Date
2024 (ongoing)
Role
UI UX Designer
Design soundtrack
🛠️ Still under development, may be incomplete
Introduction: The Challenge
When I joined the team as the sole UI/UX designer, the Atlantic SENSE platform was already functional—but far from user-friendly. Initially designed by developers with no design expertise, the platform lacked clarity and accessibility.
My task was to rethink and redesign this platform into an intuitive and visually compelling tool.
Initial Discovery: Understanding the Problem
The first step was to understand what had been done and why. The platform presented users with a map and a sidebar listing various datasets—Thermal Fronts, Marine Heat Wave Intensity, Water Temperature, and more. Each dataset came with dense technical descriptions, requiring significant scientific knowledge to interpret.
I conducted UX research to uncover the platform’s challenges:
User Interviews
I spoke with internal colleagues, many of whom struggled with the platform's usability
Usability Testing
Observing interactions with the existing platform revealed critical pain points, including overwhelming information, unclear navigation, and a lack of visual aids
Stakeholder Input
I questioned management about the target audience, which was initially defined as "everyone." This vague direction became a key issue to address
Findings: Who Are We Designing For?
Through additional research and interviews, I identified three potential user groups:
The General Public
Interested, but overwhelmed by the platform's advanced features. Easier to use apps like Windy
Oceanographers
Familiar with complex platforms but already using tools like Copernicus Marine
Decision-Makers
Benefit from simplified, actionable insights but relied on consultants who used less sophisticated tools
After presenting my findings, we reached a consensus: the platform could not effectively serve all these audiences. Instead, it would be repositioned as a storefront demo—a tool to showcase our capabilities in producing high-quality data models and user-friendly platforms, targeting organisations and potential collaborators.
With this new focus, I began redesigning the platform based on the feedback collected during my research. The goal was to make the interface simple, visually appealing, and intuitive, even for non-experts.
After presenting my findings, we reached a consensus: the platform could not effectively serve all these audiences. Instead, it would be repositioned as a storefront demo—a tool to showcase our capabilities in producing high-quality data models and user-friendly platforms, targeting organisations and potential collaborators.
Key Changes in the First Redesign
Top menu
— Processes: check all the downloads status (something to be added later)
— Add layers: select which layers will appear on the map. Here they are organised by dataset and have filters to prepare for large quantities of data
— Active layers: layers selected by the user on "Add layers", where users can change their parameters, such as color, opacity, depth, etc.
— Baselayer: option to change the base map
— User: option to have an account with preferences
— Help: about the project, FAQ and contacts