Product Design
SaaS
Web app
Bondify
Project overview
Bondify is an early stage web app platform that aims to simplify and automate the process of drafting contracts for legal and finance teams.
My role
I joined the team as a Product Designer, focusing on enhancing the product for its market launch.
Project background
We live in a world where ChatGPT is capable of passing the bar exam, yet most lawyers still draft complex contracts using only Microsoft Word.
Bondify was created to help lawyers become more efficient at drafting contracts. It aims not only to automate simple contracts but also to assist lawyers with very complex transactions, such as M&A deals and corporate lending.
The challenge
How might we make a simple product what can handle the most complex contracts?
Tough spot
Bondify was in a tough spot. Despite its advanced features, the platform didn't stand out due to a crowded and confusing user interface, packed with too many elements that made it difficult to navigate. To address these issues, I began with a comprehensive UX audit, diving deep into the user journey to identify precisely where frustrations and bottlenecks were occurring.
The next steps involved extensive dialogues with internal stakeholders, during which I presented my findings and advocated for changes. Convincing them required more than just stating the problems; it also involved aligning the proposed solutions with Bondify's business goals.
We started with revamping Bondify's Document Editor and the right panel, which houses the platform's main functionalities. This makeover wasn't just about looks; it was about making the user's journey smoother and more intuitive. We aimed to ensure that every feature was just a click away and that each tool felt like a natural extension of the user's workflow.
We introduced a new dashboard and data room in Bondify, all designed for simplicity and efficiency. We reimagined the dashboard to give users immediate, clear insights and quicker access to their most-needed features. The data room, crucial for managing complex contracts, got a makeover for better organization and faster document retrieval. These updates were all about making sure users spend less time navigating and more time doing valuable work.
We've updated the Variables & Effects feature by adding a visual canvas to the Variables workspace. Think of variables as the gears in the machinery of contract automation — they allow for customizable elements within contracts to adapt to specific needs. This update simplifies navigating complex dependencies by offering a visual method to manage and understand how variables interact with each other and impact the contract's structure.
Lessons learned
My work at Bondify brought two crucial insights to light. First, in the pursuit of new features, it's essential not to lose sight of the core functionality our users rely on. Second, I realized how surprisingly easy it is to become detached from the user base, which can lead to decisions that don't align with their actual needs. This experience emphasized the necessity of regularly conducting a reality check to ensure we remain in tune with our end users. It's vital to understand their daily challenges and keep their needs at the forefront of our decisions.
