New Product Development • Facilitation
CHALLENGES @ FIDELITY
Figma → React /D3
23 Weeks • 2024
TEAM OVERVIEW
UX Designer (me)
UX Researcher
Software Developer
Business Analyst
MY ROLE
Information Synthesis • Concept Strategy • Ideation • Wireframing & Prototyping • Visual Design
80%
Rise in engagement
07+
DEMOS TO LEADERSHIP
The visual assets are under NDA, you may explore the process, key challenges, and how I navigated them during my co-op at Fidelity Investments, here.
At Fidelity’s innovation lab (FCAT), I worked on 2 exciting projects. Both pushed me to turn complex ideas into intuitive, engaging experiences. I also ran my first Design Thinking workshop, a real milestone in my UX journey!
Strategic Thinking
User-Centered Innovation
Cross-Functional Collab
PROJECT 01
Beautiful Art from Data
Turned complex financial data into engaging, interactive visuals that sparked meaningful conversations. Led cross-functional collaboration, navigated technical constraints, and refined the experience through usability testing.
Leadership
Design Advocacy
Design Tradeoffs
03
DYNAMIC
VISUALIZATIONS
05+
DESIGN CRITIQUES
50+
CONCEPTS
IDEATED
Encouraging cross functional co-design
CHALLENGE 01
My team, UXR, SDE, and BA, was new to working in a multidisciplinary setting. They expected Design to function independently, which initially led to a more siloed approach.
APPROACH
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Full ownership of the first visualization to set a foundation.​​
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For the next 2 data viz, I introduced mood boards, HMWs, ran ideation workshops to help the team think visually.
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Created a co-design process, leading to diverse outcomes.
IMPACT
Shifted team's mindset from handoff mode to a collaborative problem-solving one, leading to richer and more effective designs.
Design vision v/s technical feasibility
CHALLENGE 02
I envisioned a scroll-triggered animation to reveal complex data progressively, but despite a clear, research-backed vision, technical constraints made it tough to bring the visual concept to life as intended.
APPROACH
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Multiple iterations to chunk data for better interpretation.
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Collaborated closely with the SDE to find a balanced solution, ultimately implementing tabbed navigation for user-friendly exploration.
SOLUTION
Used intuitive tabs and filters to simplify data and boost engagement. Enabled seamless Figma-to-React/D3 handoffs for faster, high-quality implementation.
USER TESTING & REFINEMENT
Conducted 5+ critique sessions with designers, engineers, and users to refine clarity, aesthetics, and interactivity.
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Ran intercept interviews with 50+ Fidelity employees where I showcased the visualizations and gathered their immediate feedback through word association activities.​
OVERALL IMPACT & KEY LEARNINGS
80%
Rise in user engagement
Broke down silos and drove strategic alignment
Through this project, I’ve learned that design isn’t just about visuals. It's about uniting teams, navigating constraints, and continuously refining experiences to make information clearer, more engaging, and meaningful.
PROJECT 02
Exploring the Psyche of Novice Investors
Novice investors often feel overwhelmed and hesitant to start. To simplify investing and build long-term habits, we ran a Google Design Sprint, accelerating insights and iterations within tight timelines.
Divergent Thinking
Conceptualization
UXR x UXD x BA
50+
REAL USERS IN RESEARCH & TESTING
04+
IDEATION SPRINTS
07+
DEMOS TO LEADERSHIP
Balancing user needs with stakeholder expectations
CHALLENGE 01
The Product Owners had a tentative solution in mind, which unintentionally steered us in a direction that focused more on business goals than on addressing user needs.
APPROACH
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Pushed for real user research to guide decisions, because gut feelings aren’t enough when designing for trust.​​​
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Teamed up with BA for market insights and UXR to uncover how confidence (or lack of it) shapes investment behavior.
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Advocated to stakeholders why users need more than just a feature. Instead, they need to feel supported, informed, and in control.
IMPACT
I secured buy-in for a more thoughtful, impactful product strategy by aligning the design with both user needs and business goals.
Ambiguity in a new product space
CHALLENGE 02
Building a product from the ground up meant stepping into the unknown. The aim was to create something both simple and impactful for novice investors without overcomplicating the experience.
APPROACH
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Discovery sessions with BA and UXR to uncover user pain points, market gaps, and behavioral insights.​
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Ran Google Design Sprints to rapidly prototype and validate ideas, ensuring we weren’t designing in the dark.
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Led 4+ ideation sprints and extracted insights from the research, refining the product vision with real user input.
IMPACT
Through rapid iteration and user-focused design, we turned uncertainty into clarity, shaping a product that empowers novice investors to start confidently, reduce apprehension, and build long-term habits.
OVERALL IMPACT & KEY LEARNINGS
Aligned stakeholders on a shared vision, found a sweet spot between business goals and user needs.
Balanced speed and quality, delivering a research-backed solution without compromise.
I learned to navigate ambiguity by aligning stakeholders and iterating on designs to deliver solutions that balance user needs and project constraints.
UX MILESTONE
Facilitating Design Thinking Workshops
I led Design Thinking workshops that fostered collaboration, rapid prototyping, and creative problem-solving. An energizing, hands-on milestone that shaped my approach to tackling complex UX challenges.
Proactiveness
Adaptability
Public Speaking
APPROACH
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​Creating a safe and welcoming space where everyone felt comfortable to share and explore ideas freely, without any fear of judgment.
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Staying adaptable and open to pivoting made it easier to handle challenges and manage time effectively.
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Multiple dry runs with different audiences, practicing in front of the mirror, recording an audio of the overall workshop flow, with the right pauses and voice modulation and listening it over and over again!!
This experience reinforced my strength in cultivating collaboration, guiding creative problem-solving, and adapting dynamically to challenges.
Co-op Showcase
We had the exciting opportunity to share our work from both projects with a broad audience across the organization.
Our "Data-Driven Art" office hours drew in 30-35 attendees in person, along with over 250 virtual participants from various teams, including Fidelity's international branches. For our Co-op's final presentation, where we presented both projects, we were thrilled to have over 80 members of the FCAT team join us.
Learnings
Turning Messy Ideas into Meaningful Solutions
I learned how to lead with a user-first mindset, even when projects didn’t have clear directions. By staying curious, asking the right questions, and organizing ideas step by step, I was able to turn open-ended challenges into thoughtful solutions.
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Collaboration is a Superpower
Working in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment taught me the value of clear communication, flexibility in process, and embracing feedback as a tool for growth, not a critique.
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Designing the Narrative
Learned how to tailor storytelling and presentations to diverse audiences, including VPs and C-suite members with limited design background, so that the why behind design decisions landed just as strongly as the what.
The Team
Bhuvan Raj, Software Developer
Shreya Deepak Kumar, UX Researcher
Rahi Ranadive, UX Designer
Mia Galvin, Business Analyst
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