Cluster health dashboard
CockroachDB is a database enterprises trust to run mission-critical applications. In the CockroachDB Cloud console, users must go to the Cluster overview page in order to get to any cluster-specific page, making it the most viewed page in the console. Yet, for years nobody had defined what this page was actually for.
I led a design-initiated effort to fix that, creating a framework for what belongs at the overview level of a complex technical object.
Product
My role
Timeline
CockroachDB Cloud Console
Lead Designer
July 2025 - Dec 2025
3 rounds of generative research
1 year timeline
OOUX
I ran an object-oriented UX exercise to define which objects should bubble up to overview level before touching any visual design. I recognized that our layout problem was actually an information architecture problem and we needed a principled framework first.
Usage data
I paired with a UX researcher to gather and review Cluster overview page usage data.
Ideation
I ran sketch sessions with the Design team and other stakeholders to visualize what the above framework could look like in the UI.
User research
I created a prototype using the best ideas from the sketch sessions and paired with a UX researcher to create a research plan, run research sessions, and synthesize learnings. Grouping settings and configurations passed, it was understandable and learnable. Throughput, latency, and compute were rated the top 3 metrics.
research round 2
Did a second round of testing with a revised prototype that centered the top 3 metrics and tested some additional state indicators.
Stakeholder
Socialized learnings and plan with all stakeholders and got buy in
Challenge
The overview page had grown organically since 2021 with no defined purpose. Different teams added information to it when it “seemed appropriate”. The result was a page with an assortment of information and settings that was inconsistent across cluster types. The Actions menu on this page had also become unwieldy, containing topology changes, settings, and cluster actions with no clear logic.
In 2025, we planned to add two new features that seemed appropriate for the Cluster overview page, a resilience demo and PCR. As the lead Designer for PCR, I saw this as an opportunity to add value to the Cluster overview page. I got buy-in from the rest of the Design team and led our collaboration on a decision-making model.
with ~6K views/month.
Simple ideas
Through every step, we've focused on staying true to our values and making space for thoughtful, lasting work.
Lasting impact
We build with clarity, act with integrity, and always stay curious.