Turning complex forecasting into an easy and enjoyable experience

Forecast mobile app for Vela

Role | Project lead, UX research, design and testing

The challenge

I discovered through user research that users’ confidence in using forecast platforms and understanding terms or metrics is low.

Why is this important?

  • This could lead users to feel negatively toward the product, such as frustration, which damages their confidence and trust in Vela

  • This could also steer users to go to other platforms to find the forecast information they need

Goals

After conducting user research, three main pain points emerged from potential users:

  1. Difficulty finding information due to disorganized platform navigation

  2. Frustration understanding certain forecasts and how it can impact safety and planning

  3. Lack of map or visual features

Considerations and constraints

I was tasked with conducting shorter tests to gather insights and deliver quick wins

Solution

Vela’s app allows users to easily view and interpret forecasts they need to make safe plans

  1. Real-time map visual
    Providing a focal visual point that is in sync with real-time forecast data allows users to stay up-to-date on current conditions and any notable impacts, increasing usage and reliability of the app

  2. Caution pop-ups
    The addition of caution notices empowers users to make safer choices as they plan for excursions or jobs on the water.

  3. Simplistic navigation bar
    Having a simple navigation system decreases cognitive load, allowing users to easily work through the app and meet their goals.

Success metrics

  • Ease of user task completion

  • Increase in user confidence

  • How? User testing

I arranged and ran facilitated user tests to get feedback and find out where users struggle with given tasks.

Key findings

  • Users struggled to correctly navigate and identify tabs

  • Users voiced they struggled with general visibility, particularly with the menu bar and caution pop ups

“I was able to figure out the general navigation around the app but felt hesitant most of the times.” - Patrick

“I got confused when I first thought to select 'forecasts' when searching for location instead of the search icon” - Christine

“The caution and warning pop ups did not initially catch my eye.” - Michelle

User feedback is key to delivering the best solutions that meet user needs and goals. Due to having to meet set deadlines, I used Jakob Nielsen’s severity scale to rate the severity of issues to prioritize design iterations.

Users struggled to find a bookmarked location so I changed the icon and label to make it more intuitive

When directed to search for a specific location on the map, users selected the search icon located at the top versus the search icon located in the navigation bar, so I removed the top search function to leave little to no room for user confusion and frustration

It was noted that there needed to be a higher contrast of the current tab indicator to allow for clearer identification. The indicator color was changed from a muted blue to a white.

The caution pop-up was pointed out to be difficult to see and read. It was made larger and repositioned a few spaces lower to increase visibility.

Further testing after making updates showed more positive sentiments and results from users.

  • There was a significant decrease in confusion while completing tasks

  • Users emphasized their appreciation for simplicity and readability of the platform

“I feel more confident in my ability to move around the app!” - Christine

“I was no longer confused with the functions of the different tabs, especially the search feature.” - Brandon

“I love the simple and intuitive nature of this app.” - Patrick

Key learnings

  • Enhanced user experience and trust justify implementing improvements

  • UI is integral to the UX of this customer journey