Custom Fields for Flexible Time Tracking
Client
7pace | Appfire
Role
Lead Product Designer
Year
2024
Context
I designed Custom Fields for 7pace across Azure DevOps, Jira, and monday.com, aligning three different ecosystems under a consistent product experience. The feature needed to support both configuration by managers and daily use by teams during time logging.
Problem
Time tracking captured time, but not meaning. Teams needed to track dimensions like work type, cost allocation, or internal categories, yet the system was rigid and inconsistent across platforms. This led to fragmented data, unreliable reporting, and manual workarounds outside the product.
Concept
I introduced a flexible field system where managers define structured inputs tailored to their workflows, while users interact with them directly in the logging flow. The challenge was balancing flexibility with usability: keeping setup powerful but simple, and ensuring fields integrate naturally without slowing down time entry. A consistent interaction model was maintained across platforms, adapted to each environment.
Outcome
Time tracking evolved from raw logs to structured data. Teams could capture relevant context at the source, improving reporting accuracy and reducing reliance on external processes. The system also created a foundation for more advanced workflows without adding complexity to the core experience.
