The optimal compound: Elsevier and UID design "Reaxys"
The background
Elsevier produces and distributes facts databases und in the field of chemical information. Cross Fire Beilstein, CrossFire Gmelin and Patent Chemistry Database comprise the chemical literature published since 1771, including millions of compounds with their according physico-chemical data as well as almost twice as much chemical reactions and syntheses. The databases are standard tools of many chemists and researchers in science and industry.
The starting point
Elsevier planned a fundamental redesign of the database interface. The goal was to create Reaxys – a completely new tool to solve different problems in scientific research to be integrated in the workflow of a chemist, ensuring web-accessibility and maintaining the existing functionalities.
The objectives
The redesign was based on the following key aspects:
- A specific tool, the synthesis planner, was supposed to support the user in generating and planning synthesis ideas.
- The search function was supposed to allow complex search requests, but also be simple and easy to understand.
- A clearly structured overview of results was supposed to facilitate the access to the relevant search results by means of extensive functionalities such as clustering, sorting and filtering.
- The design was supposed to be simple and clear and ensure an optimal display of the large amount of data.
The procedure
In an expert review, the experts of User Interface Design GmbH (UID) familiarized themselves with the existing Crossfire Beilstein software and revealed strenghts and weaknesses. In a design workshop, UID developed ideas for a new operating concept together with Elsevier employees, which was then visualized in wireframes by UID.
These wireframes formed the basis for the subsequent requirements analysis which took place with developers from Elsevier. The concepts were then discussed in 23 interviews with representatives from universities and the chemical industry in Germany, Great Britain, Switzerland and Austria, and then further developed. Subsequently, UID integrated the interview results in the concept and developed additional areas of the interface.
The UID designers developed the look and feel of the new interface according to the Corporate Design of Elsevier, summarizing all guidelines for the graphical design in a styleguide.
The result
Reaxys has an interface which is strongly geared to the workflow of a chemist. An optimal display of results and varied options to reduce the number of results support the user. The navigation between the different results lists was considerable improved. The clear and subtle design ensures a clearly structured presentation of a large amount of data. Wiht a completely new tool, the synthesis planner, chemists can now generate optimal synthesis routes and new synthesis ideas.
Project from 2008
Links for further information
The new web interface of "Reaxys"
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The synthesis planner - a completely new tool
The search results are displayed in a clearly structured way.
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A graphical bread crumb navigation facilitates the search.