Enterprise Trade Platform Redesign

Enterprise Trade Platform Redesign

Enterprise Trade Platform Redesign

Internal banking trade platform redesigned for scalability and growth at WNS

Internal banking trade platform redesigned for scalability and growth at WNS

OVERVIEW

A 9-week redesign that transformed a failing internal trade tool into a scalable platform adopted across multiple business units — all within a low-code environment.

A 9-week redesign that transformed a failing internal trade tool into a scalable platform adopted across multiple business units — all within a low-code environment.

PROJECT CONTEXT

A leading global bank’s internal trade-processing system had outgrown its design.

A leading global bank’s internal trade-processing system had outgrown its design.

Built on Appian’s low-code platform, it suffered from fragmented workflows and offline workarounds — users exported data to Excel, rendering expensive licenses unused. Our challenge was to restore usability, rebuild trust, and make the platform scalable again, all within the same technology and tight constraints.

Built on Appian’s low-code platform, it suffered from fragmented workflows and offline workarounds — users exported data to Excel, rendering expensive licenses unused. Our challenge was to restore usability, rebuild trust, and make the platform scalable again, all within the same technology and tight constraints.

TIMELINE AND TEAM

Team & Collaboration

Cross-Functional

1 Designer · 2/3 Developers · 1 Business Lead

Team & Collaboration

Cross-Functional

1 Designer · 2/3 Developers · 1 Business Lead

Tools

Appian · Figma

Low-code meets UX

Tools

Appian · Figma

Low-code meets UX

Total Timeline

12 Weeks

From kickoff to delivery

Total Timeline

12 Weeks

From kickoff to delivery

Total Timeline

12 Weeks

From kickoff to delivery

Role

Lead UX Designer

Strategy → Execution

Role

Lead UX Designer

Strategy → Execution

Role

Lead UX Designer

Strategy → Execution

Team & Collaboration

Cross-Functional

1 Designer · 2/3 Developers · 1 Business Lead

Team & Collaboration

Cross-Functional

1 Designer · 2/3 Developers · 1 Business Lead

Tools

Appian · Figma

Low-code meets UX

Tools

Appian · Figma

Low-code meets UX

PROBLEM AND WHY IT MATTERED

This was more than a UI problem — it was a breakdown in experience and adoption.

This was more than a UI problem — it was a breakdown in experience and adoption.

The system, originally engineered for function not users, had become dense, inaccessible, and unscalable. Adoption lingered below 30%, blocking the business from expanding trade operations globally. Redesigning it wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was about reviving productivity and confidence in a critical business platform.

The system, originally engineered for function not users, had become dense, inaccessible, and unscalable. Adoption lingered below 30%, blocking the business from expanding trade operations globally. Redesigning it wasn’t just about aesthetics; it was about reviving productivity and confidence in a critical business platform.

MY ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

I joined when the engagement was at risk of termination and morale was low.

I joined when the engagement was at risk of termination and morale was low.

As the lead UX designer, I took ownership beyond visuals — reframing business issues into design problems and working closely with developers to stretch Appian’s limits. Delivering early wins through quick prototypes rebuilt trust, securing a 3-month extension to complete a full redesign.

As the lead UX designer, I took ownership beyond visuals — reframing business issues into design problems and working closely with developers to stretch Appian’s limits. Delivering early wins through quick prototypes rebuilt trust, securing a 3-month extension to complete a full redesign.

End-to-End UX Leadership

Handled research, IA, and design system delivery from concept to implementation.

End-to-End UX Leadership

Handled research, IA, and design system delivery from concept to implementation.

Stakeholder Alignment

Bridged business needs with user realities to guide design priorities.

Stakeholder Alignment

Bridged business needs with user realities to guide design priorities.

Rapid Wins, Real Trust

Demonstrated quick, tangible impact that restored confidence in design’s value.

Rapid Wins, Real Trust

Demonstrated quick, tangible impact that restored confidence in design’s value.

TEAM AND COLLABORATION

Design became the bridge that kept business, development, and delivery in sync.

Design became the bridge that kept business, development, and delivery in sync.

Cross-Functional Bridge

Connected business, design, and dev teams to drive unified decisions.

Cross-Functional Bridge

Connected business, design, and dev teams to drive unified decisions.

Acting as Product Lead

Filled the PM gap — grounding choices in user needs and technical feasibility.

Acting as Product Lead

Filled the PM gap — grounding choices in user needs and technical feasibility.

Aligned Delivery Rhythm

Kept teams aligned through weekly stakeholder syncs and transparent reviews.

Aligned Delivery Rhythm

Kept teams aligned through weekly stakeholder syncs and transparent reviews.

CONSTRAINTS

Designing within Appian’s low-code framework was both a technical and cultural challenge.

Designing within Appian’s low-code framework was both a technical and cultural challenge.

Low-Code Limitations

Balanced creativity with Appian’s rigid component system, pushing for custom builds only when user impact justified it.

Low-Code Limitations

Balanced creativity with Appian’s rigid component system, pushing for custom builds only when user impact justified it.

Low-Code Limitations

Balanced creativity with Appian’s rigid component system, pushing for custom builds only when user impact justified it.

Tight Timelines

Delivered a full end-to-end redesign in just nine weeks, prioritizing clarity and speed without compromising quality.

Tight Timelines

Delivered a full end-to-end redesign in just nine weeks, prioritizing clarity and speed without compromising quality.

Tight Timelines

Delivered a full end-to-end redesign in just nine weeks, prioritizing clarity and speed without compromising quality.

Low UX Maturity

Educated stakeholders on design value through quick wins, storytelling, and visible progress to build lasting trust.

Low UX Maturity

Educated stakeholders on design value through quick wins, storytelling, and visible progress to build lasting trust.

Low UX Maturity

Educated stakeholders on design value through quick wins, storytelling, and visible progress to build lasting trust.

RESEARCH AND INSIGHTS
A single user quote sparked the turning point:
A single user quote sparked the turning point:

“We export everything to Excel before working.”

“We export everything to Excel before working.”

Discovery Sprint

Led the client’s first-ever primary research, combining stakeholder interviews, user surveys, and workflow observations.

Discovery Sprint

Led the client’s first-ever primary research, combining stakeholder interviews, user surveys, and workflow observations.

Core Insight

Uncovered major friction points — information overload, lack of role clarity, and low trust in data.

Core Insight

Uncovered major friction points — information overload, lack of role clarity, and low trust in data.

Actionable Outcome

Defined three user personas and a new information architecture aligned to real workflows and decision-making needs.

Actionable Outcome

Defined three user personas and a new information architecture aligned to real workflows and decision-making needs.

DESIGN DECISIONS

We created a cohesive design system aligned with brand and accessibility standards, introduced persona-based dashboards, and replaced dense tables with smart information cards. Custom Appian components supported complex flows while maintaining scalability.

We created a cohesive design system aligned with brand and accessibility standards, introduced persona-based dashboards, and replaced dense tables with smart information cards. Custom Appian components supported complex flows while maintaining scalability.

Smart Information Cards

Simplified dense data into actionable summaries with progressive disclosure.

Smart Information Cards

Simplified dense data into actionable summaries with progressive disclosure.

Smart Information Cards

Simplified dense data into actionable summaries with progressive disclosure.

Persona Dashboards

Focused user experiences around key roles for clarity and relevance.

Persona Dashboards

Focused user experiences around key roles for clarity and relevance.

Persona Dashboards

Focused user experiences around key roles for clarity and relevance.

Unified Design System

Built scalable, accessible, brand-consistent components for future use.

Unified Design System

Built scalable, accessible, brand-consistent components for future use.

Unified Design System

Built scalable, accessible, brand-consistent components for future use.

Disclaimer

I am limited by NDA to showcase my work. Please reach out if you need to know more.

Disclaimer

I am limited by NDA to showcase my work. Please reach out if you need to know more.

Disclaimer

I am limited by NDA to showcase my work. Please reach out if you need to know more.

SOLUTION

Our solution directly answered every problem uncovered in research.

Our solution directly answered every problem uncovered in research.

We restructured the experience into persona-based journeys to eliminate friction, reorganized dense data into digestible smart cards, rebuilt data hierarchies to restore confidence, unified the UI for visual and functional consistency, and leveraged scalable Appian components for reusability.

Together, these interventions turned a fragmented platform into a trusted workspace ready for global expansion.

We restructured the experience into persona-based journeys to eliminate friction, reorganized dense data into digestible smart cards, rebuilt data hierarchies to restore confidence, unified the UI for visual and functional consistency, and leveraged scalable Appian components for reusability.

Together, these interventions turned a fragmented platform into a trusted workspace ready for global expansion.

Flow to Focus

Reimagined fragmented workflows into clear, persona-specific journeys.

Flow to Focus

Reimagined fragmented workflows into clear, persona-specific journeys.

Data to Decisons

Transformed dense grids into contextual smart cards that support quick action.

Data to Decisons

Transformed dense grids into contextual smart cards that support quick action.

Static to Scalable

Evolved a rigid low-code interface into a flexible, reusable design framework.

Static to Scalable

Evolved a rigid low-code interface into a flexible, reusable design framework.

IMPACT AND OUTCOMES

From a 1-month POC to a 9-week overhaul, we delivered adoption gains and a scalable foundation.

From a 1-month POC to a 9-week overhaul, we delivered adoption gains and a scalable foundation.

Proof to Execution

A successful 1-month POC secured 9 additional weeks, during which we revamped multiple workflows and crafted tailored interfaces for 3 key personas.

Proof to Execution

A successful 1-month POC secured 9 additional weeks, during which we revamped multiple workflows and crafted tailored interfaces for 3 key personas.

Proof to Execution

A successful 1-month POC secured 9 additional weeks, during which we revamped multiple workflows and crafted tailored interfaces for 3 key personas.

Increased Adoption

License utilization rose from ~25% to nearly 100%, as users began completing all workflows within the platform instead of offline exports.

Increased Adoption

License utilization rose from ~25% to nearly 100%, as users began completing all workflows within the platform instead of offline exports.

Increased Adoption

License utilization rose from ~25% to nearly 100%, as users began completing all workflows within the platform instead of offline exports.

Scalable Design System

Built a brand-aligned design system and future-ready UX framework that reduced cognitive load, improved efficiency, and enabled global scalability across teams.

Scalable Design System

Built a brand-aligned design system and future-ready UX framework that reduced cognitive load, improved efficiency, and enabled global scalability across teams.

Scalable Design System

Built a brand-aligned design system and future-ready UX framework that reduced cognitive load, improved efficiency, and enabled global scalability across teams.

WHAT I LEARNED

This project redefined what design impact means for me.

This project redefined what design impact means for me.

Enterprise UX is 80% alignment and 20% interface — the real success was earning trust from both business and development. Even within a low-code system, thoughtful collaboration and design rigor can drive measurable business transformation.

Good design isn’t just what’s seen on screen — it’s the alignment of people, systems, and outcomes.

Good design isn’t just what’s seen on screen — it’s the alignment of people, systems, and outcomes.

Good design isn’t just what’s seen on screen — it’s the alignment of people, systems, and outcomes.

CONCLUSION

This project reinforced that good design isn’t just about improving usability — it’s about rebuilding confidence in systems and people.

Balancing low-code limitations, business goals, and user needs taught me that alignment is the most powerful design tool in enterprise environments.

This project reinforced that good design isn’t just about improving usability — it’s about rebuilding confidence in systems and people.

Balancing low-code limitations, business goals, and user needs taught me that alignment is the most powerful design tool in enterprise environments.

© Hastin Bagewadi 2024

All illustrations and images are free, open source and taken from stroyset.com and blush.design

All illustrations and images are free, open source and taken from stroyset.com

and blush.design