Forecast Pro
for Weather Safety
The Problem
Emergency preparedness managers require map-integrated weather and asset alerts, but existing tooltips and side panels obstruct map visibility and slow decision-making. The goal was to restructure the dashboard chassis to display contextual data efficiently without blocking critical map information.
Objectives & Goals
Integrate map and dashboard information without obscuring the map.
Simplify alerts management while maintaining flexibility for future enhancements.
Reduce interaction complexity and visual clutter.
Leverage familiar mental models to minimize user learning curve.
Design Process
Discover
Define
Ideate
Prototype
Reviewed the Weather Hub map and found tooltips and side panels blocked the map and slowed interactions. Analyzed similar products to explore alternative approaches, revealing users often had to choose between map view and detailed data.
Established the need for overlay widgets that minimize vertical space and support single-parameter alerts. Designed a flexible dashboard chassis to scale with future widgets.
Created a full-screen map prototype with side-panel widgets, then iterated to overlay widgets directly on the map. Tested single-widget focus for clarity and incorporated familiar UI patterns for easier adoption.
Final design displays one overlay widget at a time with a full-width, minimal-height timeline. Alerts use an accordion-free layout with inline editing, while notification settings use a modal. The layout scales for future parameters and additional widgets.
Business Challenges
Balancing visibility of map and widgets without overwhelming the user.
Adapting designs to backend limitations while planning for future expandability.
Ensuring consistent UX across multiple products and mental models.
Delivering iterative improvements under tight deadlines.
Target Users
Primary: Emergency Preparedness Managers
Secondary: Meteorologists, Operations Coordinators
These users need clear, real-time asset monitoring with minimal interactions.
User Needs
Map-integrated view of assets and alerts.
Efficient management of alert parameters.
Contextual information without obscuring map data.
Scalable and adaptable interface for future functionality.
Quantitative Research
Worked with product managers to review map usage and alert workflows, identifying friction points in map-overlay interactions and alerts management.
90% of users preferred overlay widgets over side panels.
80% of users wanted map visibility while accessing detailed data.
60% of users experienced confusion with multi-step alert management.
50% of users requested easier comparison of multiple alert parameters.
Product User Challenges
Map obstruction by side panels slowed decision-making.
Complex, multi-step alert management created cognitive load.
Users had to toggle between map and detail views.
Lack of scalable structure for future widgets.
Existing Product
Map with Tooltips and Side Panels
Key Items
Features: Tooltip-based asset alerts, side-panel details.
Limitations: Blocks map, high interaction cost, limited scalability.
Unique Features
Overlay widgets display one at a time to reduce clutter.
Full-width, minimal-height timeline preserves map visibility.
Inline, spreadsheet-style alert editing with modal notifications.
Scalable dashboard chassis supports future widgets and parameters.
Important
Not Important
Urgent
Map tooltips take up too much space → redesign needed
Alerts limited to one parameter per backend → redesign required
Tight deadlines for alert page retrofit
Minor padding and spacing adjustments
Remove background panel in prototype
Not Urgent
Show one map widget at a time to reduce clutter
Combine tooltip + sidebar concepts for context
Future-proof alerts for multiple parameters
Consider user feedback on widgets needed
Simplify accordion usage in alerts
Reference existing products for inspiration
Map performance improvements
Aesthetic/layout notes like timeline width