Overview
As a contract UX Designer at Farmers Insurance, I supported a large-scale initiative focused on modernizing internal business applications used by insurance agents and operational teams across the organization.
This was a transformational period for the company as teams were moving away from traditional desktop software and legacy deployment models toward more web-based and cloud-enabled applications. At the same time, mobile devices such as the iPad were becoming viable business tools, creating new opportunities to rethink how employees interacted with enterprise software.
I worked across multiple departments and application teams, helping establish a more consistent user experience strategy across the organization.
The Challenge
Challenges included:
Many internal systems had been developed independently over time, resulting in inconsistent interfaces, fragmented workflows, and varying user experiences across applications.
- —Inconsistent UI patterns between applications
- —Complex enterprise workflows
- —Legacy desktop software limitations
- —Limited mobile optimization
- —Inconsistent user experiences across departments
Fragmented Systems
Applications had grown independently across departments.
Legacy Constraints
Desktop-era tools limited flexibility and consistency.
Operational Complexity
Agent and operations workflows required careful simplification.
Mobile Shift
iPad and tablet use opened new enterprise workflow possibilities.
The organization needed a more unified and scalable approach to application design.
My Role
My responsibilities included:
I served as the lead UX and visual design resource across multiple enterprise applications.
I worked closely with business teams, developers, project managers, and stakeholders to ensure design solutions aligned with both operational and user needs.
- —Designing user experiences for new internal applications
- —Creating wireframes and interactive prototypes
- —Establishing UI standards and design consistency across products
- —Collaborating with stakeholders across multiple departments
- —Supporting QA and usability validation efforts
- —Helping modernize applications for emerging mobile platforms, including iPad experiences
Design Standards
Created consistency across a growing product portfolio.
Application UX
Designed internal tools for agents and operations teams.
Cross-Functional Work
Aligned business, development, QA, and stakeholder groups.
iPad Modernization
Supported emerging tablet workflows for enterprise users.
Design Process
Key activities included:
My work focused on creating a consistent design language across a growing portfolio of applications.
At the time, I leveraged technologies and tools including Adobe Flash, .NET-based applications, ColdFusion environments, and interactive prototyping tools. These tools helped communicate concepts and validate experiences before implementation.
- —Workflow analysis and optimization
- —Information architecture development
- —Wireframing and prototyping
- —Usability reviews and testing
- —QA validation before release
Workflow Analysis
Mapped complex internal processes into clearer experiences.
Information Architecture
Structured tools so users could find and complete work faster.
Usability Reviews
Validated friction points before release.
QA Support
Helped preserve UX quality through implementation.
Solution
Improvements included:
We introduced a more unified user experience approach across multiple applications and departments.
- —Standardized interface patterns
- —Improved navigation structures
- —More consistent workflows
- —Better support for mobile and tablet experiences
- —Improved usability across enterprise systems
Unified Patterns
Repeated interface decisions became shared standards.
Modernized Direction
Design supported the move toward web-based and cloud-enabled tools.
Better Usability
Internal tools became clearer for agents and operations teams.
Enterprise Scale
The approach worked across products, departments, and stakeholders.
This helped create a more cohesive experience for users regardless of which internal application they were using.
Impact
The work contributed to a broader modernization effort across Farmers Insurance and helped establish consistency across a diverse portfolio of enterprise applications.
Perhaps most importantly, this experience taught me how to design and scale user experiences across multiple products, departments, and stakeholder groups while balancing business goals, technical constraints, and user needs.
- —Improved consistency across multiple business applications
- —Better alignment between departments and development teams
- —Support for emerging mobile experiences, including iPad-based workflows
- —Improved usability for agents and operational teams
- —Stronger foundation for future application modernization efforts
Key Takeaway
This project gave me early experience leading UX efforts across a complex enterprise ecosystem and taught me the importance of design consistency, cross-functional collaboration, and scalable systems thinking — skills that continue to shape my approach to product design today.