With research-led insights and a user-first mindset, the future really is bright — and we’re just getting started.
In 2023, we launched a big initiative to strengthen innovation, create value, and shape the future of our industry in North America. And what a journey it has been! Over the past 18 months, we tackled big challenges, embraced new ideas, and made an impact that will last for years to come.
Product experience research
We knew that to drive real change, we had to work together—internally, with our customers, and with our entire community. So, we strengthened our industry connections, held key conversations, and introduced new ways to align with our partners.
To dive deeper into this journey, we spoke with two of our colleagues—Evelina and Audrey—who have been closely involved in this work throughout the year. In the interview, they share their insights on collaboration, user experience, and what it really takes to create solutions that make a difference.
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Evelina Hagelin, Global Head of Design and Audrey Moore, Senior UI/UX Researcher.
Can you tell us about the product experience research you’ve done and why this is important for Configura moving forward? Evelina: Absolutely! The product experience research for the Commercial Interiors industry is a user-first initiative aimed at exploring the future of working in this sector. We asked ourselves: “What will the experience of using our products be like for people working in the Commercial Interiors industry?”.
To answer this, we embarked on a three-month research journey led by Audrey and supported by other team members. They visited customers on-site, spending full days observing their work and conducting in-depth interviews and surveys. This immersive approach allowed us to deeply understand our users’ day-to-day challenges and opportunities.
The outcome is a clear direction for Configura’s future—one centered on people, supported by powerful yet easy-to-use technology. Our vision paints a future where users can focus on their creative and professional strengths while relying on our technology to simplify and enhance their workflows.
What do you find most rewarding in your roles? Evelina: For me, the most rewarding aspect is the combination of working with incredibly talented team members and knowing that our work can improve someone else’s work life. Since most of us spend a significant portion of our lives at work, having the chance to create products that make daily tasks easier and more enjoyable feels incredibly meaningful. Nothing makes me prouder than receiving heartfelt feedback from users about how our efforts have positively impacted their work. It’s a powerful reminder of why we do what we do.
Audrey: I love connecting things that were previously disconnected. Introducing a developer to a user and seeing them have those “Eureka!” moments when they see something unexpected. Pointing out a tiny tip to a user that will save them hours of work. Workshopping with colleagues from opposite departments and seeing them learn from each other. And fika.
What projects are you most proud of? Audrey: I’m definitely most proud of the product experience research we’ve done. I’m so excited to spread the knowledge and let it start to shape the direction of our products. Besides that, I’m always proud of being a part of any project where there is a really solid collaboration and trust between designers & developers from start-to-finish.
Evelina: I’m proud of many initiatives we’ve undertaken this year. We launched a new design for CET and conducted extensive research in the Commercial Interiors industry that has helped us shape our new tool ALINE.
How do you ensure exceptional user experiences? Audrey: First, listen! Be curious, ask questions, get to know the users —what they like and what they don’t like. When someone brings up a problem they want solved, keep asking, “why?” until you get to the deeper problem. Then you solve THAT.
Evelina: It all starts with understanding the people who use our products. We stay in constant contact with our users through visits, interviews, surveys, and feedback tools to learn about their experiences. We want to understand how they use our products, what processes they follow, what works well, and where we can improve. Sometimes, we even explore tasks they perform outside of our software and ask, ”How can we make our products help with that too?”
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Thank you Evelina and Audrey for sharing your experiences and giving us a glimpse into the hard work, creativity, and collaboration behind the project so far. We look forward to seeing how it continues to evolve!
Want to learn more about our team and what drives us? Visit our About Us page for more.
