http://crazyjoemilan.com/leadership daily 0.75 2025-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1542322459412-0REHM3K17RDM7J6HG1HK/what+I+do.png Leadership https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1542337872838-TUMQ5KYXZQGU6F91V19M/cutting_the_document.png Leadership This in an example of a task analysis: A user’s attempt to understand complicated financial data. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1542336055552-5MLETZ2BFJ0JGCIS77CX/sketch-1.jpg Leadership https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1542347047318-L7ZLMTDFNRFKWN98HMFO/product_sketching.jpg Leadership https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1542346929435-BEYOGQUKQP10QPIFWVDY/product_sketching3.jpg Leadership https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1542346956337-0NJQ0KFN3ZM6TA5GB3U3/whiteboard.JPG Leadership https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1542347012473-C5M276FTNOZNT1V15IDW/whiteboard2.JPG Leadership http://crazyjoemilan.com/joe-milan daily 1.0 2025-07-17 http://crazyjoemilan.com/contributor daily 0.75 2025-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484172320668-VSUPY26DADHRWOOGZDXA/image-asset.gif Contributor Further updates just built off the visualization. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484199342092-SOUPVWDPJST55JIUMAQO/image-asset.png Contributor The application all now hangs together. The faceting is from one acquired platform, the lists from another, and the doc viewers were rewritten for speed. Design-wise, this was all a massive exercise in distraction reduction, information architecture, and selection models. It was nerdy UX work at its best. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1452753004068-5SQHFPJ1XO8CHX6PR8I0/image-asset.gif Contributor - Make it stand out Multi control selection was key for the platform, because of the varied use cases between user communities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484031584300-RIRWF9H87VHOATIV4IOH/image-asset.gif Contributor For context, every document accounted for on the left side (Negative) would be a savings. Case admins loved dragging that slider over to save money while balancing a recall the court would allow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484189906976-VXHMKBSQA82NM0ZXJ22M/image-asset.png Contributor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484173593713-UGZN8UTRDJJF2O35JTQJ/image-asset.png Contributor The final version was very ipad-centric. Giant hit areas, bolder colors. Big buttons. The devs changed the visual style to match Bootstrap's style, so a bit of extra chrome was added, but it looks pretty great. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484173206608-2ZKY3QXBFATV5IKL8YMV/image-asset.jpeg Contributor I like to draw cartoons that can explain the value prop. In this case, the link does a lot of work, and the business gets metrics about its users in return. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484190002176-PFG8GPN4H930OT810XW2/image-asset.png Contributor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484035345867-UDKGGY8K3LEN91KQP6D1/image-asset.png Contributor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484172989495-393RLS5WY8Y5XABZ7CMO/20161229_133351.jpg Contributor I like making the interface match the natural flow when possible. I ended up going with a simple tree diagram with as many defaults as humanly possible. The benefit of this view is you could layer the reporting data onto it as well. Now the user only has one interface to deal with, and it will match their model. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484036993231-UPRABIM1CKYIOTK3GS9L/image-asset.jpeg Contributor One of the first ideas. We ended up throwing it out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484189675661-49WFK6IJ79ZSOEYWPC5M/image-asset.jpeg Contributor With the advent of tiles in many of Microsoft's system, I believed it would be a good time to use them to promote data to the front so tasks/objects could be smartly selected. With time each tile became less and less connected with that promoted data, and the style took over. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1483943249418-TF42XOB6ZZ1QBP76VT3B/image-asset.jpeg Contributor It's important to always keep the primary pivots promoted. Ideally these are connected to the decision point, even if it is just the next step in the process. I like to try out a bunch of different patterns on the whiteboard to see which ones show the cleanest promotion of the aforementioned. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484199226518-Z6E2RVYN8PQVK4Z57LBL/omnibox.gif Contributor One of my best inventions for the Ringtail application was this simple drop-down. The goal was to allow someone to get to documents 10x faster. Or to a specific document 11x faster. But its simplicity is the beauty. It can search anything in the application both admin and content, with type-ahead search. Fun note: It works so well it scared users at first. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484172928995-2WWKAN9KBTISQ3HQ708O/20161229_133340.jpg Contributor We kept drawing the users' decision flow. Should it be a simple screen? Should it be a wizard? Could we automate everything and just report on it later? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1483941437310-ARBRU0U3KLO044F3TWJ6/mobile_flow.png Contributor I mocked this whole flow in Adobe XD. I believe it is the first true UX tool which will be faster/better than old, gross Adobe Fireworks. (Right after they integrate simple bitmap editing.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484199277373-XCI9ZBX1HPTF2ZT7916H/image-asset.png Contributor At the end of our card sort, we had a pretty decent idea of the task clustering, and integrated all of the apps to one home screen. The next step was to go through the entire application with an fine-tooth, information-design-shaped comb. The designers on my team and myself split the application up into chunks and went to work. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484032474361-B5A9RX4FACSL194U8FWZ/image-asset.png Contributor It is not fancy, but a major theme in my work is promoting those top tasks (the overlay) so the user has no need to jump around. It's all right there! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484032388160-NNB5Q9GDBMLJI7BCNF65/image-asset.jpeg Contributor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484037649770-1XTNOP89UWG5XIXRE3N9/performance-mapper.jpg Contributor My contribution to the concept map (existing IP) was significant, while leaving its strengths untouched. I added zoom levels, heat mapping, removed a bunch of unnecessary decoration, simplified the hover tool (to be task-based), and legitimately combined the map view with its list-based counterpart. This again took significant design work on the selection model interactions and the information architecture. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484190421121-Q57CTGCQS3CR075DFVUL/image-asset.gif Contributor One of the best pieces of the SQL portal was this zoomable query map. A user can look at a query and immediately see where the problems might be in a bunch of different pivots. When they see what they're after, they can zoom in to see more information, and then again to get everything (on hover). Iconography is by the extraordinarily talented visual designer who reported to me, but the rest is ol' crazy Joe. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451437170765-K4FMOHCJLR7W5KPGJFS4/atptour_joemilan.png Contributor - ATP Tour map (2013) A chaotic visualization of men's professional tennis tour. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451437171582-FUX8X1UI7BHSO1OA3F9R/sdwireframes.jpg Contributor - Basic wireframe example (2010) Most wireframes for complex products are 50-100 frames long. This is just a simple example. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451437159590-J6M4KUX1R3HAASI9DW94/chart.jpg Contributor - Basic slicer IA drawing (2012) Explaining to a friend's company that a complicated IA can still be usable. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451446055954-EFXG94UKYDPLX4C6U25T/ringtail-document-mapper-search.gif Contributor - Mapper in action (2014) My team streamlined, and optimized mapper. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451446057678-0A2QXHAYWNG9ZD3X6XWE/ringtail-predictive-coding.gif Contributor - Machine learning visualization (2014) The machine learning vis went through fifty iterations, a few prototypes, but ended up being a large part of the application today. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451444311301-7J1R5CB3SX1YZRC71HPP/s02.jpg Contributor - Sparq.me's primary value prop (2014) I designed Sparq's (acquired by Yahoo!) deep linking interface to help show the value of what the technology could acheive for the user. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451444807312-OW85OF9DR1JZ5J3TXMMP/image_gallery.gif Contributor - Simple html5 gallery prototype (2012) A simple prototype for an internal site. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451437169718-1IKT0Z48GWKQ2EYBXHX5/pdw2.jpg Contributor - Simple information design (2010) Microsoft's parallel data warehouse needed to serve information in an order that matched user expectation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451444312225-4S5RVKKQPRGHCJI9IHIB/s03.jpg Contributor - Sparq.me link design (2014) Same as earlier, but transitioning from a traditional brochure scroller to an interactive application. Seemless. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451444311643-8MH8G6ZPTNBDB3UH7TJO/sparq_flow.jpg Contributor - Sparq's early link map Using the subway map paradigm to show the path the link would take, and then report. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451444407653-ABAATNBU7DZ5I5S9SU6J/s03.jpg Contributor - Dummy visualization (250) To show a friend's start-up how stacking the decision point on top of data can drive revenue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451437171724-1W59LT3XYA3T4PQRK4PP/processJoeMilan.jpg Contributor - Process (2012) The UX process is so large, and so dynamic, there is never one single process. It is a coordinated effort https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451437163917-DRGZ9O11ISP44JKDCQKL/dicer.jpg Contributor - RNAi painting (2009) Other drawings have been published in a few magazines, but this one is my favorite. It describes the RNA interference process. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451437163489-8XHJSDCHWW9CQQRFI0V1/classic.jpg Contributor - Pancho Longboards (2004) I designed longboards, and sold them throughout a dozen shops around the US. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451437165361-6SWGR7QA59844LKZUCOF/e.jpg Contributor - East (2005) A different shape, different wood, different ride. Beautiful board. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1451437174443-P03ELW8Z13W8L7D20NS4/w.jpg Contributor - West (2005) A different shape, different wood, different ride. Beautiful board. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484197930971-92FJCGE3DC0NSK4BCGGT/image-asset.jpeg Contributor Day one I mapped the applications as they existed, and built out a card-sorting exercise for our users. We needed to know what the global IA would look like. What shape should this application take? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484033888355-DJBZU5B68EK42X6I7FXL/image-asset.gif Contributor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484031165970-B6EHSI73OB866K7ZD1JP/image-asset.jpeg Contributor This is how these ideas start. Just sketches of what it could be. Most of the time I like to do this on a white board with the dev lead and PM. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484188839450-MX9DYHAKG2HNG80TWNY8/image-asset.png Contributor https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484198788621-4ZSBI3WNR9Q4KXI9ZTCZ/image-asset.jpeg Contributor The Ringtail platform consisted of five disparate applications which needed to be combined to make a user successful. While the jewel of the applications was its data visualization (called mapper), it was near impossible for a user to get there. Globally, tasks were confusing and needed to be rethought. UI was duplicated and forked. It needed design help, but already had a substantial user-base. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1483983621010-8XWG8L3IAXQU7LHDAEGW/image-asset.jpeg Contributor The front end of the system has dynamically generated pages which are very very simple. One decision point per screen. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484199316906-HHTP0YGB3E2FLRF5GE47/image-asset.jpeg Contributor SQL writing interfaces are often the bane of common users and SQL experts alike. What we did here were a few simple things - remove math language (lawyers don't know what "!=" means), use indentation to show grouping, and group things by color (the way the admin user would set it up). We found a huge drop in invalid SQL queries while a big increase in happy users. Over the next five years, I would spend a large chunk of my time trying to reduce the need for such a tool. But it still proves valuable, and is often cited as one of the product's strengths. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1484196758352-2LAKLDOHHL6VOLNDM4OS/atp_dark2.jpg Contributor http://crazyjoemilan.com/vision daily 0.75 2025-07-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/556f474fe4b0ddaf03e17112/1542336055552-5MLETZ2BFJ0JGCIS77CX/sketch-1.jpg Product Vision