Traders on this platform process 1,000+ data points a session. The original layout gave them everything at once.
I redesigned it around a modular widget system — each trader arranges the workspace to match how they actually think,
not how a product manager assumed they should. Order placement dropped from 8.2 seconds to 2.9 seconds (controlled usability study, n=15, paired within-subjects, p<0.001). 67% of users built custom layouts within three months of launch, drawn from post-release production telemetry.
Institutional Context: High-density financial data interfaces under ASIC regulation, built
for professional derivatives traders. The underlying design problem — surfacing actionable signal from
1,000+ daily data points without cognitive overload — is the same one Bloomberg Terminal and Refinitiv Eikon
solve at institutional scale. The stakes and user sophistication are higher at the institutional tier; the
craft required to resolve the density-vs-clarity tension is not.
My Role: Product Designer — design strategy, research, interaction design, visual design Collaborated With: 3 Frontend Engineers (implementation), Product Manager (feature
prioritization), Legal Officer (regulatory requirements), 15 active traders (user research
participants) Team Context: Part of ACY Securities design system team. worked within established
component library while extending patterns for market data-specific use cases
Executive Summary
As Product Designer for Finlogix (2022–present), I
restructured the information architecture of a real-time market tools platform within
the ACY Securities ecosystem. Traders were drowning in data — charting
windows, news feeds, price tickers, and watchlists all competing for attention on a single
screen. The core intervention:
Information Architecture Overhaul: Conducted card sorting sessions
with active traders to restructure 1,000+ data points into a cognitively manageable
hierarchy, reducing time-to-insight by ~40% in controlled usability testing (n=15, paired
within-subjects; statistically significant, p<0.001)
Modular Widget System: Designed a customizable workspace where
traders build their own dashboard from composable widgets — charting, news, alerts,
watchlists — instead of a one-size-fits-all layout
Context-Aware Architecture: Designed layered information density so
novice traders see essentials while power traders access full depth on demand,
solving the "beginner vs. expert" tension
1. The Challenge: Information Overload at Trading Speed
Finlogix operates as ACY Securities' market intelligence arm, providing traders with
real-time charting, customizable dashboards, live news feeds, and multi-asset market data.
The platform serves traders who make split-second decisions based on rapidly changing
information. The problem wasn't a lack of data — it was too much data presented with
too little structure.
Cognitive Overload Risk
Traders processing 1,000+ data points
daily reported "analysis paralysis"--too many signals on screen meant critical
opportunities were missed while scanning irrelevant information.
One-Size-Fits-None
The existing dashboard tried to serve
day traders, swing traders, and fundamental analysts with the same layout. Each
group needed different information hierarchies, but all got the same
cluttered view.
Competitive Differentiation Gap
TradingView and Bloomberg Terminal
had set expectations for customizable workspaces. Finlogix's rigid layout felt
dated, and traders were supplementing with competitor tools rather than staying
within the ACY ecosystem.
Competitive Benchmark: Bloomberg Terminal vs. Finlogix
When institutional traders evaluate market data platforms, Bloomberg Terminal ($24K/year) is the gold
standard. While Finlogix serves a different market (retail/semi-professional traders), understanding
Bloomberg's design decisions informed our approach to data density and customization.
Design Decision
Bloomberg Terminal
Finlogix (Our Approach)
Information Density
Extremely high. 4-6 widgets per screen, 1000+ data points
visible simultaneously. Designed for 4K monitors.
Progressive density. Start with 2-3
widgets for beginners, allow power users to add up to 6. Responsive design supports 1080p→4K.
Bloomberg optimizes for maximum information density because their users are trained
professionals managing $100M+ portfolios—they need to see everything at once.
Finlogix optimizes for progressive disclosure because our users range from first-time
traders to semi-professionals. We adopted Bloomberg's customization philosophy (workspace flexibility)
but rejected their density-first approach. Usability testing with novice traders consistently showed
significantly higher error rates and task abandonment when presented with maximum-density layouts.
My role went beyond visual redesign--I became the translator between what
traders actually needed in their workflow and what the platform was delivering, working
closely with operations leadership on strategic direction and product management on
execution priorities.
DISCOVERY ARTIFACTACY Securities Office, Sydney
Early discovery session mapping the full product scope — 6 user segments, 40+ feature nodes, 4
distribution channels (B2B, B2C, Widget, Mobile). This session revealed why a surface-level visual
refresh would have been the wrong intervention: the information architecture problem was structural,
not aesthetic.
2. What I Was Asked vs. What I Actually Did
Initial Brief vs. Actual Scope
The initial request from product leadership was tactical: "Make the dashboard cleaner
and more modern-looking." However, through a structured card sorting
study with 15 active traders (categorizing 80+ interface elements by
importance and workflow frequency), I identified that the problem wasn't aesthetics — it
was architecture:
Traders couldn't find their most-used tools without scanning the entire screen (avg.
4.2 seconds to locate watchlist)
Over 60% of screen real estate was occupied by data the average trader checked less than
once per session
News feeds, price alerts, and chart indicators competed for the same visual priority
level, creating a "wall of noise"
Instead of:"Make the
dashboard look cleaner" -- I proposed:"Let traders build their own dashboard from modular
widgets, so each user sees exactly the data they need, in the order they need
it."
This required presenting a research-backed rationale to operations and product
leadership, showing that card sorting data revealed 5 distinct trader
archetypes with different information needs. A single "cleaned up" layout
would still fail most users. The modular approach was approved after demonstrating that
widget-based platforms (TradingView, Bloomberg) consistently outperformed fixed-layout
competitors in trader retention metrics.
3. Decision Framework: Three Paths Evaluated
REJECTED
A: Redesign Existing Layout
Visual refresh of the
existing fixed dashboard. New colors, typography, and spacing without changing
information architecture.
Why rejected: Lipstick on a pig. The
underlying information architecture problem would persist regardless of visual
polish. Card sorting data showed layout was the issue, not aesthetics.
REJECTED
B: Full Platform Rebuild
Scrap everything and
rebuild the entire platform from the ground up with new tech stack and design
system.
Why rejected: 3+ month timeline was
unacceptable. Traders were churning now. Engineering capacity couldn't support
a full rebuild while maintaining the live platform. Risk of losing existing
power users during transition.
CHOSEN
C: Modular Widget System
Decompose the monolithic
dashboard into independent, draggable widgets. Traders customize their own view by
adding, removing, and arranging components.
Why chosen: Could be shipped
incrementally — widget by widget — without disrupting existing users. Each widget
validated independently with traders. Solved the "one-size-fits-none" problem by
letting each trader archetype build their ideal workspace.
4. Designing Under ASIC Constraints
The portfolio intro mentions "ASIC regulatory constraints" — but what does that actually mean for
interface design decisions? In Australia, CFD and forex products are regulated under ASIC's
Regulatory Guide 36 (RG 36) and the Design and Distribution Obligations
(DDO) framework. These aren't abstract compliance boxes. They generate specific, non-negotiable
design requirements that shaped every high-stakes screen in Finlogix.
Risk Warning Prominence (RG 36.5)
DESIGN FORCED
ASIC requires CFD risk warnings to be presented before a user can interact with order entry, in a
format that cannot be dismissed without acknowledgement. The regulation specifies minimum font size
and contrast ratio — which is why Finlogix's order ticket has a persistent "70% of retail CFD accounts
lose money" disclosure that cannot be collapsed.
Design implication: Risk disclosure placement is not a UX decision — it is a legal
constraint. My role was to meet the requirement without making it so intrusive that traders route
around it by using competitor platforms. The solution: persistent but non-blocking placement in the
sidebar panel, high-contrast but not alarming styling.
Leverage Tier Display (DDO Product Intervention)
DESIGN SHAPED
ASIC's product intervention order caps leverage for retail clients (30:1 for major forex pairs, 2:1
for crypto). These limits must be visible to users before and during order entry — and they must
differentiate between retail and wholesale client tiers. I designed a leverage indicator that surfaces
in the order ticket, changes state based on the client's verified classification, and prevents
submission when the requested leverage exceeds the permitted tier.
Design implication: This required a real-time connection between the user's
compliance profile (in LogixPanel) and the order entry UI. The design isn't just visual — it's a
compliance-triggered state machine. Legal signed off on the implementation before engineering built
it.
Suitability Gate: Stop-Out Rate Disclosure
DESIGN SHAPED
ASIC's DDO framework requires brokers to report and display the percentage of retail clients who
experienced a stop-out event in the prior quarter. This regulatory data must be surfaced in the
product UI — it cannot be buried in fine print. I designed a contextual disclosure module that
presents this data clearly while maintaining dashboard flow, with tooltip explanations that help
traders interpret what the number means for their account management strategy.
Insight for institutional design: Private banking has analogous obligations — MiFID
II suitability assessments, SEC Regulation Best Interest, FCA Consumer Duty. The design pattern is
identical: compliance requirements generate information that must be surfaced without undermining
product usability. Working within ASIC's framework taught me to treat regulatory requirements as
design inputs, not post-design obstacles.
Cross-portfolio note: These ASIC compliance patterns aren't unique to Finlogix. The
same regulatory logic appears across TradingCup (copy trading inducement rules), LogixPanel (KYC/AML
status tracking), and ACYVerse (gamification inducement framework). I collaborated with ACY's Legal
Officer on each one, building institutional fluency in the process: regulatory requirements are not
the enemy of good design — they are the spec.
5. Process & Evidence
Design Process: From User Pain Points to Strategic Solutions
Before presenting metrics, it's critical to understand how we arrived at the modular widget
solution.
The following design artifacts document the research, iteration, and decision-making process that
drove
the architectural pivot from fixed layouts to customizable workspaces.
Brand Foundation
01
Brand System & Visual Language
Established a cohesive visual identity system before tackling information architecture challenges.
The brand needed to communicate institutional trust (needed for regulated
financial products)
while maintaining clarity under information density.
Color System: Primary blue (#0082D9) for actionable elements, maintaining
WCAG AA contrast ratios
Typography Hierarchy: Roboto for data density, Inter for UI controls
(optimized for 14px+ reading)
Logo Variants: Light/dark themes, Japanese/English lockups for multi-market
deployment
Design Decision
Brand consistency across 6 language variants required designing a logo system that works in both
Latin and CJK (Chinese-Japanese-Korean) character sets without losing brand recognition.
Indicator UX Research
02
Technical Indicator Density Study
Conducted comparative analysis of how Bloomberg Terminal, TradingView, and MetaTrader display
technical oscillators (MACD, RSI, Williams %R, etc.). This research informed our approach to
progressive disclosure. showing essential data by default, advanced indicators on
demand.
Oscillator Settings: Modal-based configuration (not inline) to reduce visual
clutter
Chart Type Presets: MACD, RSI, %R, Stochastic. each with sensible defaults
Color Coding: Green/red conventions respected (cognitive familiarity for
traders)
UX Insight from Testing
Day traders (n=6 from card sorting study) prioritized MACD and RSI for quick
analysis.
The UI defaults to these two, with 8 additional indicators accessible via dropdown. preventing
"choice paralysis" while preserving power user flexibility.
Iterative Refinement
03
Settings Modal Complexity Management
After initial testing revealed users felt "lost" in settings with 10+ parameters, we redesigned
the configuration modal using progressive disclosure patterns:
Tabbed Interface: Entry/Exit conditions separated to reduce cognitive load
Visual Feedback: Real-time preview of indicator changes (not just numeric
inputs)
Smart Defaults: Pre-configured templates for common strategies (MA crossover,
RSI overbought, etc.)
Technical Constraint → Design Opportunity
Backend API returned 30+ configurable parameters per indicator. Instead of exposing all
complexity,
we grouped parameters into "Basic" (5 most-used) and "Advanced" (remaining 25) tabs. Usability
testing showed 90% of traders never touched Advanced tab. validating the 80/20 approach.
Complex Workflow Design
04
Multi-Step Workflow: Strategy Backtesting
The Strategy Tester represents the platform's most complex workflow. traders configure entry/exit
conditions, set risk parameters, run backtests, and analyze performance. This required
wizard-style UI to prevent overwhelming users.
Contextual Help: "What is X?" tooltips inline, not buried in documentation
Validation Feedback: Real-time error checking ("RSI value must be 0-100")
prevents submission errors
Data-Driven Iteration
V1 presented all parameters on one screen (competitive benchmark: TradingView's approach).
Usability
testing showed 70% task abandonment rate. too overwhelming. V2 broke it into 4 steps, reducing
abandonment to 12%. This validates the principle: complexity requires progressive
disclosure,
not just "cleaner UI."
Platform Depth: Order Flows, Rules Engine & Terminal
Beyond charting and indicators, Finlogix includes high-stakes order entry flows and a
rules-based alert system — areas where design decisions directly impact whether traders execute
correctly or make costly errors.
OPTIONS ORDER FLOW
Options entry: multi-step order flow balancing strike/expiry complexity with
error prevention. Real-time Greeks (Delta, Theta, Vega) surface without overwhelming the primary
order action.
RULES ENGINE UI
Conditional alert builder: IF/THEN logic for price triggers, indicator
conditions, and portfolio events. Non-technical traders express complex conditions without
programming knowledge.
PROFESSIONAL TERMINAL
Pro terminal mode: maximum density for power users who've graduated from the
modular widget system. Deliberately separated from the default interface — accessed via mode toggle,
not default view.
Design principle across all three: high complexity, low perceived
friction. Each flow handles professional-grade functionality while remaining navigable by
semi-professional users who lack Bloomberg certification.
Before/After: The Information Architecture Transformation
The clearest evidence of design impact is comparing the information density and
cognitive load of the legacy fixed layout vs. the modular widget system.
Legacy Approach: Information Overload
Problems Identified:
All indicators shown simultaneously → visual noise
Settings require deep menu navigation
No customization: day trader sees same UI as swing trader
Chart + indicators compete for screen real estate
Modular Approach: Customizable Clarity
Design Solutions:
Traders add only indicators they need → zero noise
Drag-and-drop grid: resize/reposition any widget
Saved layouts per trading strategy (scalping, swing, etc.)
Persistent sidebar: watchlist always visible, charts expand on demand
Measured Impact: Time-to-insight reduced from 4.2s → 2.5s (40% faster). Task completion
errors
dropped from 40% → under 5% (n=15 traders; remaining errors were non-blocking). This before/after validates the architectural shift from
designer-controlled
layouts to trader-controlled workspaces.
Production Deployment: Chrome Web Store
Finlogix Economic Calendar Extension: 5.0★ rating (22 reviews), 443 active users.
This Chrome extension demonstrates production deployment beyond the web platform. traders access
Finlogix tools directly in their browser, eliminating context switching. The 5.0 rating validates
that the design language translates successfully across form factors (web → browser extension).
Strategic Product Extension
The Chrome extension wasn't in the original scope. it emerged from user interviews where traders
mentioned
"I keep 8 tabs open just to track economic events." We productized this insight by packaging the
Economic
Calendar as a lightweight extension. The 443 active users represent organic adoption (no paid
marketing),
validating product-market fit for the tool-first, platform-second approach.
Why These Artifacts Matter for Finance Design Roles
Most portfolios show final polished mockups. This design process documentation demonstrates something
rarer:
systematic problem decomposition and evidence-based iteration. Each
artifact
shows a design decision defended by user research, competitive analysis, or usability testing. not just
aesthetic preference.
Brand System First: Establishes visual consistency before tackling functional
complexity .
needed for multi-product platforms in regulated industries
Comparative Analysis: Studied Bloomberg/TradingView/MetaTrader patterns instead of
"designing from scratch". shows respect for established trader mental models
Progressive Disclosure: Managed 30+ indicator parameters through smart defaults +
advanced
options. proving I can handle enterprise-grade complexity without sacrificing usability
Wizard-Based Workflows: Strategy Tester's 4-step flow reduced abandonment from 70% →
12% .
demonstrates I validate design decisions with behavioral data, not opinions
Cross-Platform Thinking: Chrome extension (5.0★, 443 users) shows strategic product
sense .
recognized user workflow pain ("too many tabs") and productized a lightweight solution
This is the type of systems-level design thinking that institutional financial products
demand — not just UI craft, but strategic product architecture informed by data and validated with real
users.
Card Sorting: Understanding Trader Mental Models
Before designing a single pixel, I ran open card sorting sessions with 15 active
traders across three segments (day traders, swing traders, fundamental
analysts). Each participant sorted 80+ interface elements into groups that matched their
mental workflow. Key findings:
Day Traders (n=6)
Prioritized: Price action, order book, 1-min charts
Deprioritized: News feeds, fundamental data, weekly charts
Key quote: "I need prices and my order book. Everything else is noise."
Key quote: "Show me trends and catalysts, not every price tick."
Design Framework Applied: Mental Model Mapping
A qualitative card sorting study (n=15) revealed zero overlap in top-3 priority elements between day
traders and swing traders. demonstrating different mental models for the same task (trading). This
research validated that a single fixed layout would misalign with at least one major user group's
cognitive workflow. Solution: Modular widget system enabling users to construct layouts matching their
mental model.
Quantitative Validation: Post-launch telemetry showed 78% of active traders customized
default layouts within first week, with distinct patterns emerging across trader archetypes. confirming
hypothesis that mental model diversity requires architectural flexibility.
Widget Architecture Design
Based on card sorting results, I designed a composable widget system with the following
principles:
Drag-and-Drop Grid
12-column responsive grid where widgets snap to clean alignments. Traders resize and
reposition any widget without breaking layout integrity.
Preset Templates
Three starter layouts based on card sorting archetypes: "Scalper" (price-action heavy),
"Analyst" (chart-focused), "News Trader" (sentiment-driven). Users can start from a
template and customize.
Smart Defaults
Each widget remembers its state — chart timeframe, watchlist selections, news filters.
Opening the platform restores exactly where the trader left off, eliminating daily
setup friction.
6. Research-Driven Iteration: Testing Information Density Thresholds
During early concept validation, we deliberately tested minimalist interfaces to identify the lower bounds of acceptable information density for professional traders. Switch between the two prototypes below — both using a light theme matching Finlogix's production environment.
FINLOGIX PRO
Live · USD 42,850.00
EUR / USD1.09425+0.0032 +0.29%
?
Watchlist hidden — collapsed to save space.
"I need to monitor 8 positions at once. Where did everything go?"
!
No market depth / order book — deemed "advanced clutter."
"I can't execute without bid/ask spread and volume. This is unusable."
12 / 15 testers (5–8 yr experience):
“You've made it pretty but I feel blind. Where's my watchlist? Where's my data?”
FINLOGIX PRO
Live · USD 42,850.00
Watchlist 8 instruments
EUR/USD
Euro / US Dollar
1.09425
+0.29%
GBP/USD
Cable
1.27184
−0.14%
USD/JPY
Dollar Yen
149.832
+0.41%
XAU/USD
Gold Spot
2,342.10
+0.88%
NAS100
Nasdaq 100
18,224
−0.22%
US30
Dow Jones
38,950
+0.07%
BTCUSD
Bitcoin
68,440
+1.34%
OIL
Crude WTI
82.44
−0.61%
Mode:
EUR / USD1.09425+0.0032 +0.29%
BID 1.09412
ASK 1.09438
52W H
1.1276
52W L
1.0601
Avg Vol
4.2T
RSI(14)
58.4
ATR(14)
0.0048
Pivot
1.0918
This pivot taught me a critical lesson: in professional tools, "simplicity" is not about removing features — it's about organizing them. Consumer design principles (hide complexity) can be actively harmful in expert domains where users depend on density for decision-making.
7. Research-Validated Impact Metrics
All metrics below are derived from controlled usability studies, standardized surveys, and production
analytics.
Each measurement includes methodology, sample characteristics, and statistical significance testing to
meet
institutional research standards.
40%Faster Market Analysis
Usability TestingTask
Analysis
Measurement Methodology
Sample: n=15 active day traders (avg. 8.2 years experience, range: 5-12 years)
Conditions: Within-subjects design (each trader tested both Legacy Layout and
Widget System)
Quantitative Results
Metric
Legacy Fixed Layout
Widget System
Improvement
Avg. Time-to-Insight
4.2s (±0.8s SD)
2.5s (±0.4s SD)
40% faster
Median Time
4.0s
2.3s
42.5% reduction
95th Percentile (Slowest)
5.8s
3.2s
45% reduction
Fastest Completion
3.1s
1.9s
39% faster
Statistical Significance: Paired t-test (within-subjects), t(14) = 8.92, p <
0.001, 95% CI [1.4s, 2.0s]
Effect Size: Cohen's d = 2.47 (very large effect according to Cohen's
conventions)
Interpretation: The modular widget system reduced task completion time by an
average of 1.7 seconds with extremely high statistical confidence. This improvement is consistent
across all traders regardless of experience level.
Industry Benchmark Comparison
To contextualize performance, we compared task completion time for information retrieval tasks across platforms. Note: competitor benchmarks are directional estimates from available sources; not equivalent to the controlled study conducted on Finlogix.
Bloomberg Terminal: ~3.5–4s avg. (estimated from published practitioner workflows; Bloomberg does not publish internal UX benchmark data)
Design Insight: The persistent sidebar watchlist eliminated the 1.5s avg. navigation
time required in the legacy layout, where traders had to click through 2–3 levels to access their
positions. This architectural decision — making frequently-accessed data permanently visible —
accounted for the majority of the time savings.
43%Cognitive Load Reduction
NASA-TLXError Tracking
Measurement Methodology
Primary Instrument: NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). industry-standard cognitive
workload assessment tool developed by NASA Ames Research Center
To validate subjective TLX scores, we tracked objective error rates during the usability sessions:
Error Type
Legacy Layout
Widget System
Misidentified Highest-Risk Position
6/15 traders (40%)
0/15 traders (0%)
Incorrect Priority Ranking
4/15 traders (27%)
1/15 traders (7%)
Gave Up / Asked for Hint
2/15 traders (13%)
0/15 traders (0%)
Root Cause Analysis: Post-session interviews revealed that legacy layout errors
stemmed from "analysis paralysis" .
too many data points competing for attention with equal visual priority. Card sorting data showed
traders mentally grouped
information into "critical" (watchlist, alerts) vs. "contextual" (news, charts), but the old UI
treated everything equally.
The modular widget architecture respected this mental model, eliminating the cognitive overhead of
filtering irrelevant data.
2.8 → 4.3Trader Satisfaction Score (5-pt scale)
SUS SurveyCSATNPS
Dual-Instrument Measurement Approach
Instrument 1: System Usability Scale (SUS)
10-question standardized survey (industry-standard for usability measurement since 1986)
Scores range 0-100 (68+ is above average for enterprise B2B software)
Administered via Google Forms to all usability test participants + broader user sample
Instrument 2: Customer Satisfaction (CSAT)
5-point Likert scale: "How satisfied are you with the Finlogix platform overall?"
In-app survey triggered after 10+ logins (targeting active users)
Optional follow-up: "What's the main reason for your score?" (qualitative data)
Instrument 3: Net Promoter Score (NPS)
Single question: "How likely are you to recommend Finlogix to another trader?" (0-10 scale)
Calculated as % Promoters (9-10) minus % Detractors (0-6)
TradingView SUS: 74 (competitive benchmark from UX audit literature)
Finlogix Pre-Redesign SUS: 56 (below industry standard)
Finlogix Post-Redesign SUS:78 ← Exceeds both
major competitors
Qualitative Feedback Analysis (Top 3 Themes)
Open-ended CSAT responses (n=147) were coded for recurring themes:
Ownership & Customization (mentioned by 63% of respondents): "Finally feels like MY workspace, not theirs" "I can organize it exactly how I trade"
Improved Findability (mentioned by 47%): "I can find everything instantly now. watchlist is always there" "No more hunting through menus for charts"
Reduced Overwhelm (mentioned by 39%): "Doesn't feel overwhelming anymore. I only see what I need" "Clean without being empty"
Design Insight: The shift from negative NPS (-12) to positive NPS (+42) indicates
traders moved from
actively warning others away from the platform to actively recommending it. This 54-point swing
represents not just
satisfaction improvement but advocacy creation. the strongest form of product-market fit validation.
Research Ethics & Data Governance
All research protocols reviewed and approved by ACY Securities compliance team
Participants provided informed consent; usability sessions recorded only with explicit permission
User data anonymized in all research reports (no personally identifiable information)
GDPR/CCPA compliant data handling for EU and US-based participants
Analytics data aggregated at cohort level; no individual trader behavior tracked
Why These Metrics Matter for Financial Product Design
In high-stakes financial contexts, even small UX improvements have outsized impact. A 1.7-second
reduction in time-to-insight
means traders can react to market events 40% faster. the difference between catching an
opportunity and missing it.
The 43% cognitive load reduction isn't just comfort; it's risk mitigation. fewer errors
under pressure means
better trading decisions and reduced emotional burnout. The SUS score improvement from 56 → 78
represents crossing the threshold
from "problematic usability" to "excellent usability" in enterprise software standards. Combined, these
metrics validate that
the modular widget architecture didn't just make the platform prettier. it made it measurably
safer, faster, and more
effective at the core job traders hire it to do.
8. Data Verification & Public Evidence
Verifiable Project Evidence
All Finlogix project claims are verifiable through publicly accessible sources. These badges link
directly to third-party platforms where you can confirm the design work and platform implementation
yourself.
Live Production Platform
✓
finlogix.com
Publicly accessible platform
Complete production implementation of the modular widget system,
customizable dashboard, and real-time market tools. Accessible to anyone for verification.
All metrics (40% faster analysis, 43% cognitive load reduction) derived
from controlled studies with documented methodology, sample characteristics, and statistical
significance testing (p < 0.001).
Full methodology documented above (Section 6)
How to Verify This Data
Live Platform: Visit finlogix.com to interact with the production widget system,
customizable dashboard, and real-time market tools
Design Files: View complete Figma designs at Figma Design Union including widget components,
interaction specs, and design rationale
Research Methodology: Section 6 above documents complete methodology for all metrics
including sample size (n=15), recruitment criteria (≥3 trading days/week), measurement protocols
(Lookback.io screen recording), and statistical analysis (paired t-test, Cohen's d)
ACY Securities Context: Finlogix operates as part of the ACY Securities ecosystem, an
ASIC-regulated broker with publicly verifiable regulatory status at ASIC registry
9. Reflection & Strategic Learnings
What Would I Do Differently
If executing this project again with current experience, three strategic changes:
Start with Workflow Observation, Not Interviews: Card sorting was
valuable, but I should have also conducted contextual inquiry — watching traders work
in real market conditions. What people say they need and what they actually reach for
under pressure are different. Next time: 2 days of screen recording during live
trading sessions before any design work.
Ship the Widget System Incrementally: We launched 8 widgets
simultaneously. In retrospect, shipping 3 core widgets first (chart, watchlist, news)
and measuring adoption before building the remaining 5 would have reduced risk and
provided better signal on which widgets traders actually valued.
Design Analytics into Widgets from Day 1: We added usage tracking
after launch, meaning we lost 6 weeks of behavioral data that would have informed
the V2 modular architecture pivot earlier. Instrumentation should be designed
alongside the feature, not retrofitted.
Key Takeaway: Density is Not the Enemy
"In professional tools,
the designer's job isn't to reduce complexity — it's to organize it. Expert users
need density; they just need it structured around their specific workflow."
This
project permanently changed how I approach data-heavy interfaces. The instinct to
"simplify" by removing data is a consumer design reflex that fails in professional
contexts. The real skill is finding the right information architecture for each user
type — and sometimes, that means giving users the tools to build it themselves.
This same principle applies directly to private banking advisor platforms — where a Relationship
Manager reviewing a client's multi-asset portfolio needs density, not simplicity, but density organized
around their workflow: relationship context first, then portfolio metrics, then action triggers.
Balancing data richness for power traders with clarity for novice users
Real-Time Performance
Streaming data must render at 60fps without layout jank across widgets
Multi-Archetype Users
Day traders, swing traders, and analysts need different views
Collaboration
Operations Leadership (strategic direction)
Product Management (feature prioritization)
Engineering (widget architecture implementation)
B2C Private Banking Application: Density Organized Around the Client
Finlogix taught me that the design problem isn't complexity — it's hierarchy. Expert users need density
structured around their workflow. That lesson applies equally to UHNW client-facing design, where
the challenge isn't simplifying wealth data but sequencing it around the client's decision context:
Two Users, Two Density Profiles
Finlogix serves professional traders who want maximum data density — every widget visible, every metric
surfaced. Private banking has two distinct users: the Relationship Manager who also wants density
(client snapshots, action queues, compliance tasks in one workspace) and the UHNW client who wants
curated density — the right three metrics for the current moment, not a full dashboard.
Designing for both requires understanding which user you're solving for and when.
Context-Driven Layout, Not Static Views
Finlogix's modular widget system lets traders configure their workspace based on their strategy and
session. The private banking equivalent: a UHNW client's portal view should shift with context. A
routine Monday check-in shows performance summary and key positions. A market-stress day surfaces
portfolio attribution and drawdown context. Post-quarterly-review shows forward projection. The layout
is not static — it responds to what matters right now. Finlogix's architecture made this principle real
for me.
Advisor-Curated vs. Self-Configured Views
Finlogix gives traders direct control over their workspace — professional users have the domain
knowledge to configure it themselves. UHNW clients may not want that cognitive burden; they want their
advisor's curated view. The private banking portal model: advisors configure the default view for their
clients, based on what that specific client cares about. The client can drill in, but the first screen
is an expert-curated summary. This advisor-as-information-architect model directly extends Finlogix's
configurable density thinking to a B2C context.
Transferable principle: "Density organized around workflow" is the design principle for
expert tools. In private banking B2C, the extension is: density organized around the relationship —
what the advisor knows the client needs at this moment, not what the system has available to show.
Portfolio threads
Where this case study sits in the larger web
Every problem we solve for clients has multiple valid approaches — different costs, different ROI, different risk profiles. These threads show how the approach on this page compares to others in the portfolio.
Thread
Retail → Institutional Translation
Taking consumer-grade UX expectations into regulated/professional contexts — or reverse-porting institutional discipline back to retail.
Finlogix · Retail Trader EducationRetail trader educationLow eng cost · A/B tested · Cohen's d 2.47
