Designing BP’s Internal Self-Service Cloud Database Platform
A new platform to enable engineers, product owners, and account managers to create, manage, and monitor cloud databases, replacing a legacy, support-heavy system with a scalable, autonomous solution focused on visibility, control, and cost-efficiency.
Problem
A legacy, support-heavy system costing millions in operational inefficiencies needed a complete redesign and build.
The challenge
Simplifying a complex infrastructure landscape for both technical and non-technical users across a vast enterprise.
My role
I was brought in as Lead Product Designer and sole individual contributor, owning both the product vision and execution, tasked with delivering the new self-service platform, while also helping shift culture, process, and mindset along the way.
What I delivered
A fully responsive SaaS web application for desktop and mobile
A custom-built design system, tailored to the needs of a broad range of users, from infrastructure and cloud users, to account managers
UX and UI design for a content management system to support internal tooling and governance
A phased launch strategy to support user adoption and transition from legacy systems
A strategy for capturing analytics and enabling continuous product improvement
A marketing landing page designed to communicate product value and onboard potential customers
Impact
Background
My approach
Key insights
Design system
Shifting culture
Using AI
Outcome: SaaS web application
Redesigned the platform from the ground up, to create a clean, intuitive, and role-aware design that supports a wide range of users, from engineers to product and account owners.
Mobile ready
Redesigned IA around key user tasks, rather than database life cycle, following research and a deeper understanding of user mental models.
The design also provides users with multiple layers of support and assistance:
Contextual FAQs embedded within relevant pages to help users find answers without breaking flow.
Dashboards: High level overview, with key insights, suggestions and actionable items:
Instance-Level Dashboard:
Reports help non-technical users spot inefficiencies, savings, and gaps from best practices at a glance.
The layout was built to educate while informing, using progressive disclosure, plain-language labels, and contextual explanations to reduce the need for training or support.
Provisioning made simple, intuitive, and effortless.
Transformed a complex AWS configuration process into a user-friendly, guided form that simplifies instance creation for both engineers and non-technical users.
Celebrating key actions with subtle, delightful feedback moments.
Activity: simple clear cards for managers and auditors
These cards surface real-time actions across users and environments, making it easy to monitor progress, identify failures, and audit events, without digging through logs or system
Drawers - Contextual Detail Without Navigation Loss
Drawers keep users in flow, showing detail or actions without leaving the page, ideal for fast, focused work in complex systems.
