OVERVIEW

I was delighted to spearhead the design of an intuitive interface tailored to accommodate a multifaceted process involving over 70 map layer artifacts. This complex product design seamlessly integrated various elements such as sliding opacity bars, toggle buttons, dropdown menus, subsection navigation, entry fields, multiple modal pop-ups, map design, and several data visualization tools. By meticulously crafting each component, the design and UX ensured a cohesive and effortless user journey, allowing for smooth navigation and interaction across the platform’s diverse functionalities.

I collaborated closely with the team at Vibrant Planet and the internal product and development team at Presence Product Group. Together we were able to launch a digital product that empowers both technical and non-technical stakeholders, facilitating swift and informed decision-making by seamlessly integrating high-resolution imaging and a multi-step data analysis interface for land management.

PROBLEM

Forest and land management data was siloed, vast, complicated to understand, and the approval process took years for stakeholders approve finalized plans—this slow process was especially highlighted after multiple megafires took place in California. The vibrant Planet team knew that they needed to modernize, transform and expedite the process immediately.

SOLUTION

Design a complex product that is easy to use for non technical and technical users. Simplify filtering and comparison tasks and provide clear planning outputs. The Land Tender digital product led to greater planning efficiency, deeper knowledge, and ultimately – megafire prevention.

IN THE MEDIA

FORBES: Megafire And New AI/ML Models For Change
“Allison Wolff CEO of Vibrant Planet talked about this at the Planetary Stewardship event, defining ‘megafire’ as a fire that burns more than 100,000 acres and has significant impacts on ecosystems and communities, and explaining why this is so important to understand if we’re going to seriously address this aspect of climate change. We have to keep fire adapted ecosystems, which are now burning severely, intact. Fire adapted ecosystems represent 53% of land on Earth and we are running out of time.” Read article

TECHCRUNCH:
“Vibrant Planet has recruited heavily from the ranks of universities and government agencies, building a team of about a dozen ecologists, foresters and geospatial experts. It has also drawn engineering talent from a range of Big Tech companies, including Facebook, Lyft and Netflix.”

THE WORK

01.     DATA AND DESIGN FOR ALL

02.     USER FRIENDLY DESIGN FOR IMPACTFUL LAND MANAGEMENT

03.     MAKING COMPLEX DATA EASY TO USE

04.     UX/UI AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION DESIGN   

01. DATA AND DESIGN FOR ALL

When land management collaboratives shared wildfire prevention-related data and potential solutions through offline methods, conflicts arose because members did not have equal access to the information and treatment plans. Land Tender aimed to democratize this process by making sure everyone could participate in planning.

UX and design was paramount because Land Tender needed to present an incredibly large amount of data – which could easily overwhelm and confuse even the savviest of users. I started from scratch working with the Vibrant Planet founding team to deeply understand all aspects of their mission, vision, and strategy.

03. MAKING COMPLEX DATA EASY TO USE

Revolutionized land management collaboration:
The Land Tender platform streamlines the approval of wildfire reduction plans, transforming a process that used to take decades into a matter of weeks.

Enhanced collaboration and efficiency:
Through thoughtful design, members on the platform can engage in real-time collaboration, optimizing forest treatment plans within minutes. This dynamic feature ensures a collective effort to mitigate wildfire risks effectively.

04. UX/UI AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION DESIGN

The initial phase of this project entailed the development of a high-fidelity prototype – outlining a comprehensive vision for the Minimum Viable Product (MVP). To expedite the discovery phase and foster rapid prototyping, we assembled an initial 3-person unit of highly experienced team members. The integration of design prototypes with real-time backend data facilitated swift proof-of-concept demonstrations.

After proof-of-concept approval, we embarked on a fast-pace process – encompassing brainstorming, design iteration, problem-solving, and MVP development in real-time. Regular daily stand-ups and weekly presentations were conducted with the Vibrant team to ensure continual alignment throughout the endeavor.

Utilizing design sprints, story points, and Figma, I crafted and refined prototypes accessible to all stakeholders, both internally and externally. This approach helped facilitate a seamless exchange of design and user experience feedback. *I should note that this project was 100% remote for all team members. It was crucial to foster a collaborative environment with clear and transparent communication during the design process.

• Enhanced Mapbox satellite imagery 

• Map Interface tools

• Map layer color presentation

• Multi-tiered Legend

• Data modules and pop-ups

• Comparisons
-Drag and drop comparison builder
-Ability to compare side-by-side results
-multi year filtering
-PDF outputs

• Global navigation

• Account settings

• Main dashboard

• Sharing and commenting

• Quick-start guide

• Data visualization

• Multi step planning tools
-Left navigation tool
-Planning
-Scenario building
-Optimization
-Sub Optimization