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Developer Platform

Overview

ArcGIS Developers is a platform that offers a full suite of developer tools and location services to build mapping and analytics solutions that support Esri customers business needs. Customers can use ArcGIS APIs to create robust, location-based web and native applications for web, desktop, and mobile devices. In addition, they can build, manage, and deploy apps by using tools that fit individual needs.

My Impact

  • Achieved increased engagement by driving the development of new applications.
  • Successfully increased subscriptions by implementing effective strategies.
  • Collaborated closely with the team to align production roadmap and prioritize UX initiatives.
  • Provided valuable guidance on UX design and research best practices to enhance the overall user experience.
  • Assisted in making informed decisions on design system UI, ensuring a polished and cohesive visual experience.

How It Works

Developers can easily access documentation and seamlessly sign up or sign in to gain access to APIs and SDKs. In addition, they can find inspiration from pre-built app demos that showcase the capabilities and possibilities of the platform.

My contribution

Vision and Strategy Player and coach for UX/UI Team Accessibility

The team

full product development team 2 product designers 1 iconographer 1 user researcher

Year

2019-21

Process

This endeavor involved a comprehensive redesign of the website, platform, and documentation site to address the dated developer experience. The previous setup lacked organization, making it challenging for customers to locate the information they needed, including accessing API keys and app details. In this role, I acted as a player/coach, guiding the team through the process of remapping the architecture, aligning our proposed ideas for the site and experience.

To ensure success, I spearheaded research activities to gather insights and experimented with development to improve performance. Acting as the main point of contact between stakeholders and the design team, I facilitated clear and open communication, making informed design decisions that met the needs of both product and design teams. This collaborative approach contributed to the seamless execution of the redesign, resulting in an enhanced developer experience and a well-structured platform.

Outcome

Website

The previous website lacked centralized content and demos, making it challenging for users to understand the purpose and value of the ArcGIS platform. In response, the new website focused on presenting a clear narrative of the platform's features and benefits. By showcasing practical applications and streamlining information, users were inspired to explore further and generate excitement. The inclusion of demos enhanced engagement and comprehension. The improved website successfully communicated the purpose and potential of ArcGIS, empowering users to make informed decisions and delve deeper into its functionalities.

Documentation

Revamping the documentation was a thoughtful process that involved reimagining navigation structures, information architecture, and content/imagery. The design team extensively researched other developer documentation sites and conducted user research, including tree testing, to better understand how users perceive content hierarchy.

Our primary objective was to create templates for the documentation team and establish a content system that aligned with our design system. This approach enabled easy reuse of components while developing content.

For a more detailed demonstration of this process, I encourage you to watch the accompanying video that showcases how these elements work together.

Pricing

Developing flexible and customizable pricing options posed a challenge due to the potential complexity resulting from customers mixing and matching features. Our focus was on finding ways to simplify the pricing structure, allowing customers to personalize their selections effectively. Ensuring the responsiveness of the pricing system was also a key consideration.

To address this challenge, we carefully analyzed various approaches to streamline the offerings. By reevaluating the pricing model, we aimed to provide customers with a more intuitive and tailored pricing experience. This involved designing a system that allowed users to easily select and customize the features they desired, while ensuring the pricing remained transparent and responsive across different devices and screen sizes.

By incorporating simplicity, personalization, and responsiveness into the pricing structure, we aimed to create a seamless and user-friendly experience for customers, empowering them to make informed choices and configure their pricing plans to suit their specific needs.

Check out the video on how this works.

Billing

Billing played a crucial role as it encompassed subscription management, granting users access to key platform features. At the time, Esri lacked a dedicated subscription model for developers. Therefore, my team collaborated with the product team to create a specialized billing experience tailored specifically for developers. This solution seamlessly integrated with the company's existing subscription platform while providing a dedicated experience for developers.

For a more detailed understanding of this process, I encourage you to watch the accompanying video that showcases how this billing system operates.

Build and Manage

We focused on creating a user-friendly experience that developers could easily navigate, learn, build, access, and manage their apps. To achieve this, we carefully curated the dashboard items based on user research and comprehensive testing, ensuring that the most relevant and essential information was presented prominently. The positioning of these items was informed by user feedback, enabling developers to have a familiar and intuitive experience.

For a visual demonstration of how this works, I recommend watching the accompanying video that showcases the functionality and features of the dashboard.