Global Analytics Federated Search
Re-architected the search experience across a fragmented analytics ecosystem—connecting 40+ unique data sets into one workflow so analysts can discover, validate, and act without tool-hopping.
Project Overview
Analysts needed to search across multiple disconnected tools and data sources. The experience was slow, inconsistent, and relied heavily on manual work—often requiring people to leave their workflow, reformat identifiers, and repeat searches tool-by-tool.
I led the product and UX direction for a federated search experience that unified discovery across 40+ unique data sets, standardized results and filtering patterns, and reduced workflow friction with normalization and automation patterns built into the UI.
The outcome was a single, enterprise-ready search workflow that established patterns other teams could reuse—improving findability, consistency, and user trust in results.
Goals & Constraints
Primary Goals
- Provide a single discovery workflow across many sources (federated search)
- Establish consistent filters, results, and detail views that match how users investigate
- Reduce manual normalization / formatting steps inside the workflow
- Create reusable patterns that scale across teams and future data sources
Constraints
- High-security / air-gapped environment impacts tooling and rollout
- Multiple downstream systems with different data shapes and constraints
- Must support fast iteration and frequent releases (Agile cadence)
- Enterprise stakeholders require clear alignment and approvals
Project Details
Product Manager + UX Director (Portfolio Lead)
Multi-phase delivery (shipped on schedule)
Cross-functional delivery with product + engineering (small core team, multi-team ecosystem)
Personas · Journey maps · IA + taxonomy patterns · Lo/Hi-fi prototypes · User testing · Design specs · Backlog/user stories
Figma / Adobe XD · Jira / Confluence · Heuristic evaluation · Prototyping + usability testing
What I Led
Director-level ownership across product, UX, and delivery operations
Product Strategy
Product strategy, roadmap framing, and stakeholder approvals
Research Planning
Research planning + user engagements (interviews, shadowing, testing)
Search IA
Search IA (filters, facets, result hierarchy, detail patterns)
Prototyping
Prototyping (low → high fidelity) and iterative validation
Delivery Operations
Delivery operations: prioritization, sprint planning support, acceptance criteria, QA
Reusable Patterns
Establishing reusable patterns so other teams could adopt the model
Research & Discovery
Understanding user workflows and mental models to inform the federated search design
Shadowing & Workflow Mapping
Captured how users discover, confirm, compare, and export information across their daily workflows
Heuristic Evaluation
Evaluated current search workflows and identified key pain points and friction areas
Card Sorting & Labeling
Exercises to align filters and categories to user mental models and terminology
Prototype Testing
Validated findability, confidence, and speed-to-action through iterative testing cycles
Mental Models → Workflow Redesign
Users think in loops—the federated search design preserves this natural workflow
User Workflow Loop
Federated Search Must Preserve
Source Transparency
Users need to know where results come from to trust them
Confidence Cues
Visual indicators help users assess result quality and relevance
Consistent Patterns
Standardized result formats reduce cognitive load across sources
In-Workflow Normalization
Normalize identifiers inside the workflow so users don't context-switch to spreadsheets/tools
Outcomes
Measurable impact without exposing proprietary metrics
40+ Data Sets Connected
Connected discovery across 40+ unique data sets into one federated workflow
~30 min → ~2 min
Reduced manual normalization effort inside key workflows (example improvement for a repeated normalization task)
Reusable Enterprise Patterns
Established reusable enterprise patterns that other product teams could adopt for consistency
Artifacts
Deliverables available upon request for qualified discussions
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