Tackling UX Debt as a Product Designer
Dec 11, 2024 • 3 min read
TL;DR
At Prism, I tackled UX debt - inconsistent UI, poor information architecture, overuse of modals, sidebars that didn't respond. By building a cohesive design system and focusing on viable, user-centric experiences, I was able to rebuild trust and unlock growth opportunities.
When I first joined the team at Prism.fm as a product designer, I knew I had my work cut out for me. As the company's first dedicated design hire, I was tasked with breaking down the existing product components, establishing a cohesive design system, and addressing the significant UX debt that had accumulated over time.
Not only were the styles convoluted and the front-end components lacking coherency, but bad navigation patterns, overuse of modals, and continuous context switching created constant frustrations for our users.
Rebuilding Trust Through Consistency
The existing Prism.fm product had certainly grown quickly, but that growth had come at the cost of user experience. Component styles were all over the place, making the interface feel disjointed and unreliable.
Even our most loyal users grew frustrated by the lack of consistency and the frequent context switching required to accomplish their tasks.
When we would touch a component, it was my role as the product designer to comb the codebase and bring everything up to a consistent experience.
My first priority was to establish a solid design system that could serve as the foundation for a cohesive user interface. This involved: