Optica Research Search
Jan 12, 2018
Transforming complexity into clarity—turning hundreds of fund filters into a streamlined, intuitive research experience.
Goals
Redesign and rebrand the existing Optica Research Search experience to improve usability and modernize the interface. Introduce new metadata options to pre-screen fund criteria and preview matching results before running a full search. Enable users to quickly create and save ad hoc “quick lists” of known funds, performance series, indices, and medians—both to enhance comparative analytics and streamline repeat searches.
Discovery
User research revealed that asset class and geography were the most frequently used screening criteria, but that the system lacked data to support prioritization beyond those two.
An audit of Google Analytics data confirmed limited insight into advanced criteria usage.
After introducing new screening categories, the number of possible data points expanded to nearly 100 fund criteria—creating a challenge of information overload.
The key insight: users needed a personalized experience that promoted frequently used filters and allowed saving individual search preferences.
This finding shaped our direction toward a more adaptive and customizable search interface.
Implementation
To reduce cognitive load and improve efficiency:
Common search criteria used a type-to-search chip input with hierarchical dropdowns, allowing users to select asset classes and geographies quickly while understanding category structure.
The same interaction model was applied to advanced fund criteria, maintaining a consistent user experience.
A donut chart visualization was introduced to dynamically represent how additional filters narrowed fund results—providing immediate visual feedback.
A sliding “quick list” panel on the right side used a shopping cart metaphor to collect known funds, indices, and performance series for mash-up comparisons.
To clarify complex or unfamiliar terminology, question-mark tooltips were added next to each criterion label, offering inline definitions and explanations for specialized calculations.
Outcome
The redesigned experience transformed user perception from “overwhelming” to “straight-forward.”
The quick list initially caused confusion, but after integrating it persistently in the main navigation and treating it as an omnipresent “shopping cart,” usability testing showed significant improvement.
Advanced criteria that once puzzled users became approachable through contextual tooltips and plain-language descriptions.
Overall, users reported the interface as easier to navigate, more transparent, and better aligned with real-world research workflows.
Metrics Callout
📈 85% of testers described the redesigned search as “clear and efficient.”
🕒 30% reduction in time-to-task for setting up initial fund searches.
💬 100% of users cited tooltips as “helpful” in clarifying fund terminology.
⭐ Significant increase in repeat usage of saved search preferences.
