VELA

Bridging the gap between complex data and everyday planning.

UX UI Designer | 8 months | 2024 -2025

A mobile weather application designed to deliver simplicity, accuracy, and speed.

Developed as my second academic project, I applied the full Design Thinking process to transform complex meteorological data into an intuitive, user-centered experience.

Tools

Problem Statement

Weather apps often present a large amount of data, but fail to make it truly understandable.

Users struggle with unclear values, overloaded interfaces, and complex navigation, especially when searching for specific or future forecasts.

This leads to confusion and frustration, reducing trust in the information provided.

The Solution

VELA aims to simplify the weather experience by transforming complex data into clear, meaningful information.

The app focuses on intuitive navigation, accessible language, and dedicated sections for often misunderstood data such as UV index and allergens, helping users make informed decisions quickly and confidently.

It may be simple

The real challenge lies in turning complex data into clear and
reliable information useful in everyday life.

Pain Points

After defining the problem, I decided to start from people.

This is what I pointed out from user research as the starting pain point to build VELA in a successful way.

“Many features are not easy to understand. For example, the value 2.6 on the UV index, I don’t know what that means.”

First interview – Piotr Nowak

“The biggest annoyance in some apps is the difficulty of navigation, especially when looking for future forecasts.”

Second interview – Arnaldo Silventri

GETTING TO KNOW THE USERS

To better define needs, expectations, and behaviors,
I created two representative user personas.

No wasting time.

Hi, I’m Emily!

I am a very busy woman. My work consumes much of my time, so during the weekend, I really want to relax and have fun with my friends. I enjoy spending time with them and participating in activities.
Having a good weather application for me is a must; it is my perfect ally to plan ideas and activities with my friends.

Goals & Needs

  • Quickly check the weather for weekly planning.
  • Plan her weekend to enjoy a good moment with her friends.

Pain Points

  • Concerned about heavy battery usage from detailed maps and radar features.
  • She needs a fast and reliable app to organize activities with her friends.

Activity

  • Every day, she logs into the work platform from home.
  • She used to schedule weekends with her friends.

Care for the smaller ones.

Hi, I’m Jacob!

Jacob is a man who has to go to work from Monday to Thursday. He has to choose between his scooter and his car, and decide what kind of clothing is needed, or if he needs an umbrella.
Additionally, he has to take his son Thomas to school every day, as his wife works far from the school. Depending on whether it rains, is windy, or is hot, he decides if Thomas can go play with friends at the park.

Goals & Needs

  • Plan daily travel to work.
  • Stay updated on weather changes to dress appropriately.
  • Plan Thomas’s after-school time.

Pain Points

  • His son has a skin problem, so he needs to know the UV levels.
  • Needs high accuracy in forecasts to avoid dangerous weather conditions.

Activity

  • Almost every day he has to go to work.
  • He goes to get his son from school.

DESIGNING CLEAR PATHS

Starting from the personas, I mapped the main user flows, focusing on the most relevant goals for each user.

Special attention was given to reducing unnecessary steps and ensuring clarity at every stage, minimizing friction during navigation.

Emily Flow – Lake & Weekend

Jacob Flow – UV Exposure & Health

STRUCTURING INFORMATION

Using card sorting, I analyzed and reorganized the app’s content, removing unnecessary categories and simplifying the information architecture.

The result is a more intuitive structure that reduces cognitive load and allows users to find what they are looking for.

DESIGN, FROM MISTAKES
TO IMPROVEMENTS

The first version of Vela did not fully meet user expectations.
Testing revealed unclear paths and an interface that did not effectively communicate value.

Before: What Users Struggled With

  • Navigation felt ambiguous, making it hard to move through the app with confidence.
  • Some screens lacked a clear purpose, leaving users unsure what action to take.
  • The overall value of the experience wasn’t immediately apparent.

After — What Changed

Three key improvements:

  • Simplified core user flows to reduce confusion and make navigation faster and more intuitive.
  • Refined the visual style to strengthen hierarchy, support quick comprehension, and make the experience more distinctive and memorable.

Each change was rooted in real observations, turning early design limitations into opportunities for meaningful UX impact.

OUTCOMES

This project reinforced the importance of clarity and restraint in UX/UI design. When information is part of daily decision-making, simplicity becomes a functional requirement, not just a visual choice.