Rethinking how users find and explore research content

Alignment & discovery
We started with a kickoff workshop to establish a shared understanding of core user groups, their real world tasks and pressures, and the most important problems to focus on.

To complement this, we conducted a stakeholder interview with Content Catalyst’s Head of Design, who provided additional context and a new perspective.

Experience mapping
We expanded the client’s existing user journey map with a focus on the  discovery flow, highlighting moments of uncertainty and future design opportunities, including potential AI touchpoints.

‍Heuristic evaluation
‍We conducted a heuristic review of the existing interface to surface smaller interaction and UI-level issues that had a strong cumulative effect on user confidence.

Combining strategic insights with detailed interface observations allowed us to balance big-picture clarity with actionable improvements.

Usability testing
We validated the concept through short, task-based usability sessions focusing on orientation, confidence, and flow.

Across research, testing, and journey mapping, one recurring theme emerged.Browsing and searching were technically functional, but conceptually blurred.

This led to users often hesitating and backtracking,  missing opportunities for deeper exploration.

This insight became our central design question: how might the platform feel predictable  as users move between exploration and precise search?

Rather than treating the design challenge as a navigation problem alone, we focused on clarifying intent.

The final concept introduced two clearly defined modes:

Browse mode
•  Built around the existing category hierarchy
•  One active category at a time
•  Breadcrumbs for orientation
•  Category landing pages with clear structure and featured content

Search mode
•  Centered on faceted filtering
•  Facets used to narrow results, not to navigate
•  Stronger hierarchy between topics and attributes
•  Progressive disclosure for complex filter sets

Each mode had distinct entry points, predictable behavior, and a clear purpose. This separation helped users better orient themselves and predict what would happen next.

To reduce the fear of losing progress, the concept also included:
•  split-view layouts,
•  clearer previews within result lists,
•  improved clipping and sharing flows with explicit feedback.

Patterns from e-commerce and productivity tools both inspired these decisions, as the underlying behaviors are similar: finding, comparing, and opening items safely.

At the end of the sprint, Content Catalyst received:
•  Notes from the workshop
•  Heuristics analysis and an updated user journey map
•  List of key problems
•  Usability test findings
•  First & final prototypes, with a breakdown of design decisions
•  Suggestions for future improvements

This project demonstrated the value of close collaboration between research and design, even within a tight timeframe.

The result is a design direction that respects the platform’s flexibility while making discovery feel more intentional.