Risk-Free Rate
Benchmarking, redesigned.

• 01 · Overview

Overview.

Redesigned an analyst tool for capital markets risk-free-rate data visualisation — SOFR, SONIA, ESTR. Role: principal product designer leading data UX, partnered with quants, fixed-income desks, and engineering.

• 02 · Challenge

The challenge.

The existing surface had grown by accretion over years. Average time-to-quote was 2–4 month delays per workflow change, and downstream waste from poor data UX was estimated at $34M across the desk. Senior analysts ignored the tool; juniors couldn't learn it.

• 03 · Process

Process.

User research with quants, traders, and risk analysts. Hypothesis-slicing across 182 distinct workflows. 64 moderated usability tests across three fidelity tiers, against three real fixed-income scenarios. Iterated tokens with engineering so design and code stayed in lockstep.

• 182 workflow hypotheses sliced and validated
• 64 moderated usability tests across three fidelity tiers
• Token-first system shipped in lockstep with engineering

• 04 · Solution

Solution.

High-density interactive tables with monospace numerals, strict colour grammar for status (above benchmark / on / below), filters that reuse the user's mental model. Charts stripped of decoration; every pixel earns its place. Token system covers 600+ data states.

• Reference rate browser — filterable by curve, tenor, source, date range
• Comparison view — quote vs. benchmark with delta and confidence
• Term structure visualisation — minimum chrome, maximum signal
• Export pipeline — CSV, PDF, permalinked snapshot