Barcelona Dust Regional Center
Barcelona Dust Regional Center
The Barcelona Dust Regional Center oversees and supervises all World Meteorological Organization (WMO) efforts connected to sand and dust storms, as well as providing access to dust products and managing the work of the network of partners.
The BDRC website was completely redesigned as the project's main task. Additionally, a significant endeavour was the development of a state-of-the-art daily forecast tool. This tool empowers users to navigate the different models and the multi-model ensamble for different variables, a warning advisory system and probability maps. By facilitating the comparison of observational data against model outputs, users can gain deeper insights, as well as exploring observational products.
Barcelona Dust Regional Center Redesign
The project's objectives were concentrated on elevating the user experience and facilitating better access to information through the BDRC website and provide the users with a tool to explore daily forecast data. How might we design an intuitive experience for the wide catalogue of products and resources that the Barcelona Dust Regional Center offers?
The project's objectives were concentrated on elevating the user experience and facilitating better access to information through the BDRC website and provide the users with a tool to explore daily forecast data.
My Role: Lead product designer
Project lead: Sara Basart, Project manager: Isadora Jimenez
Development: Francesco Benincasa, Content design: Konstantina Chouta
User research
We used a variety of research approaches in our effort to create a smooth and human centered experience.
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We explored through the available literature, studies, and resources to gain important information from our first action that served as the foundation for our further research methods.
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These interviews provided us with valuable insights into the reasons that drive users' actions, the different types of users, their motivations while interacting with the data provided by the BDRC and their bigger challenges.
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We employed card sorting exercises involving diverse users as a means to gain insight into how they naturally categorized information. By observing their classification patterns, we were able to identify key challenges within the existing information architecture. This approach offered us valuable insights into users' mental models and allowed us to pinpoint areas where our information organization could be improved.
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User testing emerged as a crucial methodology that provided us with a valuable opportunity to observe how users navigated through the website and tackled various tasks. Through user testing, we gained deep insights into the motivations that drive users as well as the challenges they commonly encounter during their interactions with the website and the data provided by the BDRC.
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In this Participatory activity I facilitaded workshops where participants collaboratively developed a cardboard cutout tool to enhance their experience with the daily dust forecast. Using tangible cutouts, attendees brainstormed functionalities they desired and explored various data visualization preferences. The result was an empowering experience that highlighted the value of user-driven design and left participants with a strong sense of ownership over the tool they had crafted.
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As we progressed through the iterative design process of the product, we employed AB testing methods to assess various design variations. This approach allowed us to conduct comparative evaluations of different designs, providing a data-driven foundation for determining the optimal layout and features for the dashboard.
Concept Development:
We recognized the need of redesigning the product's information architecture to improve ease of use as an essential part of the concept development phase inside our product redesign. Guided by insights gathered from our comprehensive user experience research, we embarked on structuring distinct sections to cater to specific user needs, as well as the dashboard different iterations design.
Along with these structural improvements, a thorough service blueprint was carefully developed. This blueprint extensively mapped out the touch points through which users interact with the service. This approach allowed us to holistically design a coherent and streamlined user journey across the entire service ecosystem.
Design Process, User Testing and Feedback:
From rough ideas to low-fidelity prototypes, we went through a number of iterative processes. We tested these prototypes with real users, which allowed us to refine and develop our design solutions. Through an iterative process, we were able to carefully evaluate user interactions, collect feedback, and then adjust our design for the best possible user-friendliness.
User interface Design:
We undertook the creation of an entire branding identity. This encompassed visual elements, design motifs, and a consistent tone of communication that resonated with the product's goals and ethos. Besides the user interface design (tested with high fidelity prototypes) we also created supplementary resources, including video tutorials, were crafted to ensure users could seamlessly navigate and make the most of the enhanced offerings. Additionally, the introduction of newsletters templates aimed to keep users informed and engaged, fostering an ongoing connection and sense of community.
Final Design and Features:
Our project is currently live and operational, but it's important to note that it is far from static. The nature of our work is such that we are continuously refining and enhancing the product to better meet user needs and stay aligned with industry trends. This ongoing process of iteration and development ensures that our product remains at the forefront of innovation and delivers the best possible experience to our users.
High fidelity prototype screens
Audiovisual support material
There used to be two different websites, one focused on the operational side and the other in the research work. These are the homepage before the redesign
Visual tutorial of the Daily dust forecast tool
Launch video material