INTERACTION INNOVATION: NESTED SORTING
Company: Tableau
Project: Simplifying Complex Data Interaction & Earning 2 Patents
Role: Senior UX Designer (Design Lead)
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The Problem: Technical Complexity Blocking Core Usability
Tableau's existing sorting experience was highly confusing and complex for users. To achieve even basic nested or custom sorts, users were often forced to rely on complicated calculations and manual joining of dimensions, creating significant friction in a core visualization function. The strategic challenge was to redefine this experience, aligning the interaction model with user expectations for intuitive, drag-and-drop functionality.
The How: Leading Vision Across Technical Complexity
As the Product Design Lead, my role was to drive the design vision for this significant core feature refinement. This was a technically complex area of the platform, requiring intense collaboration to align the solution with the technical realities of Tableau.
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Cross-Functional Leadership: I led design across numerous engineering groups, technical leads, and product owners to thoroughly understand the complexities of the current data model and align on the new experience.
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User-Centric Validation: I partnered closely with user research during all phases, translating user confusion and needs into clear design goals for a better experience.
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Interaction Model Definition: The key solution was an innovative interaction model where the user could simply drag the sorting pill between other dimensions to instantly change the sort hierarchy. This placed advanced sorting capabilities directly at the users' fingertips, solving the complex calculation requirement.
The Solution: Usability Win and Patent-Worthy Innovation
The new sorting experience delivered what users expected by default, enabling them to quickly answer critical business questions ("What is at the top/bottom of this element?"). The nested sorting feature provided a huge usability win by making complex data ordering intuitive.
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Quantifiable Achievement: This project was not only a success in user adoption but was also recognized for its design innovation, resulting in the successful filing of 2 patents for the new interaction model. This work showcases my ability to lead and deliver high-impact, patent-worthy product design