Redesigning the “E-Signature” Experience for Phones
Overview
SELISE Signature is a secure e-signature platform that allows businesses to embed digital signing into their workflows. With third-party integrations and qualified e-signatures, it offers a robust signing experience. This short case study highlights one of the most challenging parts of the product’s evolution: adapting the ‘Prepare Document’ workflow for mobile devices. Originally designed with desktop interactions in mind—particularly a drag-and-drop interface optimized for web—the experience had to be reimagined into a fluid, mobile-native flow.
The Challenge
Redesigning SELISE Signature to be responsive was a core part of the product revamp. While many parts of the app adapted easily to mobile, But one page gave us real trouble: the “Prepare Document” page. This page is where users assign signatories and place fields—like signature, date, input boxes—directly on the document. On desktop, this is done through a drag-and-drop interface. With a full-width canvas and sidebar tools, users enjoy a smooth, visual experience. But translating that to mobile? That was an entirely different challenge.
First Attempt: Responsive, But Cramped
When we initially tackled mobile, our intention was straightforward: take the desktop “Prepare Document” page—complete with toolbars, floating panels, drag-and-drop mechanics—and scale it down responsively. In theory, it checked all the boxes: the layout looked like the desktop version, buttons and menus still appeared, and all functions were present. Yet, in practice, this approach introduced two major issues:
In usability tests, we noticed that users often hesitated, zoomed in and out, or completely abandoned the page—frustrated that they couldn’t comfortably manipulate even small fields on a compact screen. This was a clear sign that mobile needed a fundamentally different interaction model, not just scaled components.
Pivoting to Adaptive Design
We stopped shrinking. We started rethinking. Realizing that the problem wasn’t just layout, but interaction, we shifted to an adaptive design. Instead of modifying the desktop flow, we created a mobile-native experience built for touch gestures, limited screen space, and fast interactions.
The New Mobile Workflow
A smooth, focused experience for mobile users.
Why it works
Interaction designed for real mobile behavior. More Document Visibility: With the drawer hidden, users see nearly the full page at once. No Dragging Required: Dragging is clunky on mobile. Tapping is fast and accurate. Focused Steps: Field selection and placement are broken into small, intuitive actions.
Outcome
From frustration to fluidity. This redesign transformed the most complex workflow in the app into one of the most delightful—on any device. Users can now confidently prepare, tag, and send documents entirely from their phones. Faster onboarding. Fewer errors. Higher mobile engagement.
