IG Group

1. The Feed — Real-Time Decision Support (Web Trading Platform)

Client / Sector: IG Group — Financial trading
My role: UX Research + Interaction Design (focused ownership of “The Feed”)
Team / context: Part of a wider desktop platform redesign (multi-disciplinary)

Problem

IG wanted to modernise the desktop trading platform. Traders needed real-time, actionable information (news, alerts, market context) without disrupting the primary trading workflow or adding noise.

What I did

• Synthesised existing research and trading-habit insights into a behaviour pattern (what traders monitor, when, and what triggers action).
• Defined the Feed’s information hierarchy so the most decision-critical items surfaced first.
• Designed interaction patterns for scan → filter → act, keeping traders close to their core tasks.
• Ran iterative feedback loops with users to validate content, prioritisation, and usability.
• Worked closely with a developer for several weeks to build and iterate multiple versions after each feedback round.

Key decisions

• Optimised for glanceability (quick comprehension under time pressure).
• Balanced “rich content” with cognitive load control (avoid overwhelming traders).
• Designed within build constraints to maintain delivery speed and feasibility.

Outputs

• Behaviour model / content structure
• Wireframes / prototypes for Feed states and interactions
• Iterated build implementation aligned with feedback cycles

Outcome

The Feed became a standout element of the redesigned platform by helping trade

Client / Sector: IG Group — Financial trading
My role: UX Research + UX Design (problem investigation + redesign direction)

Problem

A redesign aligned to iOS 7’s flat UI patterns led to poor user feedback and reduced usability. Traders reported friction when accessing core screens and interpreting interface elements quickly.

What I did

• Reviewed and triaged user feedback to identify the highest-impact issues and patterns.
• Conducted two rounds of usability testing with traders who used the iPhone app.
• Mapped where the redesigned navigation and visual language slowed key tasks vs the prior version.
• Identified ergonomic / one-handed use issues affecting speed and confidence.

Key findings

• Switching from a bottom navigation bar to a hamburger menu reduced speed of access to vital screens and made one-handed operation harder.
• A flatter visual language reduced affordance (harder to spot what is tappable quickly).

Outputs

• Findings summary prioritised by severity and task impact
• Redesign recommendations + updated navigation approach
• Visual affordance adjustments (e.g., reintroducing depth cues where needed)

Outcome

Navigation was moved back to a bottom bar pattern and visual affordances were improved, resulting in a materially better experience compared to the initial iOS 7 release (based on user feedback and test learnings).

lient / Sector: IG Group — Financial trading
My role: UX Research + UX Design (discovery + direction-setting)

Problem

The existing mobile experience needed updating in line with newer iOS patterns and to better serve traders. IG also needed clarity on how its app compared to competitors and where usability breakdowns were occurring.

What I did

• Conducted paper-based competitor benchmarking to assess feature coverage, usability, and design patterns.
• Gathered trader feedback on IG and competitor apps to understand expectations and pain points.
• Synthesised findings into a structured report and delivered a stakeholder presentation.
• Facilitated / contributed to internal sketching workshops to explore solutions informed by research.
• Grouped staff and trader input into clear themes to drive prioritisation.

Key findings (from your notes)

• Strengths: clean look and feel; “News and Insight” and proximity of news to markets were valued.
• Issues: inexperienced users struggled with navigation; confusion about panel relationships; difficulty locating positions/alerts.
• Mobile constraints: limited screen estate on iPad affected primary tasks (e.g., chart expansion).
• Ergonomic errors: “fat finger/fat palm” issues caused unintended taps.

Outputs

• Benchmarking / discovery report (with executive summary)
• Theme clusters from research + workshop input
• Early concept sketches / design direction material

Outcome

Provided stakeholders with a clear evidence-based view of what to protect, what to fix, and where usability and ergonomics were breaking down—enabling more focused redesign decisions.

4. IG Investments — New Category Launch: Positioning + Journey + Wireframes

Client / Sector: IG Group — Financial services
My role: UX Research + UX Strategy + Wireframing (small team)

Problem

IG wanted to expand into investments (accounts, ISAs, SIPPs). The challenge was creating a credible investments experience while IG was strongly associated with trading, and addressing a lengthy, complex sign-up flow.

What I did

• Aligned with stakeholders on objectives and what success looked like for the investment platform.
• Reviewed competitor investment platforms across:
  • marketing sites,
  • onboarding/sign-up,
  • logged-in account areas.
• Spoke to potential customers from IG’s community to understand what they liked/disliked and what needs were unmet.
• Identified a positioning challenge: distinguishing investment offerings from trading products without confusing users.
• Sketched solutions with a developer to ensure feasibility early, then produced wireframes with clear content rationale.

Outputs

• Competitor insights and UX direction for investment positioning
• Journey considerations for onboarding complexity
• Early wireframes outlining page structure, content, and product presentation

Outcome

Delivered a practical UX direction and wireframe foundation to support launch planning, stakeholder alignment, and feasible build decisions for IG’s move into investments.

5. Pro Trading Platform — Deal Ticket Redesign (Professional Clients)

Client / Sector: IG Group — Professional trading clients
My role: UX design (discovery, prototyping, wireframes)

Problem

Professional clients using IG execution needed improvements to the deal ticket workflow—primarily around speed and access to key information (pricing, markets, and order management).

What I did

• Conducted initial conversations with the internal deal ticket manager to capture recurring client requests and pain points.
• Built understanding by visiting client offices and observing context and priorities.
• Translated findings into sketches and interaction concepts focused on speed and clarity.
• Developed a prototype and detailed wireframes for the updated deal ticket.

Outputs

• Discovery notes and workflow priorities
• Prototype of redesigned deal ticket
• Detailed wireframes for implementation

Outcome

Design deliverables were prepared for development and user testing, but the work did not progress further due to organisational/team changes.