GLANSIS

GLANSIS

A one-stop shop for information about aquatic nonindigenous species in the Laurentian Great Lakes region of North America

About this project (Problem Statement)

Established in 2003, the GLANSIS website is pivotal in combating invasive species' threats, defined by Executive Order 13112, as species described as not native to a specific ecosystem. Yet, key users, from state managers to educators, face navigational inefficiencies. The glitchy search tool, outdated Species List Generator, cluttered Map Explorer, and the non-intuitive Educator Hub hinder quick data access. Given GLANSIS's crucial role, a comprehensive redesign is needed. For this project, I focused on the redesign of the Species List Generator, which allows users to put in criteria for their species and generates a list of species that meet their criteria. I designed both desktops and mobile view for the website redesign.

Timeline

Sept 2023 - Dec 2023

Role

UX Designer

Team

Individual

What I did

  • Brainstorm ideas

  • Develop (Sketches, Wireframes, Usability Tests)

  • Deliver (Low-Fidelity Prototype)

Executive Summary

In this comprehensive redesign of the GLANSIS website, I focused on enhancing user experience and functionality, while addressing key navigational challenges identified by users. My approach was grounded in user-centric design principles and informed by thorough research into current usability issues.
Key aspects of the redesign include:

  • Enhanced Functionality: I focused on revamping the Species List Generator page and the pages associated with it once users navigated through this page. By redesigning this page, I have helped better streamline the process of viewing the species list for an engaging user experience.
    Modern Aesthetic: The website's visual design has been updated with a clean, contemporary look, which not only enhances visual appeal but also improves readability and ease of use.

  • Responsive Design: Understanding the diverse range of devices used to access the website, I ensured that the redesign is fully responsive through both the mobile and desktop prototype, providing an optimal viewing experience across all platforms.

  • Key Design Decisions: I have made 3 key design decisions, which include enhanced text boxes and drop downs, making individual species box items, and implementing clickable sections in the full profile page

Current GLANSIS Website View

Desktop view of GLANSIS Home Page

Mobile View of Species List Generator Page

Key Design Decisions

Design Decision 1: Enhanced Text Boxes, Dropdowns, Popup

To improve user interaction, text boxes and dropdowns have been enlarged, occupying most of the screen for easier typing and navigation. Each text box and drop down box are the same length for user aesthetic purposes and user accessibility (as seen in the image).

Design Decision 2: Individual Species Box Items

Replacing the traditional table from the species list generator, species are now presented as individual box items with photos. Clicking on a photo reveals a popup with a brief overview and an option to view the full profile, enhancing user engagement. Image on the left shows the desktop view of the species generated from the species list generator. Image on the right shows a mobile view of the same page, but with a popup overview of the species after clicking on the image

Design Decision 3: Full Profile Page with Clickable Sections

The full profile page features clickable sections for in-depth descriptions, reducing scrolling and allowing users to focus on information of interest. Image on the left shows a desktop view of the full profile page, with the rectangle options for users to click and see more information. The image on the right shows a mobile view of what it would look like after the user clicks on the Maps button, and what it would display.