Clayton Farr

FORGECase study

Shaping the product and the way it’s built

Forge supports assessment, selection, and ongoing development. As its fractional design lead, I help shape the product and develop the team’s design judgment.

Relationship
Ongoing Design Partnership
My Role
Product shaping, UX, UI, code
Working With
Founder, domain experts, engineers

I help Forge turn deep assessment expertise into clear product choices and usable software.

Alongside hands-on design, I’m developing a modern design system that gives engineers and their AI tools clear guidance on what to use, when, and why.

01Shape the ProductConnect actions to outcomes

Assessments could measure many things. The question was which were worth measuring.

  • Help define what mattersWorking with Forge’s experts, I helped refine an approach that translates what organizations want in their people into specific outcomes and supporting behaviors.
  • Connect behaviors to evidenceWe connected each behavior to evidence from tasks and surveys, including observed performance, scores, and feedback. That connection makes clear what each assessment measures and why it matters.
  • Interpret results in contextFrameworks organize results around the organization’s roles, capabilities, and cultural expectations. The same evidence can then answer different questions about a person’s readiness or development.
FORGE Outcomes & Behaviors JD
MenuSquadron Leader
Framework

Squadron Leader

Role
···
Outcomes 0Details+ Add Outcomes
+ Define an Outcome

Suggested Outcomes

Sound judgment

“Makes sound decisions with the information available.”

Ready people

“People have the skills and support to carry out their work.”

Clear priorities

“People know which work matters most.”

Learning from setbacks

“Uses setbacks to improve the next attempt.”

Define what success means for your people.

02Interpret the EvidencePresent results in context

Scores summarized performance. Understanding fit, progress, and readiness required a broader view.

  • Keep the meaning intactWorking with Forge’s experts, I helped shape how scores were presented to make their meaning and supporting evidence clear.
  • Match the view to the questionWe explored views for selecting people for a role, reviewing performance, and understanding readiness across a group. Each called for a different way to organize the evidence.
  • Show development over timeI explored ways to show how a person’s assessed behaviors changed over time, bringing their progress and current standing into one view.
FORGEReviewJD
FrameworksAssessmentsSurveys

Review performance across roles, readiness, and culture.

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Roles

Flight Commander Average 1 to below 1.1: 0 membersAverage 1.1 to below 1.2: 0 membersAverage 1.2 to below 1.3: 0 membersAverage 1.3 to below 1.4: 0 membersAverage 1.4 to below 1.5: 0 membersAverage 1.5 to below 1.6: 0 membersAverage 1.6 to below 1.7: 2 membersAverage 1.7 to below 1.8: 1 membersAverage 1.8 to below 1.9: 1 membersAverage 1.9 to below 2: 5 membersAverage 2 to below 2.1: 6 membersAverage 2.1 to below 2.2: 7 membersAverage 2.2 to below 2.3: 11 membersAverage 2.3 to below 2.4: 10 membersAverage 2.4 to below 2.5: 14 membersAverage 2.5 to below 2.6: 8 membersAverage 2.6 to below 2.7: 10 membersAverage 2.7 to below 2.8: 10 membersAverage 2.8 to below 2.9: 10 membersAverage 2.9 to below 3: 8 membersAverage 3 to below 3.1: 13 membersAverage 3.1 to below 3.2: 14 membersAverage 3.2 to below 3.3: 18 membersAverage 3.3 to below 3.4: 34 membersAverage 3.4 to below 3.5: 27 membersAverage 3.5 to below 3.6: 35 membersAverage 3.6 to below 3.7: 29 membersAverage 3.7 to below 3.8: 29 membersAverage 3.8 to below 3.9: 32 membersAverage 3.9 to below 4: 23 membersAverage 4 to below 4.1: 23 membersAverage 4.1 to below 4.2: 14 membersAverage 4.2 to below 4.3: 23 membersAverage 4.3 to below 4.4: 10 membersAverage 4.4 to below 4.5: 4 membersAverage 4.5 to below 4.6: 7 membersAverage 4.6 to below 4.7: 6 membersAverage 4.7 to below 4.8: 4 membersAverage 4.8 to below 4.9: 3 membersAverage 4.9 to 5: 0 members 451
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Operations Lead Average 1 to below 1.1: 0 membersAverage 1.1 to below 1.2: 0 membersAverage 1.2 to below 1.3: 0 membersAverage 1.3 to below 1.4: 0 membersAverage 1.4 to below 1.5: 0 membersAverage 1.5 to below 1.6: 0 membersAverage 1.6 to below 1.7: 1 membersAverage 1.7 to below 1.8: 2 membersAverage 1.8 to below 1.9: 3 membersAverage 1.9 to below 2: 1 membersAverage 2 to below 2.1: 2 membersAverage 2.1 to below 2.2: 2 membersAverage 2.2 to below 2.3: 4 membersAverage 2.3 to below 2.4: 4 membersAverage 2.4 to below 2.5: 7 membersAverage 2.5 to below 2.6: 14 membersAverage 2.6 to below 2.7: 16 membersAverage 2.7 to below 2.8: 18 membersAverage 2.8 to below 2.9: 18 membersAverage 2.9 to below 3: 15 membersAverage 3 to below 3.1: 21 membersAverage 3.1 to below 3.2: 18 membersAverage 3.2 to below 3.3: 17 membersAverage 3.3 to below 3.4: 16 membersAverage 3.4 to below 3.5: 11 membersAverage 3.5 to below 3.6: 22 membersAverage 3.6 to below 3.7: 10 membersAverage 3.7 to below 3.8: 13 membersAverage 3.8 to below 3.9: 19 membersAverage 3.9 to below 4: 19 membersAverage 4 to below 4.1: 28 membersAverage 4.1 to below 4.2: 30 membersAverage 4.2 to below 4.3: 30 membersAverage 4.3 to below 4.4: 23 membersAverage 4.4 to below 4.5: 25 membersAverage 4.5 to below 4.6: 10 membersAverage 4.6 to below 4.7: 10 membersAverage 4.7 to below 4.8: 6 membersAverage 4.8 to below 4.9: 4 membersAverage 4.9 to 5: 0 members 439
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Squadron Leader Average 1 to below 1.1: 0 membersAverage 1.1 to below 1.2: 0 membersAverage 1.2 to below 1.3: 0 membersAverage 1.3 to below 1.4: 1 membersAverage 1.4 to below 1.5: 0 membersAverage 1.5 to below 1.6: 0 membersAverage 1.6 to below 1.7: 1 membersAverage 1.7 to below 1.8: 2 membersAverage 1.8 to below 1.9: 0 membersAverage 1.9 to below 2: 0 membersAverage 2 to below 2.1: 8 membersAverage 2.1 to below 2.2: 1 membersAverage 2.2 to below 2.3: 8 membersAverage 2.3 to below 2.4: 6 membersAverage 2.4 to below 2.5: 9 membersAverage 2.5 to below 2.6: 3 membersAverage 2.6 to below 2.7: 11 membersAverage 2.7 to below 2.8: 18 membersAverage 2.8 to below 2.9: 11 membersAverage 2.9 to below 3: 17 membersAverage 3 to below 3.1: 23 membersAverage 3.1 to below 3.2: 18 membersAverage 3.2 to below 3.3: 30 membersAverage 3.3 to below 3.4: 38 membersAverage 3.4 to below 3.5: 33 membersAverage 3.5 to below 3.6: 30 membersAverage 3.6 to below 3.7: 31 membersAverage 3.7 to below 3.8: 17 membersAverage 3.8 to below 3.9: 26 membersAverage 3.9 to below 4: 12 membersAverage 4 to below 4.1: 18 membersAverage 4.1 to below 4.2: 29 membersAverage 4.2 to below 4.3: 31 membersAverage 4.3 to below 4.4: 5 membersAverage 4.4 to below 4.5: 0 membersAverage 4.5 to below 4.6: 10 membersAverage 4.6 to below 4.7: 2 membersAverage 4.7 to below 4.8: 0 membersAverage 4.8 to below 4.9: 0 membersAverage 4.9 to 5: 0 members 449
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Training Lead Average 1 to below 1.1: 0 membersAverage 1.1 to below 1.2: 0 membersAverage 1.2 to below 1.3: 0 membersAverage 1.3 to below 1.4: 0 membersAverage 1.4 to below 1.5: 0 membersAverage 1.5 to below 1.6: 0 membersAverage 1.6 to below 1.7: 0 membersAverage 1.7 to below 1.8: 0 membersAverage 1.8 to below 1.9: 0 membersAverage 1.9 to below 2: 1 membersAverage 2 to below 2.1: 0 membersAverage 2.1 to below 2.2: 2 membersAverage 2.2 to below 2.3: 4 membersAverage 2.3 to below 2.4: 4 membersAverage 2.4 to below 2.5: 4 membersAverage 2.5 to below 2.6: 6 membersAverage 2.6 to below 2.7: 10 membersAverage 2.7 to below 2.8: 16 membersAverage 2.8 to below 2.9: 15 membersAverage 2.9 to below 3: 22 membersAverage 3 to below 3.1: 21 membersAverage 3.1 to below 3.2: 15 membersAverage 3.2 to below 3.3: 13 membersAverage 3.3 to below 3.4: 27 membersAverage 3.4 to below 3.5: 28 membersAverage 3.5 to below 3.6: 26 membersAverage 3.6 to below 3.7: 26 membersAverage 3.7 to below 3.8: 22 membersAverage 3.8 to below 3.9: 40 membersAverage 3.9 to below 4: 35 membersAverage 4 to below 4.1: 33 membersAverage 4.1 to below 4.2: 20 membersAverage 4.2 to below 4.3: 21 membersAverage 4.3 to below 4.4: 15 membersAverage 4.4 to below 4.5: 12 membersAverage 4.5 to below 4.6: 9 membersAverage 4.6 to below 4.7: 5 membersAverage 4.7 to below 4.8: 4 membersAverage 4.8 to below 4.9: 1 membersAverage 4.9 to 5: 0 members 457
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Readiness

Operational Readiness Average 1 to below 1.1: 0 membersAverage 1.1 to below 1.2: 0 membersAverage 1.2 to below 1.3: 0 membersAverage 1.3 to below 1.4: 0 membersAverage 1.4 to below 1.5: 0 membersAverage 1.5 to below 1.6: 0 membersAverage 1.6 to below 1.7: 0 membersAverage 1.7 to below 1.8: 0 membersAverage 1.8 to below 1.9: 0 membersAverage 1.9 to below 2: 1 membersAverage 2 to below 2.1: 0 membersAverage 2.1 to below 2.2: 2 membersAverage 2.2 to below 2.3: 0 membersAverage 2.3 to below 2.4: 4 membersAverage 2.4 to below 2.5: 2 membersAverage 2.5 to below 2.6: 4 membersAverage 2.6 to below 2.7: 2 membersAverage 2.7 to below 2.8: 7 membersAverage 2.8 to below 2.9: 5 membersAverage 2.9 to below 3: 4 membersAverage 3 to below 3.1: 7 membersAverage 3.1 to below 3.2: 6 membersAverage 3.2 to below 3.3: 4 membersAverage 3.3 to below 3.4: 11 membersAverage 3.4 to below 3.5: 6 membersAverage 3.5 to below 3.6: 14 membersAverage 3.6 to below 3.7: 16 membersAverage 3.7 to below 3.8: 19 membersAverage 3.8 to below 3.9: 29 membersAverage 3.9 to below 4: 44 membersAverage 4 to below 4.1: 44 membersAverage 4.1 to below 4.2: 52 membersAverage 4.2 to below 4.3: 48 membersAverage 4.3 to below 4.4: 45 membersAverage 4.4 to below 4.5: 26 membersAverage 4.5 to below 4.6: 26 membersAverage 4.6 to below 4.7: 19 membersAverage 4.7 to below 4.8: 10 membersAverage 4.8 to below 4.9: 4 membersAverage 4.9 to 5: 2 members 463
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Deployment Readiness Average 1 to below 1.1: 0 membersAverage 1.1 to below 1.2: 0 membersAverage 1.2 to below 1.3: 0 membersAverage 1.3 to below 1.4: 0 membersAverage 1.4 to below 1.5: 0 membersAverage 1.5 to below 1.6: 0 membersAverage 1.6 to below 1.7: 0 membersAverage 1.7 to below 1.8: 0 membersAverage 1.8 to below 1.9: 0 membersAverage 1.9 to below 2: 0 membersAverage 2 to below 2.1: 0 membersAverage 2.1 to below 2.2: 0 membersAverage 2.2 to below 2.3: 0 membersAverage 2.3 to below 2.4: 0 membersAverage 2.4 to below 2.5: 1 membersAverage 2.5 to below 2.6: 0 membersAverage 2.6 to below 2.7: 0 membersAverage 2.7 to below 2.8: 3 membersAverage 2.8 to below 2.9: 8 membersAverage 2.9 to below 3: 8 membersAverage 3 to below 3.1: 13 membersAverage 3.1 to below 3.2: 20 membersAverage 3.2 to below 3.3: 35 membersAverage 3.3 to below 3.4: 25 membersAverage 3.4 to below 3.5: 25 membersAverage 3.5 to below 3.6: 28 membersAverage 3.6 to below 3.7: 26 membersAverage 3.7 to below 3.8: 14 membersAverage 3.8 to below 3.9: 19 membersAverage 3.9 to below 4: 14 membersAverage 4 to below 4.1: 22 membersAverage 4.1 to below 4.2: 23 membersAverage 4.2 to below 4.3: 29 membersAverage 4.3 to below 4.4: 30 membersAverage 4.4 to below 4.5: 36 membersAverage 4.5 to below 4.6: 27 membersAverage 4.6 to below 4.7: 11 membersAverage 4.7 to below 4.8: 20 membersAverage 4.8 to below 4.9: 8 membersAverage 4.9 to 5: 2 members 447
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Culture

Learning Culture Average 1 to below 1.1: 0 membersAverage 1.1 to below 1.2: 0 membersAverage 1.2 to below 1.3: 0 membersAverage 1.3 to below 1.4: 0 membersAverage 1.4 to below 1.5: 0 membersAverage 1.5 to below 1.6: 0 membersAverage 1.6 to below 1.7: 0 membersAverage 1.7 to below 1.8: 2 membersAverage 1.8 to below 1.9: 0 membersAverage 1.9 to below 2: 4 membersAverage 2 to below 2.1: 1 membersAverage 2.1 to below 2.2: 3 membersAverage 2.2 to below 2.3: 7 membersAverage 2.3 to below 2.4: 3 membersAverage 2.4 to below 2.5: 6 membersAverage 2.5 to below 2.6: 9 membersAverage 2.6 to below 2.7: 13 membersAverage 2.7 to below 2.8: 10 membersAverage 2.8 to below 2.9: 13 membersAverage 2.9 to below 3: 19 membersAverage 3 to below 3.1: 18 membersAverage 3.1 to below 3.2: 20 membersAverage 3.2 to below 3.3: 13 membersAverage 3.3 to below 3.4: 28 membersAverage 3.4 to below 3.5: 26 membersAverage 3.5 to below 3.6: 28 membersAverage 3.6 to below 3.7: 28 membersAverage 3.7 to below 3.8: 27 membersAverage 3.8 to below 3.9: 26 membersAverage 3.9 to below 4: 35 membersAverage 4 to below 4.1: 20 membersAverage 4.1 to below 4.2: 23 membersAverage 4.2 to below 4.3: 23 membersAverage 4.3 to below 4.4: 14 membersAverage 4.4 to below 4.5: 12 membersAverage 4.5 to below 4.6: 8 membersAverage 4.6 to below 4.7: 11 membersAverage 4.7 to below 4.8: 7 membersAverage 4.8 to below 4.9: 5 membersAverage 4.9 to 5: 9 members 471
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Shared Responsibility Average 1 to below 1.1: 0 membersAverage 1.1 to below 1.2: 0 membersAverage 1.2 to below 1.3: 0 membersAverage 1.3 to below 1.4: 0 membersAverage 1.4 to below 1.5: 0 membersAverage 1.5 to below 1.6: 0 membersAverage 1.6 to below 1.7: 0 membersAverage 1.7 to below 1.8: 0 membersAverage 1.8 to below 1.9: 0 membersAverage 1.9 to below 2: 0 membersAverage 2 to below 2.1: 0 membersAverage 2.1 to below 2.2: 0 membersAverage 2.2 to below 2.3: 0 membersAverage 2.3 to below 2.4: 0 membersAverage 2.4 to below 2.5: 0 membersAverage 2.5 to below 2.6: 1 membersAverage 2.6 to below 2.7: 0 membersAverage 2.7 to below 2.8: 0 membersAverage 2.8 to below 2.9: 3 membersAverage 2.9 to below 3: 4 membersAverage 3 to below 3.1: 3 membersAverage 3.1 to below 3.2: 3 membersAverage 3.2 to below 3.3: 5 membersAverage 3.3 to below 3.4: 7 membersAverage 3.4 to below 3.5: 2 membersAverage 3.5 to below 3.6: 1 membersAverage 3.6 to below 3.7: 7 membersAverage 3.7 to below 3.8: 5 membersAverage 3.8 to below 3.9: 5 membersAverage 3.9 to below 4: 11 membersAverage 4 to below 4.1: 26 membersAverage 4.1 to below 4.2: 37 membersAverage 4.2 to below 4.3: 40 membersAverage 4.3 to below 4.4: 67 membersAverage 4.4 to below 4.5: 53 membersAverage 4.5 to below 4.6: 65 membersAverage 4.6 to below 4.7: 45 membersAverage 4.7 to below 4.8: 34 membersAverage 4.8 to below 4.9: 21 membersAverage 4.9 to 5: 13 members 458
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Review performance across roles, readiness, and culture.

03Develop Design JudgmentScale design with production

AI helps engineers build more, faster. Design systems must give them and their tools more than components.

  • Make design rationale explicitI codified core UX and UI principles to explain why different approaches fit different tasks, giving engineers and their AI tools clear criteria for design choices.
  • Connect patterns to their reasoningI documented Forge’s product patterns, what each solves, and when and why to use it, so the team could apply and adapt them without losing the original design intent.
  • Ground decisions in product contextWith Forge’s team, I’m capturing customer and business needs, prior decisions, and the assumptions behind them. This connects new work to what we know, what we’ve decided, and what remains uncertain.

Every build carries design decisions.

What changed for Forge’s team

From an ongoing design partnership

Clearer product direction. Stronger design judgment. We translated assessment expertise into product choices the team could build on.

  • Ideas made tangible

    Working prototypes gave us a way to examine the assessment model together and refine how it should work.

  • A broader approach to results

    We expanded the reporting approach beyond aggregate scores to address selection, performance, and development.

  • Design judgment carried into new work

    I’ve seen engineers make stronger design choices independently, supported by shared patterns and the reasoning behind them.

Want to explore the thinking behind the work? I’ll walk you through it