```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2F16ce63a2-caf1-4125-ac5e-33ade815e4c1.png?alt=media&token=d9ed9e11-4bae-4448-a614-10c2893c2345","id":"16ce63a2-caf1-4125-ac5e-33ade815e4c1","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"Page 1 - with continue with email as default option.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":true}]}
```

## The project

CE App is a leading platform for tracking continuing education and ensuring compliance reporting. To effectively onboard new customers, it is crucial to provide a seamless sign-up and sign-in process.

In this project, the task was to re-design the sign-in & sign-up experience so that it’s seamless and allows potential customers to quickly get to the value of the product without encountering obstacles.

## Research & Analysis

The project kicked off with getting to understand the current sign-in and sign-up process and identifying areas of improvement. User feedback was collected from current customers, revealing the challenges they faced when attempting to sign in to the CE App.

The main problem identified was that many customers struggled to sign in because they had forgotten their passwords. The existing “forgot password” feature was not functioning optimally and lacked visibility. To address this problem, the solution focused on prominently displaying the "forgot password" option and introducing alternative login methods, such as using a **magic code & link**, eliminating the need for customers to remember their previous passwords.

To brainstorm and map out the new user journey for the sign-in and sign-up process, I used a combination of Google Sheets and Figma. These tools facilitated continuous collaboration with stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the product's scope.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2Fb63588cd-260d-4b89-b3ea-de26f1fc3da1.png?alt=media&token=8c7ca8f8-cc9a-402a-a921-e20fcd35df29","id":"b63588cd-260d-4b89-b3ea-de26f1fc3da1","width":2888,"height":1718,"filename":"Screenshot 2024-04-18 at 19.35.10.png","type":"image/png","caption":"user journey for the sign in and sign up process","border":true}]}
```

Throughout the redesign process, close communication was maintained with the project manager, who also served as the stakeholder and owner of the application.

## Design Process

The design began with creating wireframes and prototypes to test with users and the internal team, and also conducted regular check-ins with the project manager. I used the feedback to refine the designs and improve the sign-in/sign-up experience.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2F6a7ca181-030e-432d-98da-b18884d0a786.png?alt=media&token=2feb84ab-d732-43b3-b94a-7378ad90f407","id":"6a7ca181-030e-432d-98da-b18884d0a786","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"Sign in Page 1 - with continue with email as default option.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign in - continue with email","border":true},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2F81e7514c-af3e-4082-ba00-09ff475578d8.png?alt=media&token=969d637c-e342-4e8a-a1e5-d13292202fff","id":"81e7514c-af3e-4082-ba00-09ff475578d8","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"V3 - Sign in page 2 - code sent to email.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign in - confirm code","border":true},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2F4d600290-8510-4888-9a67-3b1935480961.png?alt=media&token=92737855-fb84-4721-8fe9-6a2f1d24137b","id":"4d600290-8510-4888-9a67-3b1935480961","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"V3 - Sign in - Sign in with a password option.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign in - login with password","border":true}]}
```

With further iterations and closely involving the software development team, more refined designs were completed and handed off for development.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2F4d1abed2-44a8-41aa-ad1a-9c26cd64e0c3.png?alt=media&token=cfae7355-4ecb-4383-af9e-1826f0e63b52","id":"4d1abed2-44a8-41aa-ad1a-9c26cd64e0c3","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"Sign Up page 1 - with continue with email as default option.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign up - continue with email","border":true},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2Ff01ae15d-6cd7-465a-ac4e-39e8504313ba.png?alt=media&token=84dcd137-53bf-4c5c-b4f7-cf3a4c2c0b28","id":"f01ae15d-6cd7-465a-ac4e-39e8504313ba","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"Sign up page 2 - enter first & last name.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign up - enter first & last name","border":true},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2F31ba61dc-b986-4804-9b8c-4c7d2e70e525.png?alt=media&token=925232d8-364c-4cc6-b48b-ca5c508e09a8","id":"31ba61dc-b986-4804-9b8c-4c7d2e70e525","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"Page 3 - confirm code.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign up - confirm code","border":true},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2F0571d7c8-118d-43c6-8a57-b0fbd0714df3.png?alt=media&token=ef279fdc-33ec-427a-acbf-972b2b7fd82e","id":"0571d7c8-118d-43c6-8a57-b0fbd0714df3","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"Page 4 - organization or individual user options.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign up - organization & individual options","border":true},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2Fdce73461-650c-4ff8-b1fe-0a78369cd2ad.png?alt=media&token=9e127109-cfbd-4dda-97dd-2a343c8ea5ba","id":"dce73461-650c-4ff8-b1fe-0a78369cd2ad","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"Page 5 - Selected state.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign up - selected state","border":true},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2F43af7b09-d0a8-46b3-9ec4-f711700bc0bb.png?alt=media&token=d521e80a-5594-4443-b0e3-cace88273be7","id":"43af7b09-d0a8-46b3-9ec4-f711700bc0bb","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"Page 6 - enter company name and invite admins.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign up - company name and invite users","border":true},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2F461d7135-c0a2-4a31-8045-df3184402157.png?alt=media&token=6108d0ea-9d4b-48fd-bff6-a11d1becba3f","id":"461d7135-c0a2-4a31-8045-df3184402157","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"Page 7 - select your primary use case.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign up - select primary use case","border":true}]}
```

## My Role

As the product designer in this project, I was fully involved in the design of this project from start to finish. My responsibilities encompassed conducting research and analysis, gathering user feedback, refining designs & developing prototypes, and finally testing the built designs.

I worked closely with the development team to ensure the designs were technically feasible and collaborated with the project manager to align with the project goals.

## Extra screens

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2F5003bb58-314f-410e-bd4f-7cb1b130e0e0.png?alt=media&token=56616685-a4d5-41a8-96eb-0199c892ca10","id":"5003bb58-314f-410e-bd4f-7cb1b130e0e0","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"V3 - Sign in Page 1 - email not found.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign in - email not found","border":true},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2F7eea0b35-30e6-4e16-9c64-3744c7fd7498.png?alt=media&token=d2aa31d8-e0b5-4fad-8c84-93d91e05999a","id":"7eea0b35-30e6-4e16-9c64-3744c7fd7498","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"V3 - Sign in - reset password.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign in - password reset","border":true},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FbQdKN2HfHrGOKkFSIlzX%2F8567f068-6985-469c-9494-6b8384d9e522.png?alt=media&token=d8815fd1-0882-49e0-ad19-fb9c08b52754","id":"8567f068-6985-469c-9494-6b8384d9e522","width":2880,"height":2048,"filename":"V3 - Sign in - Reset link comfirmation.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign in - reset link confirmation","border":true}]}
```

Redesigning the Onboarding Experience

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FfxzezURAtVkqHxCGy1OS%2F8890988e-4fcf-4002-9976-92ef1fd30666.png?alt=media&token=e20763a9-a4d2-4791-926a-8c1c0cf647c3","id":"8890988e-4fcf-4002-9976-92ef1fd30666","width":1296,"height":784,"filename":"MacBook Pro 16.png","type":"image/png","caption":"","border":false}]}
```

## About the project

*[Preparer payout](https://preparerpayouts.com/) is a tax software for tax preparers. The application is equipped with exceptional features for tax filing and helps you to easily calculate your preparer payouts.*

The client *(Clear Sky Local)* tasked us to design and develop this product from start to finish with the aim of making it user-friendly as possible.

The client had already done some research on this product and had an outline and a vision of how they wanted to see their product look and feel.

---

## Design Process

### Research & Ideation

Much of the product research had already been done by the client, but I still went ahead and did some research to try and understand the key important things tax preparers need and their preferences when it comes to tax software.

In my ideation process, I used the already provided research info and wireframes to look for inspiration, and brainstorm on how to present specific features of this application.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FfxzezURAtVkqHxCGy1OS%2Fbf8a6f8b-7eed-44ab-be9f-731dc7bb7726.png?alt=media&token=75c1e6b0-caff-4315-b598-f3b2dc4c72ce","id":"bf8a6f8b-7eed-44ab-be9f-731dc7bb7726","width":9469,"height":3236,"filename":"INSPIRATION-min.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Inspiration content","border":false}]}
```

### Visual design

I developed a style guide to use for the visual design of this application. Brand Colors, typography, and other visual elements were tasked to me to create. I used my earlier research and inspiration to come up with a color scheme and typography.

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FfxzezURAtVkqHxCGy1OS%2F8c6d0fe7-72af-47b7-85dc-0d266fa601b2.png?alt=media&token=901c7c86-a96f-45dc-a5f8-db7bac46aebd","id":"8c6d0fe7-72af-47b7-85dc-0d266fa601b2","width":2884,"height":2052,"filename":"1.1 - Sign In Page.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Sign in Page","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FfxzezURAtVkqHxCGy1OS%2F35294074-0ab8-4742-a1e9-adf5f9c67bb2.png?alt=media&token=c27e9f8f-b6d5-411d-94e6-a713daac1f7f","id":"35294074-0ab8-4742-a1e9-adf5f9c67bb2","width":1442,"height":1079,"filename":"1.0 Dashboard.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Dashboard","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FfxzezURAtVkqHxCGy1OS%2F5967dfbb-e63f-44bf-b5fb-063591e2d90d.png?alt=media&token=8e9fb676-87fb-4ff1-98ad-bb5dca03213c","id":"5967dfbb-e63f-44bf-b5fb-063591e2d90d","width":1442,"height":1079,"filename":"1.0 Add Preparer.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Add Preparer","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FfxzezURAtVkqHxCGy1OS%2Fdd581a09-85b6-46f3-b5fc-8d132ff08f3c.png?alt=media&token=8e9706d0-7d4d-4242-9a06-48ad2ca70f60","id":"dd581a09-85b6-46f3-b5fc-8d132ff08f3c","width":1440,"height":1077,"filename":"1.0 Import Bank reports.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Import bank report","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FfxzezURAtVkqHxCGy1OS%2F9ceb4ca9-d2a4-412a-a101-a56bb1ac9855.png?alt=media&token=d046918a-ee02-4406-9514-18ac991af6c0","id":"9ceb4ca9-d2a4-412a-a101-a56bb1ac9855","width":1442,"height":1079,"filename":"1.0 Run Payouts.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Run Payouts","border":false},{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FfxzezURAtVkqHxCGy1OS%2F039cb687-cb75-4ef8-acbd-075515bcf3f0.png?alt=media&token=2aaeb006-0001-4aa7-87d7-7589fcdceec5","id":"039cb687-cb75-4ef8-acbd-075515bcf3f0","width":1442,"height":1079,"filename":"1.0 Reports.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Reports","border":false}]}
```

### Style Guide

```cv
gallery
{"layout":"hscroll","images":[{"src":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/maitake-project.appspot.com/o/pages%2FW3m6tkakIzZOAlV4yPUKzpnB8oy2%2FfxzezURAtVkqHxCGy1OS%2F121020a9-84b4-4fa6-8caa-af40c5b93745.png?alt=media&token=5bc0eca1-3938-4819-9228-02de92982432","id":"121020a9-84b4-4fa6-8caa-af40c5b93745","width":2997,"height":2546,"filename":"Style Guide.png","type":"image/png","caption":"Style Guide","border":false}]}
```

---

## My Role

As the only product designer, I was fully involved in the design of this product from start to finish. I designed a fresh-looking web application with an updated interface that brings users through a clear journey, improving the overall experience, and resulting in a higher conversion rate

I was working alongside a team of talented **Front end** and **back-end developers** We also had a **project manager** to who I was reporting to.

---

## The Impact

The application just got launched and so far we’re getting a good amount of users using it to file their taxes. The overall impact will be determined after some time once a good volume of users has used it.

Furthermore, the developers liked the way I presented my designs to them which saved them a lot of time during the development phase of this application.

## Challenges Faced

Throughout this design process, a few challenges came up.

1. **Including too many features in the visual design**

   > My early research had me include extra features to the design which I deemed to be relevant in improving the User experience of the product. However some of them could not be added the right way in the first phase of launching this product, so I had to remove them from the designs.

2. **Not having enough knowledge about the product**

   > The timeframe for this task was so short (Less than a week). This affected my general knowledge about the product as I didn’t have enough time to research and understand it, as a result, I might have missed the most important features that might have even improved the overall User experience of this application.

---

## Lessons learned

I learned a few important things that I'll definitely improve on in future

1. **Understanding the product and the user flow**

   > This is one thing I'll do differently in the future, I'll ensure I have a clear understanding of the product and the expected user flow so that I can come up with a solution that serves the user best and ensures product growth

2. **Research is always important**

   > Another important thing to always include in my future designs. With more research, i realised i got to understand more about the product and make informed decisions on the features to include that will improve the overall user experience.

Designing a tax preparation software - preparer payouts

I am looking for a new challenge, I have some part-time I can dedicate to your team as a product designer. If you're offering any internships or part-time roles, hit me up. See more of my work in my profile below. 

Senior Product Designer

Google UX Design Certification

CE App is a leading platform for tracking continuing education and ensuring compliance reporting.

Elias Ochako

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