Case Study

I.
Project Overview

Vela helps casual water-sports users make safe go/no-go decisions with real-time conditions and calm, personalized signals.

Duration: 8 weeks
Role: UX Designer (end-to-end)
Tools: Figma, Lucid, Adobe CC

Key UX Decisions

Decisions informed by outdoor usability testing to reduce uncertainty in real-world use.

II.
Challenge & Goal

How might we help casual users decide safely outdoors—without overwhelming them with fragmented, technical weather data?

Challenge

Existing apps are cluttered and pro-oriented, and can feel unreliable in coastal or low-connectivity contexts.

Goal

Deliver real-time wind/wave conditions with user-controlled, calm signals in an interface that supports quick, confident decisions outdoors.

III.
UX Process

I focused on decision confidence outdoors. I prioritized usability findings by severity and frequency to ship the highest-impact fixes for one-handed outdoor use.

Key Insights

Across 7 interviews, open card sorting, and competitor review, a consistent pattern emerged: the problem wasn’t missing data—it was decision confidence.

Interpretation is the real pain:
Raw wind/wave numbers without context increase hesitation.
Fragmentation drives stress:
Users jump between apps and sources to feel confident.
Beginner confidence drops fast:
Technical UI and weak onboarding lead to early abandonment.
Signals beat alarms:
Users want calm, timely prompts—not urgent, stressful alerts.

Persona

Naomi Rossi, 30 — a Sardinia-based travel guide who needs fast, location-aware marine conditions while supporting beginners outdoors.

Wireframing & Prototyping

I used rapid prototyping in Figma to validate navigation, comprehension, and one-handed use before visual polish.

Low-fidelity wireframe — Low Fidelity: Focused on layout & structure

Mid-fidelity wireframe — Mid Fidelity: Added content, flows, and interactivity

High-fidelity UI — High Fidelity: Visual polish, typography & icons

Usability Testing

I ran remote and field usability tests and prioritized issues by severity and frequency. The highest-impact fixes improved clarity and confidence.

Label confusion:
“Alert” → “Vela Signal” to reduce anxiety and clarify meaning.
Scroll-hidden controls:
Replaced with a sticky bottom nav bar for persistent access.
Uncertain taps:
Added ripple effects and micro-animations for confirmation.
Unclear wording:
Reworded using localized, accessible language.
Ambiguous tap targets:
Improved visual affordances and touch zones.

A/B Testing

A/B tested onboarding copy. Version B won (7 vs 3) for speed and approachability → final hybrid adopted B’s tone with essential details.

Iteration highlights — Onboarding Screen A/B Test.

IV.
Key Screens

Key moments designed to reduce uncertainty and build trust in outdoor decisions.

Onboarding

A calm, step-by-step start that builds confidence from the first screen.

Vela Signal

A calmer alternative to alerts. Personalized thresholds support confident decisions.

Interactive Flow

From onboarding to custom alert setup

V.
Design Principle

Empowering, not alarming. Vela reduces stress while improving clarity and control.

Calm visual language:
Restrained tones and friendly iconography to build trust.
Supportive microcopy:
Clear, reassuring language such as “Vela Signal” instead of “Alert”.
User-controlled thresholds:
Signals and notifications that match personal comfort levels.

This approach improved comprehension and reduced hesitation in testing.

VI.
Reflection

Vela reinforced a core lesson: trust is built through clarity. I focused on Simplicity, Immediacy, and Consistency.

Language shapes trust:
“Alert” to “Vela Signal” improved clarity and reduced anxiety.
Context reveals real needs:
Outdoor testing surfaced accessibility and one handed use issues.
Simplicity is earned:
Iteration turned complex data into calm, actionable signals.