Summary
The Christian National Trade Union (CNV) advocates for strong workers' rights in the Netherlands. They had two mobile apps active that warned people in the construction industry about unworkable weather conditions; one for frost and one for heat.
The Challenge
Users previously had to switch between two separate apps, each with its own set of features, resulting in fragmented information and disjointed interactions. The challenge was to integrate these apps into a single, cohesive, and user-friendly product.
As the product designer, my focus was on improving the user experience through strategic visual design. In close collaboration with a Product Owner, Project Manager, and two Engineers, I created both low and high-fidelity prototypes. Together, we guided these designs from concept to production.
Images of the splash screens and startscreens of both the heat and frost app before.
The Approach
Startscreen
The start screen was a top priority since it needed to clearly present all key information. Through user feedback, I identified two main issues: the difficulty in switching between 'location' and 'time,' and the need for a clearer visual hierarchy to improve readability.
With these insights, I sketched a visual solution to present and discuss with stakeholders.
My take on how to transform the old startscreens to a new user-friendly approach.
The Flow
With the conclusion of how the startscreen would be organised, further exploration on how the user would navigate through the app was the next step. I needed to create a clear overview of the wireflow, detailing how information could be tucked away in an organised manner.
A wireflow minimised to screentemplates needed.
The Colours
The two apps combined used a temperature scale with over 20 different colours to display measurements and actions. By merging the apps, I reduced this to 7 key messages that would be needed to communicate. We also reconsidered colour accessibility for better readability and accuracy.
Simplifying the color system to a more easy way to communicate.
User Moments
During the interviews I discovered that the users primarily using the apps in the morning, often right after waking up. To make the app more user-friendly, I introduced a Dark Mode, so the screen is less harsh on the eyes. This small adjustment has a significant impact on the user experience and had to be added to the styleguide.
The slide to convince the stakeholders to add the needed colors to the CNV styleguide.
A widget
With the current use of the app, the target audience only learns about the status when they open the app. We discussed the use of a widget that would allow users to see the weather conditions at a glance. Unfortunately, this idea was not implemented (yet), and we continued to rely on notifications instead.
Designs proposed for the app icon and possible widget.
The Final Screens
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