Grafana Application Observability

Product Designer 2022-present. Led design for frontend observability and Application Observability, including product strategy, defining metrics and objectives, produced all visuals, interaction and prototyping

In the ever-evolving landscape of observability solutions, Grafana’s Application Observability Suite stands out as a beacon of innovation and user-centric design. At the heart of this suite lies App-o11y and FE-o11y, each offering unique capabilities tailored to specific monitoring needs. As the sole designer on the project, I embarked on a journey to push the boundaries of design while empowering users to harness the full potential of Grafana’s ecosystem.

With a small team comprising four engineers, two project manager (both experts in o11y), and myself as the sole designer, the challenge was twofold: innovate within the confines of an opinionated solution and balance the demands of designing for both App-o11y and FE-o11y simultaneously. The former focused on Application Performance Monitoring (APM), while the latter prioritized Real User Monitoring (RUM). This unique dichotomy required a delicate balance of technical expertise and design experience.

I also had the opportunity to create illustrations for both o11y products!

Key Strategies:

Innovative Design Patterns: Faced with the task of innovating within an opinionated solution, I embraced the challenge by pushing the boundaries of design patterns and features across the product. Whether it was reimagining data visualizations or refining user workflows, each decision was guided by a relentless pursuit of excellence and usability.

Contribution to Design System: Recognizing the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing, I ensured that every new component I developed was contributed back into Grafana’s design system. This not only fostered consistency and coherence across the product but also empowered other teams to build upon my work and drive further innovation.

Usability Testing: As the sole designer on the project, I took it upon myself to conduct usability testing sessions with industry experts on working prototypes. This practice proved invaluable in uncovering pain points and refining the user experience, ultimately propelling us toward success.

The journey to design Grafana’s Application Observability Solution was not without its challenges, but it was ultimately a testament to the power of creativity, collaboration, and user-centric design. By embracing complexity as an opportunity for innovation and pushing the boundaries of design, we were able to deliver a solution that not only met the needs of our users but also inspired and empowered others to do the same. As we look to the future, I am confident that the lessons learned from this experience will continue to inform and inspire our approach to design and innovation, driving us toward even greater heights of success.