Cyndx is a fintech company that provides the customers with reliable investment data to facilitate discovery and faster deal closure, with the utilization of artificial intelligence (AI). As Cyndx has been developed by M&A specialists, investors, and data scientists, the platform makes it easy to find and match investors with the right companies.
The purpose of redesigning Cyndx's core product, Finder, stemmed from the necessity to enhance its functionality and distinguish it in a competitive landscape that included products like Crunchbase. While Finder allowed users to search for concepts and view related companies, the initial design lacked user intuitiveness and differentiation from standard company searches.
Addressing user feedback, the redesign focused on delivering a more insightful datasetfor searched concepts and improving the search page's usability for multiple queries. The goal was to create a visually distinctive, user-friendly experience, reducing the need for extensive customer support calls and introductory sessions for new users.
In overseeing the redesign project, my goal was to minimize confusion for existing users while introducing new results. This involved careful consideration of the optimal vertical height and layout for the new feature, ensuring that the original search results remained prominently visible.
To envision the product's structure and workflow, I crafted a brief user flow. This visual representation encapsulates the sequential processes, providing a clear overview of the system's structure and facilitating the identification of potential optimizations for a seamless user experience.
The revamped initial page on Finder introduces an improved hierarchy, facilitating more intuitive navigation and search execution for users. Additionally, a new tab has been incorporated, featuring trending concepts (most mentioned concepts in the month), the latest concepts, and search history. This enhancement not only addresses user demands for clearer organization and trending concept information but also aims to boost user revisit rates by providing a more comprehensive and user-friendly experience.
Users now have the ability to explore the latest concepts that have been added to the database, providing real-time insights into emerging trends and topics. Furthermore, the search history feature has been refined to ensure a seamless user experience, with entries now thoughtfully sorted by time. These additions not only empower users to stay current with the most recent developments but also streamline their access to past searches in a chronologically organized manner.
Recognizing that users were initially unaware of the capability to perform multiple searches and the option to search for both concepts and companies was not effectively communicated, my redesign goal focused on enhancing user awareness and understanding. To achieve this, I implemented clear visual cues and instructional elements on the search interface. Specifically, I introduced an indicator labeled '+add new' to guide users towards conducting multiple query searches. Additionally, guide text within the search bar was incorporated to encourage users to seamlessly run concept and company searches together as needed. These enhancements aim to provide users with a more intuitive and communicative search experience, ensuring they are informed and proficient in utilizing the diverse search functionalities available.
To address users' desires for more comprehensive information during concept searches, significant enhancements have been made. Users can now access detailed data within the concept search, allowing them to check the frequency of data search history and review data sources associated with each concept. This functionality has been seamlessly incorporated into multiple concept searches, providing a consistent and enriched user experience.
Given the project's tight timeline, the focus was on creating intuitive and feasible design graphs. Extensive research into various JavaScript libraries was conducted to identify the most practical solution for visualizing graphs. The selected graphing method not only aligns with the tight timeline but also prioritizes user understanding, ensuring that the visual representation is both feasible and user-friendly.
Users now benefit from an enriched search experience, as they can explore related concepts seamlessly. Whether conducting a concept or company search, the enhanced functionality allows users to discover interconnected concepts relevant to their queries. For concept searches, users can delve into related concepts associated with the searched term, fostering a more holistic understanding. Similarly, during company searches, users can access information on related concepts, expanding their insights and connections within the database. This feature augments the depth and breadth of information available, catering to users across various search contexts.
