The Challenge

Security in SaaS often feels complex, fragmented, and intimidating, backed by Y Combinator, Vectrix (now acquired by Cloudfare) aimed to redefine the experience by delivering a tool that helps teams identify vulnerabilities and stay secure in the cloud, without requiring them to become security experts.

But Vectrix’s early platform was built on internal assumptions—not real user behavior. Our task was to validate those assumptions, define the ideal customer, and reshape the product into a modern, intuitive cybersecurity platform.

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My Role

I collaborated with a product strategist and another product designer to:

• Run UX audit and mixed-method research, blending qualitative interviews with quantitative usability testing
• Refine customer understanding and product positioning
• Map user interactions and build service blueprints
• Design high-fidelity MVP prototypes aligned with user needs and validated behaviors

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The Research

We began by verifying how real users approached security in SaaS environments.

• Conducted usability testing and interviews to test our assumptions and reveal friction points
• Mapped workflows and decision-making paths through service blueprints, clarifying mental models and platform touch points
• Synthesized findings into customer behaviour insights that guided positioning and UX strategy

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Jobs to Be Done

By understanding user goals, we reframed the platform around:

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A simple and Modern Security Experience

The resulting MVP evolves Vectrix into a product that:

• Guides users through scanning steps with clear, hero-level actions
• Delivers digestible security summaries, avoiding technical jargon
• Presents findings visually, aiding non-technical decision-makers
• Supports modern workflows through intuitive dashboards and actionable next steps

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Onboarding and task flows were designed around primary calls-to-action, minimizing friction and guesswork. By surfacing the most important actions first, users could confidently initiate scans and move forward without second-guessing the process.

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The dashboard isn’t just a readout, it’s a control center. From here, users can explore issues, assign owners, and track resolutions. Everything is built to reflect how modern teams collaborate: flexibly, transparently, and quickly.

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Indicators and smart grouping of findings helped tell a story. Instead of dumping raw data, the interface organized results into patterns, enabling decision-makers to interpret risk and prioritize without needing an analyst.

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Heimdall Design System

To ensure consistency, scalability, and ease of collaboration across the Vectrix product, we introduced Heimdall, the official design system. More than just a library of components, Heimdall defined the tone, values, and design principles that guided every touchpoint of the experience.

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What Heimdall Enables

• Efficient & Consistent Workflows:
  Reusable UI patterns and tokenized styles reduce design debt and allow the team to ship faster without compromising quality.
• ‍Inclusive by Default:
  Accessibility isn’t an afterthought. Heimdall was built to ensure Vectrix is usable by security pros and first-time users alike.‍
• Self-Serve Clarity:
  Components were optimized to support our "Safe Self-Serve" UX strategy, reducing friction for users managing complex tasks like scanning and issue resolution.‍
• Guided by Principles:
  Every component and interaction aligns with Heimdall's six core design principles:
  Simple not simplistic, Honest, Friendly, Intuitive, Accessible, and Solution-Driven.

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Outcome

Thanks to the validated UX and refined product strategy:

• Customer behaviour assumptions were confirmed, by over 80%
• Vectrix gained clarity and confidence in its positioning as a simple, modern solution (+30%)
• The UX improvements delivered a more delightful experience, evidenced in +40% improved user engagement

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In Collaboration with:

• F. Kim
• E. Ronchetti

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