Research

I began with in-depth user interviews and workshops to understand how casting professionals search under intense time pressure, and where friction occurred in their workflow.

Simultaneously, I analysed search analytics to identify the most-used filters and session drop-off points

Key findings:

• The top five filters appeared in 80% of all sessions

• Users often needed quick access to niche filters beyond the top set

• Certain filters needed bespoke UI components that met complex users needs

These insights set the foundation for a unified, data-informed redesign.

Competitor Analysis

With this information I researched both our competitors search tools and search best practices on leading platforms, such as Amazon and LinkedIn.

This research led to the design of UI components that would be flexible enough to be used throughout our platform using a carefully considered Design System.

Testing

I validated UI designs through testing iterative prototypes with active users. Core areas of exploration included:

• Drawer-based filter UI - to allow fast filtering on both desktop and mobile

• Real-time result updates - eliminate “dead ends” and frustration during searches

• Quick-view cards - to displayed essential performer info without leaving the search view

I refined and validated many micro-interactions, transitions, and responsive layouts based on feedback from these testing sessions.

Outcome

The final design delivered:

• A clean, responsive UI with top filters visible and secondary filters housed in a smart drawer

• Elastic search integration, supporting dynamic results and faster iteration within sessions

• Streamlined information hierarchy via quick-view cards showing the most relevant performer data

• Improved accessibility and usability across devices, reducing search completion time and cognitive load