Project Background
Databricks is redesigning the permissions management experience in Unity Catalog to reduce admin errors and make fine-grained access controls easier to configure. You are the UX/UI Designer embedded with a cross-functional team responsible for shipping the new experience in 10 weeks ahead of a customer advisory preview at the Data + AI Summit.
The working team includes 1 designer (you), 4 frontend engineers, 3 backend engineers, 1 product manager, 1 UX researcher, and 1 QA lead. The project is already in progress: research and early concepts are done, but engineering has raised concerns that several interaction details in the latest Figma files may be difficult to implement within the timeline.
Key Stakeholders
- Product Manager wants the redesign launched on time to support an executive roadmap commitment.
- Engineering Manager wants to minimize rework and avoid introducing instability into existing Unity Catalog admin flows.
- Design Director expects a polished, high-quality experience that reflects Databricks design standards.
- Field Engineering / Solutions Architects want a usable preview for 8 design partner customers who frequently manage complex workspace permissions.
These stakeholders have competing priorities: speed to launch, implementation quality, and scope control.
Constraints
- Timeline: 10 weeks to preview, 14 weeks to GA decision
- Budget: No additional headcount; only $35,000 available for external usability testing and design QA support
- Dependencies: Backend API updates for inheritance rules available in Week 5; design system component updates available in Week 4
- Scope: Must support 3 core admin workflows at preview; nice-to-have bulk actions can slip
Complications
- Two frontend engineers are shared with the Databricks SQL team and only available 50% for the next 6 weeks.
- A late accessibility review found that the proposed permissions matrix pattern may not meet keyboard navigation requirements.
- One enterprise customer has already been shown the high-fidelity prototype and expects parity in the preview build.
Your Task
- Create an execution plan for how you would work side-by-side with engineers from design handoff through launch.
- Define how you would prioritize implementation quality issues versus timeline risk.
- Propose a communication and review cadence with PM, engineering, and design leadership.
- Identify the top risks to design fidelity and delivery, with mitigation plans.
- Recommend launch criteria for the preview and what should be deferred to GA.
