Due to a non-disclosure agreement, I am prohibited from showing any designs.
FileMaker Pro was originally launched in 1985 to design and launch database applications. The software has primarily been designed by engineers for developers. After conducting 3 months of usability testing, it became clear that new users were “dropping off” after their trial subscription was over. Why was this? New users were unclear as to how to create a working application using the product.
Senior UX Designer and project lead for a team of 6 designers, working cross functionally with 2 PMs and 3 engineering teams. Tasked with reimagining FileMaker Pro from the ground up leading research, visuals, prototyping and usability testing.
The product had seen only incremental updates since the early 1990s—originally built by engineers, for engineers. Its complex data mapping and long development timelines made it difficult for new users to navigate. Most customers required extensive training or hired professionals just to build applications. The challenge: How might we simplify the experience so non-developers could get up and running—fast?
We started with a big question: How can we make FileMaker easier—and maybe even enjoyable—for non-technical users? Could it feel like a game? Could we streamline the setup? After exploring multiple concepts, we landed on a guided “wizard” experience featuring predesigned templates to jumpstart app creation.The wizard broke the setup into intuitive, essential steps—making it easy for users to build with confidence. Visually, I led the effort to define the UI, researching the latest iOS patterns and Apple products to inform our design system. With limited internal access to the latest iOS, I reverse-engineered visual and interaction cues to create scalable guidelines for our team.
As project lead, I owned team direction, resourcing, and solution validation—ensuring we delivered a compelling vision to executive stakeholders. I guided two contractors through prototyping efforts, from tool selection to full end-to-end flows, while aligning senior team members on wireframes, visual design, and adherence to Apple’s design standards. I also partnered with third-party research firms to run large-scale usability studies across multiple prototypes, synthesizing insights into clear, actionable recommendations for leadership.
Although the new experience earned strong executive buy-in for its clean, modern design, priorities shifted to a new initiative: reducing server setup time. I pivoted to lead UX design for FileMaker Cloud, dedicating six months to shaping its end-to-end experience. Launched in 2016, it became a major success—delivering both a streamlined user journey and significant revenue impact for the company.