Modern Survey Interface

Qualtrics is an Experience Management (XM) platform that helps businesses collect, measure, and understand data about their customers and employees. The survey-taking experience is often the first interaction users have with Qualtrics, making it a critical touchpoint for brand perception. However, the platform had not seen a major update since 2015, resulting in a dated experience that lacked accessibility, modern design practices, and methodological rigor. This case study outlines how I redesigned the survey-taking experience to create a modern, accessible, and user-friendly platform that aligns with Qualtrics' mission to deliver first class experiences.

Contribution

Strategy & Vision, Stakeholder Management, Design Concepts, Design Delivery

Duration

6 months (Phase I)

VIEW PRODUCT DOCUMENTATION
page from survey builder look and feel section

The Problem

The existing survey-taking platform had several pain points:

Outdated Design: The interface felt old and didn’t meet modern design standards

Accessibility Gaps: The platform failed to meet current accessibility standards, excluding many users

Methodological Limitations: The platform lagged behind in survey methodology best practices, impacting data quality and user satisfaction

Developer Challenges: The codebase was rigid and difficult to maintain, slowing down innovation

With over 500 million survey takers completing 1.2 billion surveys annually, these issues were not just cosmetic—they impacted the core functionality and perception of Qualtrics as a leading XM platform

The Goal

Our primary goal was to create a modern, accessible, and flexible survey-taking platform that:

📈
Improve user satisfaction and completion rates


Meet or exceed accessibility standards (WCAG 2.1)

🏆
Methodological best practices as defaults for better data quality

🤝
Provide a developer-friendly foundation for future innovation

The Process

1

Research & Discovery

Conducted user interviews and surveys to understand pain points.

Analyzed competitor platforms to identify industry standards.

Performed accessibility audits to identify gaps in the current experience.

Collaborated with stakeholders to align on business goals and technical constraints.
2

Strategy & Vision

Defined a clear vision for the new platform:

An inclusive, methodologically sound survey-taking experience that improves brand perception and closes experience gaps

Prioritized features based on user needs and business impact

Established a phased rollout plan to ensure a smooth transition
3

Design & Iteration

Created low-fidelity wireframes to explore different interaction models

Designed high-fidelity prototypes for key components, such as navigation, matrix questions, and progress bars

Pioneered accessibility usability testing to validate designs and gather feedback

Iterated on designs to address accessibility concerns, such as keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility
4

Delivery & Implementation

Collaborated with developers to ensure designs were implemented accurately

Conducted QA testing to identify and resolve bugs

Monitored user feedback and analytics post-launch to measure success

Feature Highlight

Matrix Carousel

The Matrix Carousel question format feature reimagines how users interact with complex matrix questions by breaking them into a more intuitive and mobile-friendly format.

Instead of presenting all statements and options at once, the carousel displays each cluster one at a time, reducing cognitive load and making it easier for respondents to focus.

This innovative design not only improves usability but also ensures a seamless experience across devices, particularly on mobile, where space is limited.

By simplifying the interaction, the Matrix Carousel enhances data quality and user satisfaction, setting a new standard for survey design.

Outcomes

2,705

unique brands who originally adopted the new simple layout

+2.5%

Increase in completion rates for surveys built with simple layout vs. others

+7.3%

Increase in mobile completion rates for surveys built with simple layout vs. others

Reflection

This project was a testament to the power of user-centered design. By prioritizing accessibility, methodological rigor, and modern design practices, we were able to create a platform that not only met user needs but also positioned Qualtrics as a leader in the XM space.

For a deeper dive into the design process, including wireframes, and prototypes, check out the Figma presentation.