Linked ideas in Jira
Jira Product Discovery (JPD) needed a first-party integration with Jira. It was seen as strategically critical to growth. The stated goal was a better user experience linking the two tools. The more pressing, implicit goal was a growth touchpoint. Bringing Jira users into contact with JPD to drive sign-ups. As the product and design point person, I had to untangle the two. This changed how the project got pitched and who got involved. This ultimately got an idea preview panel shipped inside the Jira issue view.
Before
The link between JPD and Jira existed. What didn't exist was a way to see what was on the other end without losing your place. Users were context-switching between tools to connect their work.
The real goal
The stated goal was a better user experience across the two tools. The actual goal surfaced through conversations, and it was to implement a critical growth touchpoint (OKRs were riding on it). It was a way to bring Jira users into contact with JPD to create a path to sign-up, and naturally, revenue.
These were two different cases to make internally. Reorienting around the growth goal changed who needed to be convinced.
Key design decisions
The Jira team had a high bar for they would accept. Getting something built meant clearing that bar. They needed to be involved, not pitched to. Working sessions and a shared Figma file changed the initial dynamic. Designing together rather than pitching at them is what got them on board.
What shipped was a dedicated section for linked ideas, and the first side panel pattern in the Jira issue view. This was a way to preview linked content without leaving the current view.
Impact
The feature shipped, which given the cross-org resistance and the number of close calls, was not a given.
The growth team got their touchpoint to experiment on. The side panel pattern also set a precent that other teams could adopt.
Reflections
The project needed someone to do the relationship work that wasn't getting done. Clarifying the goal, building the coalition, keep things moving when things hit a roadblock. The product and design work mattered, but so did everything else around it.
