DocSmith

Introduction

Introducing Doc Smith, your go-to solution for simplifying complex documents, including legal contracts, agreements, and other jargon-filled texts. Doc Smith is a revolutionary app designed to translate dense and convoluted documents into clear, understandable language, making them accessible to everyone.

My Role

UI/UX Designer
Graphic Designer

Tools

Figma
Miro
Adobe Creative Suite
ClickUp

Client

A Trainer, Engineer team, and Marketing.

The Problem

The complexity and opacity of legal documents, which can be daunting and inaccessible to many individuals due to their jargon-filled language and technical terminology, prevents the average person from fully grasping these text heavy agreements. These documents often serve as critical resources for individuals needing to understand their rights, obligations, and legal responsibilities. However, the dense and convoluted nature of legal language can create significant barriers to comprehension, especially for those without legal training or proficiency in the language used.

Doc Smith aims to address the problem of complexity and inaccessibility in documents, particularly legal contracts, agreements, and other jargon-filled texts. Many people find these documents challenging to understand due to their dense language, complex structure, and legal terminology. This can lead to confusion, misunderstandings, and even legal issues for individuals and businesses who rely on these documents for important decisions and transactions.

Timeline

Week 1

Week 2-3

Week 4

Define the problem, research, lay out goals for the project, draw up the user journey and identify pain points, define any challenges based on user personas.

Design the WF, do initial testing with users, regroup to define any issues, address what can be fixed/added/omitted,

Design High Fidelity Prototype, design supporting graphics and icons, final round of testing with HF PT, report results and what was learned during the process.
Identify next steps.

The Solution

Document Translation: Doc Smith translates complex legal and technical language into clear, plain language that is easy to understand for the average person. Interactive Features: The app offers interactive features like tooltips, pop-ups, and explanations to help users understand specific terms, clauses, and sections within the document. Customization: Users can customize the level of simplification based on their knowledge and preferences, allowing them to choose between a basic summary, detailed explanation, or full document translation. Accessibility: Doc Smith ensures that the simplified documents are accessible to everyone, including individuals who do not have legal expertise or knowledge of the specific industry or field. Secure and Confidential: The app prioritizes user privacy and data security, ensuring that sensitive information within the documents is protected and handled with care.

Expected Outcome

Increased Accessibility: Users, regardless of their background or expertise in legal or technical fields, would be able to understand and interpret complex documents, making them more accessible and user-friendly. Empowered Decision-Making: Users can make informed decisions confidently, knowing the implications and terms within a document, reducing the risk of misunderstandings or legal disputes. Time and Cost Savings: By simplifying complex documents, the app can save users time and money that would otherwise be spent on legal consultations or deciphering complicated texts. Improved Compliance: Businesses and individuals can ensure better compliance with legal requirements and agreements by understanding the terms and conditions more clearly. Enhanced User Experience: The interactive and customizable features of Doc Smith would provide an engaging and tailored user experience, encouraging more people to use and benefit from the app. Increased Trust and Transparency: Offering a transparent and easy-to-understand version of documents can build trust among users, as they feel more confident and informed about the content they are engaging with. Broader User Base: With its user-friendly approach, Doc Smith can attract a broader audience, including those who may have previously found such documents intimidating or confusing.

UX Research

Surveys: Conducted to understand user's comprehension of text heavy/jargon filled documents, preferences, and pain points.
Interviews conducted with the prototype consisted of adults with no legal experience, users who have used apps like Legalese Decoder, and users who are part of legal teams.
Usability & Functional Testing: Iterative testing with prototypes to gather feedback on the app's functionality and design. I received valuable feedback and insights with this practice.
A/B Testing: Used to compare different design solutions and understand user preferences. I used this to determine features, buttons, function, legal summary, and colors used for the app.

Competitive Inspiration

Paxton

Focus: Legal document management and collaboration.
Key Features: Document sharing, version control, e-signatures, and collaboration tools.
Target Audience: Law firms, legal professionals, and businesses requiring legal document management.
Differentiator: Emphasis on collaboration and workflow management specific to legal document processes.

Translated.

Focus: Translation and localization services.
Key Features: Professional translation in multiple languages, localization, and cultural adaptation.
Target Audience: Businesses, organizations, and individuals requiring translation services.
Differentiator: Offers a wide range of language translation services with a focus on accuracy and professional translation.

Legalese Decoder

Focus: Simplifying legal jargon and terms.
Key Features: Translation of legal terms into plain language, legal dictionary, and explanations of common legal terms.
Target Audience: Individuals, consumers, and businesses needing to understand legal terms and contracts.
Differentiator: Focus specifically on decoding legal jargon to make it understandable for the general public.

Design Recommendations

1 / Additional AI Data Sets

Including a wider language data set so others who speak languages outside of English or Spanish can use the app in the language they are most comfortable with.

2 / Customization

Enable users to create profiles where they can save preferred translation settings or common terms they encounter.

Offer customizable document templates with simplified language options tailored to various industries or document types.

3 / Accessibility

Ensure the platform is accessible to users with disabilities, with features like screen reader compatibility and alternative text options.

Learning & Next Steps

Continuous user feedback is vital. Iterative design led to a more intuitive and user-friendly interface, significantly enhancing user satisfaction.

Understanding the specific needs, preferences, and pain points of the target audience through user feedback, surveys, and usability testing.
Gaining insights into the types of content, features, and functionalities that resonate most with users and drive engagement.

Next Steps

Expand the AI assistant data sets to include more languages.
Ensure that we are adhering to security and privacy procedures such as data encryption.
Introduce features that allow teams to collaborate on document translations, with real-time editing and commenting.
Simplify the process of sharing or exporting translated documents to different platforms or colleagues.