Launching new reports at Archipelago
Research, product design, data visualization, UX writing, design systemArchipelago gives commercial real estate insurance companies a place to clean up and enhance their property data. Owners and brokers can present insurers trustworthy information for better quotes.
I designed reports to help users analyze portfolios anywhere from a few dozen to thousands of buildings, with hundreds of data points each.
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b5b42136ddbe6b23529f62a83fb87671f3872f787ccc357512715c27c587dbef/Reporting.png)
The challenge
Throughout the annual underwriting process, owners, brokers, and insurers review property data on Archipelago. Even though we already display a few metrics and charts, users couldn’t answer questions about data quality, risk estimates, and costs.Archipelago’s self-serve reports would answer those questions and help users negotiate for fair pricing.
What I did
I owned the design for all reports, related features, and a new data visualization design system. For each report, I regularly met with internal stakeholders, industry experts, and customers to understand their needs, review report content, and validate decisions.Impact
Our first launched report sped up deals by 3-4 days per account! Subsequent reports not only saved users hours of data analysis, but also contributed to deals with international customers totalling ~$5.2M in revenue.![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/131bf22ab48c38f11385203b901c0fffb1cd4bbc8f62540c3bcefe1daef85426/Readiness-Report.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9ea1e7973581603d0f1e50fa9a10a52e174347b48880409196c28cbfefd153ff/Valuation-Summary.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4a64f9e2e7e9c859fa5c4282adf39838d9c66c1703c60090d46b453a7a0c0b23/Risk-Assessment-1.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/16cfbb1dc784693c71a59492e02b416c21c543739a736ac9439cf2f815ceb931/Exposure---expanded.png)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/be4e002835a7fa2babc038e52287c7938a7f770019dfa433fdf2d47d45f9fc99/Transparency-1.png)
The audience
We first targeted property owners and brokers. They need to prepare their data before going to market, so they’d benefit from getting detailed feedback on what insurers are looking for.Later, we expanded to insurers, who’d skim over data to get a sense of the risk before doing any deeper investigation.
![Right before I joined Archipelago, the PM researched questions customers wanted to answer.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fdd2e9d9ba446015c869bad3f439528308031c555439d3fd7709740f0c69149f/report-pain-points.png)
![Who’d be interested in which report and when?](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f81da736a853d617f54ab6d1df332352d43ebcd76ee1c01da4f1494df3bdec1b/lifecycle.png)
Getting the first report out the door
I started by designing the information architecture and the MVP navigation UI with these considerations:- We start with reports at the portfolio level. We’d add more over time at the customer, portfolio, and property levels.
- Reports are limited by user roles, so not every user can see every report.
![Figuring out where reports live in the product.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/71a8bacea1c70b82c55567ca76fa9db801e7ffd0ad84983c54cb57622f64b5c8/report-IA.png)
![First find the portfolio, then find the reports. We added the dropdown later, when we had more reports.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e2a288873082af17eeb0f59ecd05bc73180def344c7c6c3c1e91498bde9558ee/Report-nav.png)
Then I moved onto the Readiness Report, which tells customers how they can improve their data quality to earn insurers’ trust.
Before, the sales team would analyze prospects’ portfolios in Excel and create custom diagnostic presentations. Now we can generate the same content with a few clicks, saving a few days per account.
Before, the sales team would analyze prospects’ portfolios in Excel and create custom diagnostic presentations. Now we can generate the same content with a few clicks, saving a few days per account.
![We originally graded portfolios based on a numerical data quality score and percentile benchmarking.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3b3303f78504c13a149987b753a77c14acbe52cf43d6c32a0228d0024d17eca1/Data-quality-score.png)
![We simplified data quality grading to 3 levels for launch.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c275e94cc2b9e076eeac36619e69eb57186dc8e1204df2ca365560aefe977c3c/2021-Readiness-Report.png)
We took a few shortcuts to ship the first report.
- The report is a template, so we’d lose more nuanced customer-specific insights.
- The layout adapts to a 1-2 page downloadable PDF. It’s easier to share, but harder to present than a slide deck.
- We scrapped 2 other planned reports due to time and resource constraints.
![The cut Engagement Report.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dc00a6f9f3d63a783c90ce866d50d5a793da086e5b1ff7339000088c7fd90cef/2021-Stream-Engagement-Report.png)
![The cut Enrichment Report.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/35b7d105651cf51d90b7f62ebd69dafa8a28aaca3a5f49a3fa09f933030fb46e/2021-Enrichment-Report.png)
![Readiness Report after 2 years of improvements.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/131bf22ab48c38f11385203b901c0fffb1cd4bbc8f62540c3bcefe1daef85426/Readiness-Report.png)
Setting up a data visualization design system
Our design system didn’t support data visualization, so I added chart-specific guidelines and components. This made it easy to add new chart types, update branding, and share with engineers.![Accessible color palettes for various charts and datasets.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/97229be252be86de21c8a97d8b616a4bc19f64400ce2def37556358f89884406/data-viz-colors.png)
![Chart components.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/52457c11ec0223e4c53655d943645389b3a4e346afb4a1098a3e62a2525d0591/chart-types.png)
![Chart-related UI and interactions.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7612cc53615c0a280f50bd7193c795cebd55846d896547cb0038f4441b07b8c7/chart-anatomy.png)
![Loading and error states.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/49a07735881cbd58c794564836b3aea896e1d68df8fce4c2b8befe137d1cace7/report-states.png)
Additions over the next 2 years
Risk Assessment Report
As part of a deal with a major international insurer, this report curates risk factors that matter to underwriters. Insurers can gauge risk with less effort, while owners/brokers can better anticipate questions and pricing estimates from insurers.
Previously, users would spend ~30 minutes analyzing data on Archipelago (or a few hours without Archipelago), but now it takes a few clicks to get the same information.
As part of a deal with a major international insurer, this report curates risk factors that matter to underwriters. Insurers can gauge risk with less effort, while owners/brokers can better anticipate questions and pricing estimates from insurers.
Previously, users would spend ~30 minutes analyzing data on Archipelago (or a few hours without Archipelago), but now it takes a few clicks to get the same information.
![Early designs for a summary dashboard inspired the report.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/677b93fabd08cec3d3244e3ca074cc76e87bc24aedf164d2c536df55d7b52c80/Risk-Assessment-draft.png)
![This report had tabs to mimic a slide deck. Tab 1: Geographic data.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4a64f9e2e7e9c859fa5c4282adf39838d9c66c1703c60090d46b453a7a0c0b23/Risk-Assessment-1.png)
![Tab 2: Construction and occupancy composition.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b44bfcbf2495159325fbb30f13f75f5a6240b3091fb3b1cd3df684a8d3c672c4/Risk-Assessment-2.png)
![Tab 3: Loss history.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7abee34ee27f42099c3ce75697902fb5b2eed195cfc6574d7c12a79e155f6fc9/Risk-Assessment-3.png)
Insurer Transparency Report
We partnered with an international insurer to create this report. They’d supply their proprietary risk grading metrics and bring their customers to Archipelago, starting with a pilot of 14 accounts.
On our end, we visualized these metrics by blending Archipelago’s design system with their brand guidelines.
One technical challenge was that the insurer’s and our data models were structured differently, so linking properties was difficult. Instead, we displayed more address details so users can identify properties in the MVP.
We partnered with an international insurer to create this report. They’d supply their proprietary risk grading metrics and bring their customers to Archipelago, starting with a pilot of 14 accounts.
On our end, we visualized these metrics by blending Archipelago’s design system with their brand guidelines.
One technical challenge was that the insurer’s and our data models were structured differently, so linking properties was difficult. Instead, we displayed more address details so users can identify properties in the MVP.
![Early designs from before I joined. The idea was to bridge insurer and Archipelago data.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/45a89baf64ae3e4c3c0a9ab7c0b9b3337b4556e4e6d7c332578f35b3356371e2/Insurer-draft.png)
![Tab 1: Overall grades.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/be4e002835a7fa2babc038e52287c7938a7f770019dfa433fdf2d47d45f9fc99/Transparency-1.png)
![Tab 2: Look into specific risk factors and properties.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/24622b77cfb48c8a6d03a2068ba2672c624b83af30dc9aaf6763a1029c0b7054/Transparency-2.png)
![Tab 2: Losses were broken down by region and year, instead by property.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/08146420afa3b4752d01edd518e5839273396712bb7bab90bb366df0a46b3c6d/Transparency-3.png)
![Tab 3: Loss history by year and incident.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4a07dd802a430af68378ce8f3bd4ce6724ee0a69ef746f31c93591cf37759ae7/Transparency-4.png)
Exposure Index
This report tested whether Archipelago can proactively predict risk, starting with hazard exposure.
Long term, Archipelago could be a credible industry authority that can judge risk based on pricing, losses, hazards, and peer benchmarking. We could provide quotes to prospects and assist customers with price negotiations.
For the initial launch, the product strategists and PM developed a scoring formula based on exposure to natural disasters and climate risks. They built a clickable protoype in Google sheets that measured aggregrate and individual risks, which inspired my report design.
This report tested whether Archipelago can proactively predict risk, starting with hazard exposure.
Long term, Archipelago could be a credible industry authority that can judge risk based on pricing, losses, hazards, and peer benchmarking. We could provide quotes to prospects and assist customers with price negotiations.
For the initial launch, the product strategists and PM developed a scoring formula based on exposure to natural disasters and climate risks. They built a clickable protoype in Google sheets that measured aggregrate and individual risks, which inspired my report design.
![The long-term vision: Archipelago can predict prospects’ risk levels.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3e4f31ceba920f06ddd92ab9354e0486af903016cf4fc197a6dd6560d5927c4b/Marketing-site-draft.png)
![Once they’re customers, we can provide a more accurate report with targeted recommendations.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dede25c3c49f334a28eb5810f235f461a0006451509317c2909e3cf940e373ed/Exposure-report-draft.png)
![The shipped version. By default, we display 4 key hazards.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4aa47019669ffde2a32697786966a7a182fc5004eb885f9e8773d73de703a5e1/Exposure---default.png)
![Expand to see all hazards and benchmarking groups.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/16cfbb1dc784693c71a59492e02b416c21c543739a736ac9439cf2f815ceb931/Exposure---expanded.png)
Valuation Summary
This report is part of a building valuation integration. Users can check if their cost estimates are close to market values and investigate red flag properties. For this report, I paired with a second designer.
From interviews with brokers, we learned that the integration and report are massive time savers. A user could cut down at least 6-8 hours preparing an account for the insurance market.
This report is part of a building valuation integration. Users can check if their cost estimates are close to market values and investigate red flag properties. For this report, I paired with a second designer.
From interviews with brokers, we learned that the integration and report are massive time savers. A user could cut down at least 6-8 hours preparing an account for the insurance market.
![We shared an early design with customers months before we built the integration.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/61ade6f48faa51a007feedd737f721f6f260a31df6f5587e40ea01d1956c94ec/Valuations.png)
![This report goes top down from portfolio sums to individual properties.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9ea1e7973581603d0f1e50fa9a10a52e174347b48880409196c28cbfefd153ff/Valuation-Summary.png)
![We learned about how the real estate insurance industry worked from the broker's perspective.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3e052fe42df2f5aeb5c7161a2558c5ae54e705073f2ea985143663ebe9a5bff3/Valuations-feedback.png)
Spreadsheets are surprisingly not obsolete.
Spreadsheets are still commonplace in the industry! I designed Excel templates that guide users through large volumes of data.Change Analysis Export
This helps users monitor data edits at a large scale. It shows data changes between two points in time, especially when properties are added, disposed, edited, split apart into multiple line items, or combined into one.
This helps users monitor data edits at a large scale. It shows data changes between two points in time, especially when properties are added, disposed, edited, split apart into multiple line items, or combined into one.
![Tab 1: Instructions and glossary.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f52c577a6309ce931431548665b6cdbec3464459b7588fa5971a17632b238a5f/CAE-1.png)
![Tab 2: Before vs after comparison.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/65bbdb1ad9d3c8e75acca44149f1215eca88cbc6a7a54de4f021ec9ad79a3288/CAE-2.png)
![Tab 3: See every edit per property.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/08a32807f0da63d847fa277d0e930edf5c6159eefec67a330787110dc716c671/CAE-3.png)
Readiness Export
This complements the Readiness Report — it details data quality at the property level. Recommendations include properties to prioritize, data points to fill in, and documents to upload.
This complements the Readiness Report — it details data quality at the property level. Recommendations include properties to prioritize, data points to fill in, and documents to upload.
![Tab 1: Instructions and glossary.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4e89b8451845db511968c53a17d2907a2941c887121b0b7a58dcf3f33e4d7da1/RE-1.png)
![Tab 2: Top 10 properties to prioritize.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4fc943a32bd759f1739e00f219fa645a532c15cfecf626b10f0dda0c12a4f6c0/RE-2.png)
![Tab 3: Property data quality at its most granular.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0795aa28334f0b11d11ccb7f9c8f1f31c8663fc6a43bbc93b3c7f8e0050982f0/RE-3.png)
International customers got the most out of the exports. They have widely diversified, multinational portfolios that are split up by region and line of business. These spreadsheets conveniently summarize everything into one view for global risk managers.