{"id":121,"date":"2023-06-12T16:25:56","date_gmt":"2023-06-12T16:25:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/?page_id=121"},"modified":"2025-08-20T11:29:23","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T11:29:23","slug":"121-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/index.php\/121-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Work"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; min_height=&#8221;43px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;10px||10px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_menu _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_menu][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; min_height=&#8221;2287.7px&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;41px||38px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||3px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_font=&#8221;Work Sans|300|||||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1>Sky |\u00a0 Proposal for \u00a32Million annualised benefit<\/h1>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||1px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/linehealthcheck3.png&#8221; alt=&#8221;Image from slide deck of the proposal&#8221; title_text=&#8221;linehealthcheck3&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/linehealthcheckslide.png&#8221; alt=&#8221;Image from slide deck of the proposal showing some stats&#8221; title_text=&#8221;linehealthcheckslide&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;45px|||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;Work Sans|200|||||||&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||1px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>Interviews with users revealed a curious pain point<\/h3>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; max_width=&#8221;67%&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>My team and I were looking for improvement opportunities and during a site visit noted some pain points which we took away and discussed.<\/p>\n<p>One in particular stood out to me and I decided to investigate further. Not only to fix a pain point for agent and customer but it also had the potential to save the business some real money.<\/p>\n<p>After some help from data analysis and solution design, I came up with a proposal that, when implemented, has the potential to cut 30 seconds from a specific journey.<\/p>\n<p>We ran the numbers and across the estate, this equated to over \u00a32 Million in annualised benefit. It will save an agent from trying to fill 20 &#8211; 30 seconds of dead time while tests run in the background. We&#8217;re still trying to iron out the final few details but when this goes into development it will be a huge win for the team. It will also be a great example to senior business stakeholders why UX is so important.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;50px||1px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_font=&#8221;Work Sans|300|||||||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h1>Clydesdale Bank\u00a0 |\u00a0 Mortgage Broker Portal<\/h1>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Mortgage-Broker-Workshop.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Workshop scribbles on a window for discussion&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Mortgage-Broker-Workshop&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||62px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;Work Sans|200|||||||&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;||8px|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h3>More engagement with mortgage brokers = more mortgages sold<\/h3>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; max_width=&#8221;67%&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>The existing portal the bank had was on its last legs and research had shown that brokers were using other bank&#8217;s platforms &#8211; not because the deals were better but because they were easier to use and quicker to get results.<\/p>\n<p>As the lead designer on this project I organised the planning of research, design and followed right through to build. I gathered mortgage advisors and stakeholders from the bank to participate in focus group and ideation workshops. Following these, the team and I came up with a number of ideas and tested them with users.<\/p>\n<p>Designs, structure and features were proposed to the business and a number of them were taken through to development and implemented to make the brokers interactions with the bank much more streamlined.<\/p>\n<p>I thoughroghly enjoyed working on this project.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||2px||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_font=&#8221;Work Sans|300|||||||&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h1>Standard Life\/abrdn\u00a0 |\u00a0 Onboarding journey<\/h1>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/risk-questionaire-iteration.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;risk questionnaire iteration screens&#8221; title_text=&#8221;risk-questionaire-iteration&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_font=&#8221;Work Sans|300|||||||&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h3>50% reduction in dropout through A\/B testing<\/h3>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;1px|||||&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; max_width=&#8221;67%&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p>I was asked to help Standard Life with some onboarding journeys. After some discovery work and design reviews I noticed a few things I felt could help make the journey run smoother. Technically they had the ability to run live A\/B tests which were great to help us analyse what was working and what wasn&#8217;t.\u00a0<br \/>Through these tests and general UX and UI improvements to the journey, I was able to help them reduce dropout by just over 50%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/standard-life-screen800x600.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;Standard life screen&#8221; title_text=&#8221;standard-life-screen800x600&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/abrdn-customer-portal800x600.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;abrdn customer portal&#8221; title_text=&#8221;abrdn-customer-portal800x600&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.21.0&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sky |\u00a0 Proposal for \u00a32Million annualised benefitInterviews with users revealed a curious pain pointMy team and I were looking for improvement opportunities and during a site visit noted some pain points which we took away and discussed. One in particular stood out to me and I decided to investigate further. Not only to fix a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/121"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/121\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":200,"href":"https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/121\/revisions\/200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelmearns.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}