STairs –
STairs –
Client
UX / UI – Design
Duration
2,5 weeks
Field of study
How do you design a platform tailored to the needs of ST doctors while reducing friction in their learning journey?
In collaboration with Karolinska Institutet, we took on the challenge of improving STairs – a digital platform used by anesthesiology and intensive ST doctors to sign up for courses, find guidelines, and manage their continuing education.
Creating a Clearer and More Structured Learning Experience for ST Doctors
STairs:
Lacked Structure and Caused Frustration Among Users
Problem:
The STairs platform was difficult to navigate and lacked a clear visual hierarchy. Important content was buried, the homepage felt cluttered, and the interface looked outdated. ST doctors expressed frustration about how time-consuming and confusing it was to find the information they needed.
Research:
Research Revealed Four Core Use Cases and a Common Need: Better Structure
To understand the real pain points, we combined both quantitative and qualitative methods:
A survey was sent out to ST doctors to understand their usage patterns and frustrations.
This was followed by in-depth interviews and observational studies, where doctors completed tasks on the site as we watched where they struggled.
The insights clearly showed four distinct "Jobs to be Done" – the main reasons why users visited the platform. Despite different goals, all users shared a common obstacle: a lack of structure that made even simple tasks unnecessarily difficult.
Our focus became clear – reorganize STairs to reduce friction and make each job easier to accomplish.
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1. We started by creating a timeline to visualize our workflow and to easily communicate our progress to the project contact person.
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2. We created a survey that ST doctors answered to help us understand how STairs is used on a broader level.
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3. We conducted our own analysis of the current website.
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4. Based on the survey results, we identified four main "Jobs to be Done" within the usage of STairs.
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5. We carried out in-depth interviews with ST doctors.
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6. The ST doctors also participated in usability testing on the current site.
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7. We discovered that the site lacked structure and relied heavily on dropdown menus, which caused frustration.
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8. We clustered insights from the interviews and usability tests.
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9. We created four personas based on each "Job to be Done" and mapped their respective user journeys.
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10. An example of a persona.
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11. A user journey highlighting interaction points and pain points.
Design Process:
Wireframing a Logical Layout and Reducing Friction for Key Tasks
“How might we design a structured, intuitive experience that allows ST doctors to complete their tasks more efficiently?”
Ideation: We sketched lo-fi wireframes by hand and on whiteboards to explore various layout structures without getting stuck on visual details.
Concept: Built a streamlined information architecture based on the four main Jobs to be Done.
Features:
A clearer homepage with direct access to key tasks (e.g., ST Fridays, course registration).
Fewer steps to complete frequent actions.
A clean, modern layout that reduces cognitive load.
Iterative Design:
User Testing Helped Uncover Friction and Confirm Structural Improvements
We created a lo-fi prototype in Figma based on our sketches, prioritizing layout and logic over visuals.
Through usability testing with ST doctors and the administrative team, we gathered feedback on task flow and clarity. We then clustered insights to identify what worked and what needed improvement.
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12. We sketched lo-fi wireframes on a whiteboard to outline the basic structure.
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13. We proceeded to build lo-fi digital prototypes.
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14. These prototypes were tested by users performing the same tasks as in the first usability test.
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15. We clustered insights from this round of testing, which provided valuable feedback on areas for improvement.
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16. We updated the prototype based on feedback and conducted testing with the administrative team to get approval before moving into visual design.
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17. We presented the revised structure of the website.
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18. We mapped user journeys before and after the redesign.
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19. We illustrated how many steps were reduced for users in completing each of the "Jobs to be Done."
Results:
A More Intuitive and Streamlined Experience for ST Doctors
User feedback validated our new design direction:
Tasks like course registration became significantly faster.
Users described the platform as more intuitive and less overwhelming.
The four Jobs to be Done were now directly accessible from the homepage.
Karolinska Institutet appreciated the thoughtful structure and clear focus on user needs. The improved UX was not just more efficient but also aligned with the real-world context in which the platform is used.
"Perfect, you've really managed to include the most important parts."
"This is so incredibly professionally done by you, I am very happy and satisfied that you took on this assignment."
"This was exactly what we needed, thank you"
Reflection and Lessons Learned:
Structure, Iteration, and Real User Feedback are Game Changers
One key takeaway was the power of structured research – from surveys to interviews and observations to usability testing. It was clear how much value comes from seeing real users in action.
I also learned how critical the iteration process is. What feels “obvious” to us as designers may not be obvious to the users. Their feedback highlighted small usability issues that made a big difference.
Lastly, reminded me that good UX isn’t about flashy visuals – it’s about building something that truly supports the people who rely on it every day.
Casandra Sohlström
Hampus Larsson
Team
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