ConTraSt

Turning users to contributors

I designed an interface for researchers to visualize data and contribute papers with ease and a sense of belonging

Details

Client Liad Mudrik lab @ TAU

My roleUX/UI designer

The teamDrorsoft (3 engineers)

Timeline 6 months

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Context

Scaling Up the Conciseness Database

ConTraSt is a global research platform from Tel Aviv University that visualizes data from thousands of consciousness studies—giving researchers tools for insight and exploration.

Bigger Data

ConTraSt’s goal was to scale up the database through user-contributed research papers.

$refracting light on conciosness$

I was brought on board by DrorSoft as freelance UX/UI designer - facing both client needs and dev execution.

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The Mission

User > Contributor

Redesign ConTraSt to make data visuals intuitive and contribution frictionless to encourage users to contribute papers as effortlessly as possible.

UX GOALS

Simple, structured data visuals
Clear call to contribute
Guided, low-friction submission flow

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The Problem

An unconscious website

ConTraSt's platform held rich data, but the UX failed to engage its research community. The original ConTrast website was cluttered and poorly structured, which made it hard to use and unwelcoming for users to engage with its purpose.

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(scroll to view legacy website)

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PAIN POINTS

Poor usabilityCluttered UX blocked insights
No call to actionNo clear user flow or CTA
Not a systemManual submission process slowed contribution

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Research

To Research Researchers

I gathered insights through open-ended personal interviews, interface audits and alignment with devs and stakeholders. -

INTERVIEWS

I interviewed conciseness researchers from TAU to understand their routine of research and the potential use of ConTraSt -

Why/howthey use visuals
Where/whenthey submit research
What/Whichemotional friction is encoutered in the process

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PROCESS

Meanwhile - I gathered more context on the project's needs and state:

Aligned with dev + stakeholder needs
Audited and simplified existing flows
Mapped UX patterns across academic platforms

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Insight

Clarity + Community = Contribution

Through gathering feedback, validating it with the client and refining insights, three core needs emerged:

USER NEEDS:

Clean, familiar UIfor exploring trends

Part of a big Ideapart of a research-driven community

Low-stress submission processthat's doable over time

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Design

Cognitive research ≠ Cognitive load

Redesigned two core flows:

Data visualizationDesigned for getting immediate value, while calling users to register to give back value by submitting papers
Paper submissionAn elaborate submission process, made simple by segmentation and visual cues.

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0. WIREFRAMING

Gathering insights and inspirations I started outlining a new structure for the two core flows based on a similar layout -

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*a separation between the control panel and an output area to give users immediate visual feedback*

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*a screen layout that follows a clear hierarchy of the experiment’s input components and stages - Papers > Experiments > Tags*

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1. DATA VIS

The visualization system had to feel fun, attractive and easy to use to motivate users to become contributing members.

Structure

Built a modular left-hand control panel with live visual feedback

Navigation

Simplified chart switching via dropdown

$refracting light on conciosness$

Engagement

Added download buttons that trigger contribution prompts

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2. SUBMISSION FLOW

The paper contribution process was complex and usually intended for a young researcher to do in a period of time. The process had to be clear, orienting and built for fragmented sessions.

Flow

Step-by-step wizard guides users