Solving for the Enterprise
A comprehensive digital transformation initiative focused on overhauling outdated financial reporting systems used by Fortune 500 companies for SEC filings and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance.
Role
Design Director
Approach
Design Thinking, Google Ventures Sprint Methodology
Duration
6 Months
Team
Cross-functional with Executive Leadership
The Challenge
Donnelly Financial's legacy systems were built decades ago, resulting in complicated, outdated tools that frustrated users and slowed down critical SEC filing processes. The company needed to consolidate business units and dozens of applications into a streamlined, modern workflow while preserving market dominance against emerging competitors.
The Process
We employed design thinking and Google Ventures Sprint methodology, bringing together executive leadership and subject matter experts in an innovation-focused sprint process. This collaborative approach helped align stakeholders and rapidly prototype solutions.
Design sprint workshop with cross-functional stakeholders
The Solution
We designed enterprise-class responsive web applications featuring inline editing, real-time reporting, document redlining with compare modes, inline commenting with context tracking, and personalized role-based workspaces. The exception-based workflow replaced function-based processes, dramatically reducing filing times.
Personalized employee workspace dashboard
Inline spreadsheet editing for SEC filings
Document editing with redline and review modes
Contextual commenting and collaboration
Real-time filing performance and analytics dashboard
Results & Impact
Building the Developer Network & Apps
Fortellis was created to revolutionize data exchange in the automotive industry by replacing fragmented, proprietary data-sharing arrangements with a standardized, scalable API marketplace.
Role
Design Director
Focus
API Marketplace, Developer Experience
Design System
Radial
Platform
Web, Mobile
The Challenge
The automotive industry was mired in one-to-one, proprietary data-sharing deals lacking standardization or security of IP. Dealerships and vendors needed a unified platform to securely share data, build integrations, and monetize their APIs.
Fortellis developer platform homepage
The Solution
We designed an end-to-end platform for API hosting, monitoring, publishing, and marketplace functionality with flexible pricing models including "try before you buy" and "pay-as-you-go" options. The platform was built on CDK's design language, Radial.
Solution publishing and monetization
API marketplace with browse and search
API documentation and integration guides
Flexible pricing and subscription management
API transaction monitoring and analytics
Hailer: Lyft Integration
A standout application built on Fortellis was Hailer—a customized ride-hailing solution for dealerships integrating with OEM warranty centers and dealer management systems. The Lyft Concierge integration featured specialized billing and security controls.
Hailer ride-hailing for dealerships
Ride management panel
Lyft integration user flow
Lyft ride analytics dashboard
Results & Impact
Crafting Design Systems
Led the evolution of CDK Global's design infrastructure from a flawed Material Design fork to two specialized design systems: Radial for enterprise applications and Roadster for consumer retail experiences.
Role
Design Director
Tech Stack
React, Figma, Storybook
Components
100+ UI Components
Adoption
Company-wide
The Challenge
CDK's existing design system was a poorly adapted Material Design fork that didn't address the unique needs of automotive enterprise software—high information density, complex data visualization, and sophisticated table manipulation. Development was slow and inconsistent.
Radial design system component overview
Interactive component documentation
Radial: Enterprise Design System
Radial was built specifically for enterprise automotive software, handling data visualization, information density, table manipulation, and developer adoption through comprehensive component libraries and documentation.
Radial UI kit components in Figma
Design pattern documentation
Component API documentation
Developer playground and sandbox
CSS standards and design tokens
Roadster: Consumer Retail System
Following CDK's acquisition of Roadster in 2021, we created a companion design system optimized for consumer-facing digital retail experiences—online vehicle purchasing, credit applications, and multi-channel sales tools.
Roadster consumer interface
Vehicle deal configuration page
Online purchase flow
Credit application and reporting
White-Label & Theming
Both systems were built with white-label capabilities and robust theming, enabling rapid corporate rebranding and partner customization while maintaining consistency.
Before: Legacy interface
After: Radial design system
Results & Impact
Converging the Application Suite
Developed Unify, a modernized unified portal to consolidate fragmented legacy applications and workflows for automobile dealerships—without requiring costly data migrations.
Role
Design Director
Challenge
Legacy DMS Modernization
Users
15,000+ Dealerships
Features
SSO, AI, Mobile
The Challenge
CDK's legacy DMS product (Drive) was powerful but had become cumbersome, outdated, and increasingly difficult to sell and maintain. Users faced 58 different login screens and inconsistent interfaces across dozens of applications.
Legacy green-screen interface
Outdated dashboard design
Complex legacy navigation
Discovery & Research
We conducted extensive field research, discovery sessions, and workshops with stakeholders to understand user pain points and workflow patterns. This informed our design validation and experimentation cycles.
UX discovery documentation
Stakeholder workshop sessions
Design validation and testing
The Solution
Rather than forcing data migration, Unify was created as a unified interface layer enabling all CDK applications to function within a single modern experience while preserving existing infrastructure. Features include customizable workspaces, single sign-on, light/dark mode, and AI-powered customer support.
Unify unified workspace interface
Unify platform walkthrough
Unified single sign-on experience
Modern purchase order interface
Inline AI-powered assistance
Fully responsive mobile experience
Drive Flex: Earlier Iteration
Unify evolved from an earlier product called Drive Flex, which aimed to create a cloud-based, workflow-focused DMS. Learnings from Drive Flex informed Unify's architecture and approach.
Drive Flex home screen
Deal management interface
Connected customer view
Service record management
Service department dashboard
Connected car integration
Results & Impact
Creating a Destination
The Park at Wrigley (now Gallagher Way) needed to establish itself as Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood's vibrant community hub with meaningful digital engagement for Cubs fans and local visitors.
Role
Design Director
Technology
WebGL, Contentful CMS
Platform
Responsive Web
Features
3D, Events, Retail
The Challenge
Despite offering multipurpose venues for events, retail, and dining, the venue lacked meaningful digital engagement. They needed a cutting-edge web application that would showcase the venue's features and facilitate community interaction.
The Solution
We delivered a cutting-edge web application combining interactive 3D environments with content management capabilities. Features include interactive rooftop seat selection with view previews, event calendar integration, and amenities directory.
Mobile-optimized experience
Interactive venue exploration
Event marquee and calendar
Results & Impact
The Speed Round
A collection of consumer-facing solutions across mobile, digital retail, and emerging technology sectors. Multiple #1 app store launches spanning over a decade of work.
GoPro & Afterlight
Both launched #1 in their categories on Windows Phone
NPR One
Launched #1, exceeded engagement metrics vs Android/iOS
Plex Media Player
Flagship Windows experience, launched #1 in category
Yummly
1M+ recipes with ML personalization, top app in category
TradingView
Professional stock charts with social community features
USA Today
Interactive tablet experiences including HoloLens experiments
Copia eReader
Digital reading with collaborative features, ahead of its time
Facebook Internal
HR systems and media tools via Truth Labs partnership
Redbox Streaming
Consumer streaming application for Windows Phone