Adobe Experience Design Internship
Prompt Search Feature Exploration
Project Details:
Tools used: Adobe XD, Miro, Photoshop, Illustrator
Client: Adobe Software Company
Timeline: 12 weeks
Project Brief
During the Summer of 2022, I interned at Adobe Software company as an Experience Designer on the Digital Experience Unified Experience team (Experience Cloud). The project I was responsible for an exploration of implementing a Prompt Search feature. Many may be familiar with a similar feature known as ‘Spotlight Search’. The goal of this feature was to help Experience Cloud customers experience a more seamless experience. I recommended ‘prompt search’ to have the capability of being evoked from anywhere during the user journey. This project will briefly outline my design process journey during my summer internship.
What is the prompt search feature?
A feature like Prompt Search will allow customers to be able to evoke a search anywhere. Allowing them to have quicker access to all of Experience Cloud tools and their personal work.
Preliminary Research
Having a background in Anthropology, I immediately begin each project with research as my guidance. This method allows me to really understand the humanistic approach to design. Therefore, in order to better understand how to make a more seamless search experience I began my research by conducting a comparative audit of current search tools and discovered some pain points by putting myself in the shoes of a user. The tools I looked into were, Apple Spotlight Search, current Experience Cloud Search, Creative Cloud Command Center, and Slack Search.
The Problem
Following preliminary research, and using the data I collected through Usability testing with the current MAC IOS “Spotlight Search”, I discovered three key findings. One, current search tools are fixed to the top navigation bar and do not appear everywhere. Two, current search bars labeling file types are limiting and impose constraints on information architecture. Three, suggestion text was sometimes helpful but also sometimes distracting. Therefore I recommended search provocation from anywhere on Experience cloud.
Research Questions
With guidance from my team’s staff designer, I came up with a research plan with questions to ask the UX researcher who would help guide my focus. After meeting with her, I discovered that Experience Cloud customers really counted on the personalization options for the tools they used within the Experience Cloud products.
Context questions
What would we call this feature “Spotlight Search”
Scalability: How would “Spotlight Search” look in scalability between desktop, tablet, or mobile?
What keyboard shortcut will be used to prompt “Spotlight Search”
What current “Search” features do users find helpful or
inconvenient?
What are users searching for within Experience Cloud?
From what pages are users searching? Or what is the context surrounding their search?
Why are users searching?
In-product search questions
What actions would users like to see when “Spotlight Search” is prompted?
What would make “Spotlight Search” helpful and not distracting?
Would users want “Spotlight Search” to appear everywhere or would they like to be able to customize when/where it could appear?
What would make “Spotlight Search” clearly visible?
How would users want “Spotlight Search” content presented to them?
What recommendations or guidance would users like to see on “Spotlight Search”?
Who is searching and what are they searching for?
Speaking with product users
I guided two user testing sessions at the beginning of my project and at the end of my project as well. This allowed me to gain real users’ perspectives to incorporate into my designs early in the process as well as toward the end of my final designs. In the beginning, I learned that a feature like prompt search needed to be personalizable to each person's preferences of when to have the feature visible and when to be able to hide it. Towards the end, I discovered that users were multitaskers and needed a way to be able to come back to their search at any given time.
Brainstorm Session
Gathering all the questions I had imposed, I guided a brainstorming session with Experience Designers, Content Strategists, Design Managers, Product Managers, and UX Researchers. This brainstorming session opened conversations to help make my design decisions involving diverse perspectives.
Design Decisions
Prompt Search Keyboard Shortcut: Decided to use the current keyboard shortcut for search in Experience Cloud to make it easier for users to transition into using prompt search.
Prompt Search Pop-Up: Decided to use image card modal notification to center screen to give users the choice to provoke the prompt search anywhere
Prompt Search Personalization: Decided on a toggle switch button to allow users to refine their search based on their preferences.
Prompt Search Saved Searches: Decided to add a call to action button to indicate importance but not primary action.
Wireframes
At this phase of the project, I began building wireframes to address my key findings. The wireframe mock-ups focus on design opportunities to implement the prompt search feature. These design decisions allow for workflow efficiency and customer personalization.
Project Learnings
Begin with research to better understand the people using the product.
Team collaboration with other UX Designers, UX Researchers, Engineers, Content Strategists, and Product Managers will allow you to get design feedback to incorporate and re-iterate your designs.
Lead with ambiguity because curve balls can help you discover new things.
Enjoy building friendships with your team!