Challenge Summary
Welcome to the Kratos "Table Results" UX Optimization Idea Contest. The purpose of this contest is to help Kratos develop new ideas/design options for a "Table Results" design that visually shows a parent/child relationship within the results. We are looking for sketches, designs, wireframes - any kind of visual representation and description of how you think this table should look and function.
Round 1
A written summary and graphic of your Table Results solution for a review
Remember, we're looking for the BEST ideas - so make sure you describe yours as thoroughly as possible.
Round 2
Final written summary and graphic of your Table Results solution
Remember, we're looking for the BEST ideas - so make sure you describe yours as thoroughly as possible.
Contest Details
Kratos is a NEW client and this is their first Idea Contest in Studio. Kratos is a company that makes clothing. They have multiple user experience issues they would like to try and have the TopCoder community help solve. This specific contest is geared towards working though different display/user interactions for search results data that is displayed within a table.
What is a Lab Dip?
You could call a Lab Dip a product test. A Lab Dip is just a test of fabric after it is dyed. The test are focused on color fastness, durability and color accuracy. Several lab dips may be submitted for feedback until the standard is achieved and the lab dip is approved.
User Scenario
1. The User searches for Lab Dips using some criteria.
2. The System returns the results matching search criteria.
3. The User wants to see which Products are associated to a Lab Dip and selects a Lab Dip job.
4. The System displays product information associated to the Lab Dip.
The same thing needs to happen when searching for Products. A Product Developer would want to see Lab Dips associated to a Product.
Attached to this contest are two PDFs for you to review. The PDFs show examples of the Product information associated to the Lab Dip after a search. We initially came up with two options and aren’t really happy with either one so we want to see what the TopCoder Community can figure out.
User Click Path
1. Select Search > Lab Dip
2. Select the type of search
3. Enter Search information
4. Perform Search
5. The system display the Lab Dip jobs matching the search criteria
6. Select Lab Dip job
7. The system display the products which user the selected material-supplier-color combination
- The PDF screens supplied are this step/view. This is the issue we would like you to concentrate on and provide sketches, storyboards, wireframes etc.
Search-Option 1.pdf
This design shows the traditional "table results" where a user clicks on a row (Lab Dip) and sees the information (Products) about that row below
(all the Products in the 2nd table is associated with the highlighed yellow row)
Issues
- The Product table below doesn't seem to be visually link/aligned with the selected Lap Dip row
- A Lab Dip may have a large list of Products and a Product may have a large list of Lab Dips
- We know of an instance where there are 87 Products associated with a single Lab Dip. Realize there is a lot of information that needs to be shown in these tables.
Note: All tables (Lap Dip and Products) should be sortable (Ascending or Descending)
Search-Option 2.pdf
This design shows a tiered child/parent relationship in the "table results". A user clicks on a row (Lab Dip) and sees the information (Products) open below the row but above the next Lab Dip (accordian navigation)
Issues
- The Products appear more visually linked to the Lab Dip (which we prefer) but the sheer number of Products associated to this Lab Dip requires multiple scroll bar (which is a user experience issue)
- A Lab Dip may have a large list of Products and a Product may have a large list of Lab Dips
- We know of an instance where there are 87 Products associated with a single Lab Dip. Realize there is a lot of information that needs to be shown in these tables.
Note: All tables (Lap Dip and Products) should be sortable (Ascending or Descending)
Additional Item:
We have an additional user experience/interaction exception
- See the MxS# column
- This MxS# could be part of a material group.
- A Material Group has a parent and then one or many children.
- The children of the parent MxS could be as many as 50
- If a MxS# is a parent, I want to see the children in the material group. If a MxS# is a child of the material group, I want to see the parent and the other children in the material group. What is the best way to see the parent-child relationship of a material group?
- What is this interaction? What options are available? We've considered a hover or pop up window to display this information but we're looking for additional/creative patterns.
Document Requirements
Your submission must be your idea written out in English, with supplemental graphics, sketches or storyboards (you must include some kind of visual definition of your solution). To meet basic requirements, we expect at least one written page explanation of your idea, along with illustrations (even simplistic) to show the basics of the expected user interface and interactions.
We prefer a PDF document or PNG/JPG - as these file formats are easier to review with the client.
- If you submit images please number your files (01,02,03,04 etc.) in the order you would like them viewed.
Target User
- Users if the Lab Dip application
- Assume the user will undergo some type of training for the application.
Judging Criteria
- Your idea must be technically feasible to implement using web based technologies
- Your idea should have a clean user experience
- Does it solve the issue?
- Clarity/Comprehensiveness - your explanation of your idea must clearly explain how the feature works, how it meets the requirements/factors above, and why its a good solution.
Submission & Source Files
Preview Image
Please create your preview image as one (1) 1024x1024px JPG or PNG file in RGB color mode at 72dpi and place a screenshot of your submission within it.
Submission File
All Requested Contest Submission Requirements stated above.
Source Files
All original source files of the drawings/graphics plus your idea template file. (Often, these files will be the same as your Submission.zip files).
Final Fixes
As part of the final fixes phase you may be asked to modify your documents.
Please read the challenge specification carefully and watch the forums for any questions or feedback concerning this challenge. It is important that you monitor any updates provided by the client or Studio Admins in the forums. Please post any questions you might have for the client in the forums.