The Challenge: Introducing Change Without Disruption

Design systems promote consistency, improve usability, and reduce development costs. However, implementing them in widely adopted products carries risks. What feels intuitive to designers may disrupt user workflows, especially in mission-critical environments.

We needed to balance modernization with user familiarity when introducing a new Thomson Reuters design system to a high-usage product. The key objectives were:

• Enhance user trust without alienating existing users.

• Identify navigation challenges due to UI restructuring.

• Improve data readability and table-heavy content scannability.

• Refine the File Viewer experience based on user feedback.

Instead of rolling out changes abruptly, we used research-driven, structured testing to introduce updates gradually and
minimize disruption.

The Approach: Structured Testing for Meaningful Insights

We collaborated with product owners and the research team to create a testing plan that allowed us to evaluate user reactions while maintaining workflow continuity.

Key Testing Goals

• Measure first impressions of the new design system.

• Determine if users could quickly locate navigation items, even after restructuring.

• Assess whether table-heavy content was more straightforward to scan and process.

• Evaluate File Viewer usability, ensuring it meets
  real-world needs.

User Testing Process

Participants were given real-world tasks to complete in the updated interface, including:

• Finding navigation items that had been relocated or renamed.

• Interacting with data-heavy tables to gauge efficiency in scanning and retrieval.

• Using the File Viewer to access and organize documents.

This structured approach allowed us to collect targeted feedback while minimizing workflow disruptions.

The Solution: A Gradual, User-Centered Implementation

Rather than enforcing a forced transition, we introduced the design system in phases and refined it based on user feedback.

Key refinements included:

• Navigation Adjustments – Ensuring key functions were quickly discoverable with minimal exploration.

• Improved Data Scannability – Enhancing the table layout for better readability and faster retrieval.

• File Viewer Enhancements – Adding more contextual data to support document-based decision-making.

The Outcome: A Measurable, Positive Response

The research-driven approach ensured that users adapted quickly while benefiting from an improved experience.

Key Impact Metrics

• 92% of users found the new design appealing visually, citing increased professionalism and usability.

• 78% of users located key navigation items within the expected timeframe, confirming a short learning curve.

• 85% of users reported better table readability and data
  retrieval speed.

• 68% of users found File Viewer improvements helpful but requested additional contextual data for decision-making.

These findings helped refine the final rollout, ensuring usability improvements aligned with user needs.

Lessons Learned: What Worked & What Didn’t

What Worked

• Gradual testing built trust – Users appreciated the opportunity to adapt before a full rollout.

• Navigation adjustments reduced friction – Small tweaks ensured users could quickly find key functions.

• Improved scannability saved time – Users located and processed data more efficiently.

What Didn’t Work (and What We’d Do Differently)

• Some users needed more contextual information in the File Viewer to fully support their workflows.

• A small subset of users still preferred the previous layout, indicating that transition support materials could be
  further refined.

Why It Matters: Ensuring Usability in Design System Rollouts

This project reinforced a critical principle: introducing a design system is not just about aesthetics—it’s about maintaining user trust and efficiency.

By prioritizing structured testing, phased implementation, and iterative refinements, we ensured the transition was seamless rather than disruptive.

This approach highlighted the value of research-driven design changes, proving that visual updates enhance usability when executed thoughtfully.