Cost Projection

Relevant Information

Client: Ferrovial Digital Hub
Tags: UX Design, UI Design, User Research, Interactive Prototypes, Tools: Figma, FigJam, ClickUp
Team: Project Manager, Data Scientists, Front-end and Back-end developers

Project Context

The Cost Projection project was born as an initiative from Ferrovial's digital team to solve a crucial issue in the planning of large infrastructure projects: uncertainty in future material costs. My role as Senior UX/UI Designer was to lead the design of a user-focused tool capable of offering reliable and accessible projections based on historical data and predictive analysis.

I worked alongside a multidisciplinary team composed of a Project Manager, experts in Data Science, and Front-end and Back-end developers. Our approach was agile and collaborative, with constant iterations and continuous feedback from the team and users.

My Role

As a senior designer, I led the following key areas:

• Initial Research: Identified business and user needs through interviews, data analysis, and desk research.

• Ideation and Conceptualisation: Facilitated collaborative sessions, such as Crazy 8’s, to generate innovative ideas. Designed User Flows and Sitemap to ensure a coherent and efficient experience.
  
  

• Wireframes and Prototypes: Created low-fidelity wireframes to validate the basic structure and functionality of the tool. Later, developed high-fidelity prototypes in Figma, detailing the final interface and simulating the complete experience for testing and validation.
  
  

• Testing and Validation: Facilitated testing sessions with real users to identify friction points and make iterative improvements. Incorporated findings directly into the designs to refine the final experience.
  
  

• Continuous Iterations: Worked on regular improvements based on data and feedback, ensuring the tool remained relevant and adaptable to new needs.

The Problem to Solve

The Ferrovial team needed a solution to accurately predict the cost of materials in infrastructure projects. The lack of advanced tools generated uncertainty and affected strategic planning. My task was to design an intuitive, efficient tool aligned with business objectives, facilitating informed decision-making.

Design and Development Process

1. Initial Research and Problem Definition

To fully understand the project needs, I began with thorough research:

• Stakeholder Interviews: Identified pain points and team expectations through structured sessions with internal leaders.

• Desk Research: Analyzed market trends and existing tools, identifying differentiation opportunities.

• Mapping Current Flow: Worked with the team to map existing processes and highlight problem areas.

2. Empathy and Insight Analysis

To prioritise user needs:

• Empathy Maps: Documented how end users (project managers and buyers) perceived current issues.

• Affinity Diagram: Grouped key insights into themes to focus design.

• User Personas: Created profiles representing different user types to guide design decisions.

3. Ideation and Conceptualisation

With clear insights, we facilitated a team ideation session:

• Crazy 8’s: Used this technique to generate quick, creative ideas, prioritising those with the greatest impact.

• Sitemap and User Flows: Designed the logical structure and main flows, ensuring every interaction was intuitive and efficient.

• Wireframes: Created low-fidelity prototypes to test concepts quickly before advancing to the final design.

4. Design and Implementation

The final design focused on accessibility and scalability:

• Interactive Prototyping: Built dynamic prototypes in Figma to simulate the real experience and validate ideas.

• Accessibility: Implemented WCAG 2.1 standards, ensuring an inclusive experience for all users.

• Design Systems: Developed a modular visual guide to ensure consistency and efficiency in future iterations.

5. Testing and Validation

Testing was key to ensuring the solution met the objectives:

• Real User Testing: Validated prototypes with users from the Ferrovial team, identifying experience improvement points.

• Support Ticket Analysis: Reviewed customer support reports to address recurring issues and reduce frictions.

6. Continuous Iterations

The project continues to live and evolve. Regular iterations based on feedback ensure the tool remains relevant and effective, adapting to new needs and opportunities.

Project Impact

The Cost Projection tool enabled Ferrovial to optimise strategic planning, reducing uncertainty and improving cost estimation accuracy. Furthermore, its scalable design ensures it can evolve with new functionalities, becoming a key asset for future infrastructure projects.