Overview
CommScope, Inc. engaged MCD to design and build a rich, modern intranet application to replace their legacy intranet systems. The goal was to strengthen internal collaboration and communication across geographically distributed manufacturing units, improving cross-functional design and engineering work across the organization. partnered with CommScope on a three-phase, step-by-step design and development process to refresh and rebuild the intranet into a more connected, engaging experience.
The Challenge
CommScope's old intranet had major collaboration gaps:
- 1. Legacy System Dependency & Zero-Disruption Migration CommScope's intranet ran on an aging SharePoint portal woven into daily operations. The new platform had to be built in parallel, with zero downtime, while the legacy system stayed fully live.
- 2. Geographically Distributed Collaboration Manufacturing units spanned multiple geographies, each with distinct local workflows. The intranet needed to support consistent cross-location collaboration without a one-size-fits-all design.
- 3. Cross-Functional Knowledge Sharing at Scale Design and engineering teams needed more than a static document repository. The platform had to actively enable real-time collaboration and knowledge exchange across the organization.
- 4. Change Management & Engagement Employees were accustomed to the old system, so adoption needed a gradual, low-friction path. The new tool also had to feel genuinely engaging, not just functional.
People-First Approach
MCD's design practice believes in following a User Interface Design process that we call "The Evolution Process." Based on this understanding, we have tailored our methodology for redesigning the existing intranet application. The project is organized into the following four phases:
Framework
Refine
- Review the site
- Empathy-led discovery
- Information analysis
- Vision definition
- Labelling
- Information architecture
- Experience model
- UX Strategy
- Navigational model
- Heuristic studies
- Desirables
- Design patterns
- Viable experiences
- High-level wire-frames
- Visual design
- Sustainable experiences
- Detail design
- Front-end development
- Application development
- Refining behaviour and form
- Design style guide
- Context Mapping & User Research Phase 1 Conducted contextual interviews with key CPG personas to map daily workflows and shift the focus from abstract user groups to real logistics decisions.
- Information Architecture & Jargon Removal Phase 2 Stripped out technical database jargon and redesigned layouts to prioritize scannability, clarity, and clear affordances.
- Designing the Conversational NLP Workspace Phase 3 Architected a clean browser interface centered around search and voice interaction, including graceful handling of ambiguous data requests.
- High-Fidelity Prototyping & Usability Tune-Up Phase 4 Created responsive web-native prototypes using modern patterns and optimized them for rapid loading and seamless browser interaction.
Key UX Transformations
Legacy State
Aging SharePoint portal
tied to daily operations
Siloed, geography-specific
local workflows
Static document
repository only
Low-friction but functional
tool, low engagement
Connected State
Zero-downtime migration
Built in parallel, seamless cutover
Unified collaboration model
Consistent, yet locally adaptable
Real-time knowledge exchange
Active crossfunctional sharing
Genuine engagement
Gradual rollout, rapid adoption
Key UX Transformations for the CommScope solution, categorized into structural shifts, capability enhancements, and business results:
Shift from Legacy to Modern UX
From Aging Monolithic Portal
Data-Driven Navigation: Replaced rigid, static
From Siloed Regional Hubs
Unified Collaboration Model:
Standardized tools across global teams to enable cross-geographic knowledge sharing and real-time collaboration.
From Static Documents
Interactive Dashboards:
Converted manual file uploads and stagnant PDFs into dynamic resource centres with real-time operational analytics.
From Low-Interactive Readership
Active Employee Engagement:
Created interactive feedback loops and streamlined action workflows to transform passive reading into daily platform use.
Our core philosophy for CommScope was built on a single rule—the Law of Simplicity: the simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction. By stripping away enterprise noise and legacy clutter, we transformed a complex data platform into an intuitive, effortless user experience.
