Stratus Software

Overview

Stratus Software is a specialized web application designed for real estate portfolio management. It provides users with comprehensive insights into building conditions and associated costs, enabling portfolio managers to plan upcoming investments and get the required arguments tools to apply for claim their costs in front of their stakeholders.

The original application had evolved into a complex system requiring expert guidance to navigate effectively. Recognizing this barrier, Basler & Hofmann's management commissioned a complete ground-up redesign to create a more intuitive and accessible solution and asked FOND (my employer), to help them with the strategy and the UX & UI Design.

Challenge

• Overwhelming complexity requiring expert assistance
• Inconsistent navigation patterns
• Unclear user flows that hindered decision-making
• Lack of intuitive data visualization for building conditions and costs

Goals

• Building a state-of-the-art software solution that minimizes complexity while maintaining powerful functionality
• Create consistent, intuitive navigation throughout the application
• Reduce dependency on expert support and increase user adoption

My Role

As we worked in a small, collaborative team, I took ownership across multiple design disciplines and worked independently on key initiatives.

• End-to-end design process from concept to high-fidelity prototypes
• Developed and expanded the design system
• Facilitated stakeholder presentations and cross-functional workshops
• Applied design thinking methodologies with a human-centered approach
• Supported user research initiatives and usability testing

Discover

Each new feature began with collaborative workshops involving the UX team, Product Owner (PO), and Project Manager (PM). These sessions focused on:

• Understanding business requirements and constraints
• Desktop Research and gain more insights about the users challenges
• Identifying core user problems and pain points
• Establishing success metrics and acceptance criteria

Define

Following problem identification, I synthesized insights to frame specific pain points and user gains and created flow charts to visualize data dependencies and user journeys, then mapped out information architecture for complex features.

Develop

I approached the design phase through multiple iterations, starting with rapid sketching to explore complex interaction patterns before moving to detailed prototyping in Figma. We worked primarily with Material UI components, but I created custom solutions when the existing library couldn't address specific user needs.

Deliver

Implementation support included:

• Detailed design specifications and component documentation
• Interactive prototypes demonstrating complex user flows
• Design system maintenance and component library updates
• Cross-browser and responsive design validation

Building an "Auswertung & Planung" Overview

I designed an interactive overview interface where users can seamlessly navigate between complementary data visualizations, providing immediate insights into building conditions and investment priorities.

The scope and complexity of features often revealed deeper systemic issues. Initial user pain points sometimes masked more fundamental problems requiring broader solutions.
Working on this comprehensive redesign taught me valuable lessons about navigating complex enterprise software projects.

Breaking Down Complexity

When facing overwhelming system complexity, I learned to divide features into smaller, comprehensible units that users could easily understand and navigate. This modular approach made both the design process more manageable and the final product more intuitive.

Prioritizing Core Functions

With limited resources and competing requirements, I discovered the importance of identifying and focusing on the most critical functions first. This prioritization ensured that users could accomplish their primary goals effectively, even as secondary features were refined over time.

Embracing Change

The project taught me to remain open and adaptable to changes throughout the design process. Rather than rigidly adhering to initial concepts, I learned that flexibility often leads to better solutions as new insights emerge from user testing and stakeholder feedback.