GLANSIS
GLANSIS
GLANSIS
Role
Role
UX Designer
UX Designer
SKILLS
SKILLS
UX/UI Design
Prototyping
UX/UI Design
Prototyping
Project Overview
Project Overview
Redesigning GLANSIS to make scientific data easier to find and use
Redesigning GLANSIS to make scientific data easier to find and use
GLANSIS supports state and federal managers, researchers, educators, and students seeking data on Great Lakes species and habitats. However, outdated design and poor navigation made it difficult for users to locate critical information across tools like the homepage, Species List Generator, Map Explorer, and Educator Hub.
GLANSIS supports state and federal managers, researchers, educators, and students seeking data on Great Lakes species and habitats. However, outdated design and poor navigation made it difficult for users to locate critical information across tools like the homepage, Species List Generator, Map Explorer, and Educator Hub.
The redesign focused on improving site structure, navigation, and clarity across key pages, resulting in a more intuitive and accessible experience that helps users efficiently find and understand data.
The redesign focused on improving site structure, navigation, and clarity across key pages, resulting in a more intuitive and accessible experience that helps users efficiently find and understand data.
The Current Space
The Current Space
Outdated structure and poor navigation created barriers to information access
Outdated structure and poor navigation created barriers to information access
The original GLANSIS site was over a decade old and difficult to navigate. Users struggled to locate data, tools, and resources, often abandoning the site out of frustration. The lack of clear organization limited engagement and reduced the site’s credibility as a scientific resource.
The original GLANSIS site was over a decade old and difficult to navigate. Users struggled to locate data, tools, and resources, often abandoning the site out of frustration. The lack of clear organization limited engagement and reduced the site’s credibility as a scientific resource.
SO WHAT?
SO WHAT?
Clearer navigation means faster access to data and higher user retention
Clearer navigation means faster access to data and higher user retention
The redesign reduced user friction and improved confidence in the platform. By modernizing the interface and simplifying pathways to core tools, GLANSIS can better support research and decision-making while encouraging users to return to the site.
The redesign reduced user friction and improved confidence in the platform. By modernizing the interface and simplifying pathways to core tools, GLANSIS can better support research and decision-making while encouraging users to return to the site.
THE SOLUTION
THE SOLUTION
Modernizing GLANSIS with improved structure, hierarchy, and usability
Modernizing GLANSIS with improved structure, hierarchy, and usability
The redesign introduced a streamlined layout, simplified navigation, and consistent design patterns across key pages. These updates improved information discovery, reduced search time, and made the site more effective for users managing and researching Great Lakes data.
The redesign introduced a streamlined layout, simplified navigation, and consistent design patterns across key pages. These updates improved information discovery, reduced search time, and made the site more effective for users managing and researching Great Lakes data.
RESEARCH
RESEARCH
Gathering stakeholder insights to guide targeted design improvements
Gathering stakeholder insights to guide targeted design improvements
While the project was primarily design-driven, stakeholder input from GLANSIS provided clear priorities and context. They emphasized the importance of improving navigation and readability to help users quickly access reliable scientific data. These insights guided focused design decisions that addressed usability pain points and aligned the interface with the platform’s mission.
While the project was primarily design-driven, stakeholder input from GLANSIS provided clear priorities and context. They emphasized the importance of improving navigation and readability to help users quickly access reliable scientific data. These insights guided focused design decisions that addressed usability pain points and aligned the interface with the platform’s mission.
FINAL DESIGN
FINAL DESIGN
A final design that strengthens first impressions, improves usability, and helps users find information with ease
A final design that strengthens first impressions, improves usability, and helps users find information with ease
HOME
HOME
Redesigning GLANSIS’s homepage to improve clarity and navigation
Redesigning GLANSIS’s homepage to improve clarity and navigation
The previous homepage was outdated and cluttered, making it hard for users to find key resources. The redesign introduced a cleaner layout and clearer hierarchy, improving usability and helping visitors quickly access the information they need.
The previous homepage was outdated and cluttered, making it hard for users to find key resources. The redesign introduced a cleaner layout and clearer hierarchy, improving usability and helping visitors quickly access the information they need.
SPECIES LIST GENERATOR
SPECIES LIST GENERATOR
Redesigning the Species List Generator to create a more efficient and engaging tool
Redesigning the Species List Generator to create a more efficient and engaging tool
The original form was static and visually uninviting, leading to low engagement. The updated version uses a structured, visually clear format that makes generating and exploring species data faster and more intuitive for users.
The original form was static and visually uninviting, leading to low engagement. The updated version uses a structured, visually clear format that makes generating and exploring species data faster and more intuitive for users.
Generator RESULTS
Generator RESULTS
Simplifying species results to make data easier to explore and understand
Simplifying species results to make data easier to explore and understand
The old results page relied on dense tables that overwhelmed users. The new design introduces dropdown menus and clearer categorization, making it easier to filter, browse, and focus on the most relevant species information.
The old results page relied on dense tables that overwhelmed users. The new design introduces dropdown menus and clearer categorization, making it easier to filter, browse, and focus on the most relevant species information.
DATA DICTIONARY
DATA DICTIONARY
Improving the Data Dictionary for better clarity and navigation
Improving the Data Dictionary for better clarity and navigation
The Data Dictionary was redesigned to be more visually clear and easier to navigate. Updated visuals and layout improvements help users distinguish between tools, pages, and dropdowns, making information easier to find and understand.
The Data Dictionary was redesigned to be more visually clear and easier to navigate. Updated visuals and layout improvements help users distinguish between tools, pages, and dropdowns, making information easier to find and understand.
MENU NAVIGATION
MENU NAVIGATION
Upgrading menu navigation for a more seamless cross-device experience
Upgrading menu navigation for a more seamless cross-device experience
The navigation was redesigned to improve accessibility across devices. A hamburger menu now allows users to easily switch between pages and tools on mobile, saving screen space, while a persistent navigation bar on larger screens ensures smooth movement between sections.
The navigation was redesigned to improve accessibility across devices. A hamburger menu now allows users to easily switch between pages and tools on mobile, saving screen space, while a persistent navigation bar on larger screens ensures smooth movement between sections.
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
Designing for Information-Heavy Interfaces
Designing for Information-Heavy Interfaces
Organizing complexity into clarity
Organizing complexity into clarity
GLANSIS contained an overwhelming amount of scientific data, which challenged me to organize and prioritize information effectively. I learned to balance clarity with density, ensuring users could locate what they needed without feeling overloaded.
GLANSIS contained an overwhelming amount of scientific data, which challenged me to organize and prioritize information effectively. I learned to balance clarity with density, ensuring users could locate what they needed without feeling overloaded.
Using Space Strategically
Using Space Strategically
Creating structure through hierarchy and layout
Creating structure through hierarchy and layout
With so much content competing for attention, I had to be intentional about spacing, layout, and grouping. This process taught me how to use space to guide the user’s eye and make complex information easier to scan.
With so much content competing for attention, I had to be intentional about spacing, layout, and grouping. This process taught me how to use space to guide the user’s eye and make complex information easier to scan.
Adapting Designs for Different Devices
Adapting Designs for Different Devices
Ensuring consistency across desktop and mobile
Ensuring consistency across desktop and mobile
Transitioning from desktop to mobile required simplifying complex layouts while maintaining clarity and usability. I learned how to adapt responsive designs that remain accessible, intuitive, and visually consistent across screen sizes.
Transitioning from desktop to mobile required simplifying complex layouts while maintaining clarity and usability. I learned how to adapt responsive designs that remain accessible, intuitive, and visually consistent across screen sizes.