Redesigning Complot's Urban GIS
Platform
Web App | B2G & B2B
Role
Product Designer
Employer
One City
Client
Complot
year
2025
Overview
The old GIS
Research
Insights
Iterations
New design
Overview
About GISNET
GISNET is a geospatial information system for local authorities, professionals, and residents, providing an interactive map to view, manage, and analyze civic data. Its professional users include: civil engineers, architects, urban planners, security and emergency managers, strategic advisors, and Urban Visual Enhancement.
About The Project
This project was a complete redesign of Complot's Urban GIS platform. I have worked as a key product designer on a two-person design team along with Complot's developers.
The old GIS
While the existing GIS platform's core capabilities were powerful, its outdated interface and complex workflows presented a significant challenge to user efficiency.
Like many legacy systems, its functionality had grown haphazardly over time, burying important actions and creating a dense navigation. This inconsistent experience led to a steep learning curve and user frustration, particularly for new and less-technical users.
Visually-Heavy Interface
1.
The existing architecture created visual overload, making it harder to process information quickly.
Non-Intuitive User Flows
2.
Navigation patterns varied between modules, causing disorientation.
Long-Time Users Habbits
3.
Maintain a sense of familiarity while modernizing UX.
Map Could Not Be Altered
4.
Resource limitations prevented changes to the map symbology.
Goals
The goal was to unify the interface with a clear, structured hierarchy to resolve inconsistencies in design patterns, and make the system accessible to professional teams, city employees, and citizens, while modernizing the design for improved usability.
Research & Discovery
We kicked things off by mapping the entire system to get a clear picture of the project’s scope and a feel for its contents. From there, we reviewed and analyzed 6 local systems and 16 global GIS products. We conducted user observations and spoke with both professional users and residents.
Insights
The Daily GIS User
1.
Most users are professionals who use GIS as a core planning tool on a weekly or daily basis.
The Buried Features
2.
Even experienced users were sometimes unaware of existing tools until shown during research.
Poor Layer Interaction
3.
There was a 40.27% drop-off rate between users turning on a layer and viewing the actual information within it. This indicates a significant barrier in the process of exploring and utilizing the map's data layers.
Power Users Can Be Choosers
4.
Professionals tend to compare usability and features to GIS platforms from other municipalities, raising expectations.
Search UX = Workflow Starter Or Potential Roadblock
5.
For casual users, intuitive search is crucial for starting a task; otherwise, they struggle to even begin. This is reflected in the high 53.08% drop-off rate between the search action and viewing a search results page.
For professional users, on the other hand, search speed and accuracy directly affect their workflow efficiency. Any friction in this process translates to wasted time and becomes a significant roadblock in their daily work.
Digital Tools, Analog Workflows
6.
Despite digital options, printed maps and PDFs are still a primary way to share information with stakeholders.
The Blueprint
Laying the Foundation
As part of the redesign, I revisited the system’s information architecture.
The old interface was fragmented and had inconsistencies, with key features hidden or scattered. I reorganized it into a more predictable hierarchy, improving discoverability.
Before
After
Iterations
Iteration 2: Focused Sidebar Navigation
I pivoted to a sidebar layout to centralize all primary actions, creating a dedicated space for complex content panels. This approach supports a more efficient workflow by making it easier for users to manage tasks, while instantly seeing the results reflected on the map.
Iteration 3: Easier to Digest
In the final iteration, I addressed the complexity of the layers section by dividing it into three clear views, reducing cognitive overload. I also refined the sidebar navigation, making all options easy to scan at a glance. Together, these changes created a more intuitive structure that supports smoother and more efficient use of the system.
The New GIS
Design system
Goals
The goal was to unify the interface with a clear, structured hierarchy to resolve inconsistencies in design patterns, and make the system accessible to professional teams, city employees, and citizens, while modernizing the design for improved usability.
What's next
The goal was to unify the interface with a clear, structured hierarchy to resolve inconsistencies in design patterns, and make the system accessible to professional teams, city employees, and citizens, while modernizing the design for improved usability.
PAYKAL
CHECKOUT
Up next
Contact
052-6161572
michal.oring@gmail.com