Exploring UI Solutions to Support Apex Advisor Tool Development
Provided design consultation and UI direction for Apex, enabling the development team to deliver a tool that supports advisors’ evolving needs.
Faster Development Through UI Guidance
Improved Consistency Across Components
Collaborative Design-Engineering Alignment
The Challenge
The Apex Advisor Tool was under development but lacked clear UI guidance and consistency across screens. Developers needed design input to align visual direction with advisor expectations and First Trust standards.
Our Approach
Consultation. Partnered with developers to review UI decisions during build.
UI Direction. Suggested improvements in layout, hierarchy, and interaction patterns.
Collaboration. Provided feedback and assets that guided front-end implementation.
Impact
Ensured Apex maintained consistency with First Trust’s design system.
Helped reduce rework by addressing UI gaps early in development.
Supported the engineering team in delivering a polished advisor-facing tool.
Looking Ahead
Roadmap themes: Expand Apex features into alignment with advisor workflows.
Future experiments: Incorporate feedback loops for iterative UI improvements.
Opportunities: Use Apex as a pilot for further advisor-centric product initiatives.
Team
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Project Details
Role: Senior Product Designer
Company: First Trust Portfolios
Timeframe: 2023-2025
Surface: Web App (External)
Team: PM, Engineer, Data, Design
Focus: UI Direction, Design Feedback, Consistency
Tools: Figma, Material UI, Preline Pro
See the full case study.
Detailed design recommendations, consultation notes, and examples of development collaboration.
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