Xerox - Device Feature
Quick Access
Critical actions were buried too deep on high-traffic shared devices. I reframed the problem and delivered a persistent, configurable solution on multi-function devices.
Role
Lead Product Designer
Scope
Touch device ui
Web config
Device config
Dev documentation
Collaborators
Product, engineering, graphics, research
Outcome
30–50% reduction in task time, shipped full lineup
Problem
Xerox MFDs had a discoverability problem. Critical actions were buried too deep for the shared, high-traffic devices they are designed for.
A BLI industry report confirmed that settings discoverability was a recognized pain point across the industry. Canon, HP, and Toshiba had nothing comparable.
Strategy
The solution space was already crowded with opinions. My job was to find what was actually buildable, discoverable, and worth shipping.
Reframe the problem
From "we need a new global panel" to "users need faster access to important actions without digging."
Evaluate LOE honestly
Factor in hardware constraints (smaller models with limited capability vs. large production screens), developer familiarity with newer design system patterns, migration timing, and the risks of introducing new animation or graphics loads on legacy hardware.
Find the right compromise
A visible tab and a floating button were both explored and ruled out. A swipe-down panel introduced a separate problem. Users would have no way to discover it without being told it existed. A single expandable Quick Access Button solved that. It lives within the existing UI system, honors the legacy design structure, and stays visible enough to work without instructions.
Design
The solution was a single, persistent, expandable Quick Access Button, surfaced at a consistent location in the device UI and configurable by administrators and users depending on their role and context.
Design Scope
Device UI
Button, expansion behavior, and action set
Web Configuration
IT admin remote management via WebUI
Device Configuration
On-device setup via Tools
Explanatory Graphics
Dev Documentation
Specs, rules, behavior definitions
Throughout the project, decisions were made with an awareness of mixed design system generations across the product line. Rather than forcing migration to the newest style guide, which would have introduced risk and developer overhead, I found a workable middle ground by blending where appropriate and avoiding changes that would conflict with legacy patterns.
Final Solution
Feature Demo
Device & Web Configurable
Edge Cases
The button adapts to its various configuration states.
[a] Multiple Actions Configured
Button shows the Quick Access icon. Tap expands the full menu.
[b] One Action Configured
Button shows that action's icon only. No menu. Tapping navigates immediately.
[c] No Actions Configured
Button disappears from the action bar entirely. No empty state, no placeholder.
Validation
A BLI competitive report had already flagged settings discoverability as a known gap. So, rather than starting from scratch, I oriented myself within the existing domain by getting up to speed on prior explorations, existing PO direction, and technical constraints already in play.
Developer Collaboration
Testing assumptions about feasibility and adjusting in real time based on what was actually buildable.
Device Testing
Real physical hardware across the full range, from capability-limited smaller units to large production machines.
Usability Evaluation
Xerox's internal research team with real users, providing structured feedback before shipping.
Outcome
The Quick Access Button reduced task time by 30–50% and shipped across the full device lineup. By reframing an over-scoped request into a focused, buildable solution, I helped move a real improvement through a complex system without disrupting years of existing architecture, and laid the groundwork for a context-adaptive help and guidance system the team could build on after release.
With this project I identified what's worth surfacing, made smart tradeoffs under real constraints, and shipped a practical solution that made the product feel smarter without making it feel more complex.
Highlights
30-50%
Reduction in task time
Full Lineup
Shipped across all device models
Zero Regressions
Existing architecture intact
