Silo Workspace
Product Design // 2024

Tools
Figma

To ground the redesign in user needs, we conducted a feedback study with a group of Silo for Research users, primarily threat analysts in the cybersecurity field. This was led by our Product Manager, who conducted several user interviews and then created personas based on the information he was given.

The focus was on understanding their daily workflows, tool dependencies, and the pain points they encountered.

Recurring themes were the overwhelming number of tools needed to safely conduct research and delays in threat response due to setting up a secure triage environment.

To address these issues, we saw an opportunity to evolve Silo for Research into a unified platform that provides a seamless, integrated experience. By consolidating key functionalities, we aimed to streamline workflows, enhance security, and ensure users could operate efficiently without sacrificing speed or security.

Our goal was to rebuild Silo for Research as a modular, widget-based system. Users could still leverage isolated research sessions in our cloud browser while customizing their dashboard with additional tools and third-party integrations, optimizing productivity. These modular elements included an RSS intel feed, Silo cloud storage, and integration with Authentic8’s Collector product. This was the functionality planned for inclusion at launch.

We began by working closely with the engineering team, utilizing an open-source map that allowed for rapid customization. Wireframes were developed to explore how users might interact with varying widget configurations, emphasizing clarity and prioritization of key information. Low-fidelity prototypes were created, focusing on functional content for each widget, while maintaining consistency with Authentic8’s existing branding.

During the prototyping phase, we initiated discussions around updating the corporate color palette and typography. This project provided a timely opportunity to refresh the brand while aligning product aesthetics. Also, with the goal of having users select a light or dark mode for the application, the color palette needed to be more flexible to accommodate for both variations.

After several iterations, I landed on a neutral color spectrum that complemented our core purple brand color, brightened for a more modern, striking appearance. The palette was further expanded with greys, blacks, and additional accent colors for file type differentiation. For product purposes the brand purple would be relegated to main branding, call to actions and headline icons.

For typography, I explored alternatives that would enhance both the product and corporate identity. We moved from Proxima Nova to a combination of Bai Jamjuree for headlines and Inter for body copy. Bai Jamjuree offered a tech-forward aesthetic without leaning into clichés, while Inter provided clean, readable text.

This combination created a cohesive brand presence across both the product and corporate materials, aided by the seamless integration of these web-based fonts within Google Workspace, ensuring consistency across our digital and printed assets.

To enhance functionality and scalability across the platform, I developed a set of custom-branded icons tailored to Authentic8’s identity. Leveraging the Material Design icon library for system-level icons allowed for rapid development and a streamlined design approach. One of the key issues with our previous icon set was the use of outlined designs, which didn’t scale well at smaller sizes. To address this, I introduced a new style featuring filled elements, ensuring that icons remained legible and effective across all sizes.

The design also shifted to a monochromatic scheme aligned with our core corporate purple, simplifying the duo-tone palette for a more cohesive brand experience. Additionally, more stylized icons were created for empty states, providing users with clear visual cues to prompt action. This style was also applied to specific use cases, such as registration emails, enhancing consistency throughout the platform.

Accessibility was a priority throughout development, particularly regarding color contrast and color blindness validation. This was especially critical for the interactive map feature, which included a global terminator for day/night distinctions. In certain cases, we encountered issues with colors blending or losing prominence.

We conducted extensive testing to ensure the visual integrity of these elements, adjusting the palette as necessary. The map’s "dark web egress" mode required special attention to ensure it stood out visually while maintaining compliance with accessibility standards.