NOAA: GLANSIS

Timeline

3 mo.

Role

ux researcher,
ux designer

Tools

figma

Discipline

ux/ui

This project was completed as part of a user experience design course in collaboration with a real-world client: the Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS), a database used by researchers, educators, and policymakers to track invasive species in the Great Lakes. The GLANSIS team approached us with a clear challenge — their site was outdated, difficult to navigate, and overwhelming to use. Our goal was to explore ways to improve the site’s usability, structure, and visual clarity. Through research, ideation, and iterative design, I worked to reimagine GLANSIS as a more accessible, intuitive tool that better supports conservation efforts and informed decision-making across disciplines.

Supporting protection of the Great Lakes through smarter design.

Problem Statement

The NOAA Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System (GLANSIS) is a critical resource designed to provide accurate and accessible data on non-native aquatic species in the Great Lakes region. However, despite its scientific value and expanding dataset, the website is not effectively serving its highly diverse user base—which includes Great Lakes researchers, natural resource managers, aquatic invasive species (AIS) decision-makers, and K–16 educators.

Users reported significant friction when navigating the platform:

  • Outdated visual design hindered credibility and engagement

  • Poor navigational flow created confusion

  • Species Profile Pages, central to the platform’s purpose, were cluttered and hard to digest

  • Difficulty returning to the homepage made exploration frustrating

Before
After

Key Design Decisions

To improve clarity, usability, and engagement across the GLANSIS website, I grounded my redesign in a set of key design decisions that support both expert and casual users as they navigate complex ecological data.

01: Establishing Hierarchy and Flow through Typography, Color, and Grouping

02: Simplified, Versatile Filtering with Organized Results

03: Orienting Users with Cards, Tabs, and Breadcrumbs

04: Engagement Features: “Species of the Day” and “More from GLANSIS”

01: Establishing Hierarchy and Flow through Typography, Color, and Grouping

A clear visual hierarchy across all pages was introduced by using:

  • Consistent typographic scales for headings, subheadings, and body text

  • Strategic color usage to draw attention to interactive elements and key actions

  • Logical grouping of related content using spacing, lines, and background contrast

02: Simplified, Versatile Filtering with Organized Results

To streamline the experience of searching for species:

  • I implemented a unified filter design across search, profiles, and the map interface

  • Filters are placed in intuitive locations (above results, not hidden in sidebars)

  • Results display in clean, card-based layouts, showing relevant species data (name, status, image, location stats) at a glance

This system supports both quick searches and in-depth exploration, without requiring deep familiarity with the platform.

03: Orienting Users with Cards, Tabs, and Breadcrumbs

I addressed client concerns about users feeling “lost” by:

  • Using cards to break complex information into manageable chunks

  • Organizing dense profile content into tabs, reducing cognitive load

  • Implementing breadcrumb trails for improved wayfinding across multi-step journeys

These tools help users stay grounded as they navigate between tools, profiles, and content-heavy pages, which is especially important given the depth of scientific data GLANSIS provides.

04: Engagement Features: “Species of the Day” and “More from GLANSIS”

To foster ongoing interest and highlight the conservation mission of GLANSIS:

  • I added a “Species of the Day” feature to spotlight unique or urgent species

  • A “More from GLANSIS” section promotes blog posts, conservation news, or educational tools

These components create fresh, dynamic entry points into the site’s core resources, helping return users find something new and inviting casual users to learn more.

Final Prototypes

Homepage Refinement

The redesigned homepage introduces a clean, modern layout with clearer navigation, featured species highlights, and engaging entry points into GLANSIS tools and conservation content.

Species List Generator Tool

The updated tool offers an intuitive filtering experience with instructional guidance and displays results in visually consistent, card-based layouts that emphasize key species stats.

Individual Species Profile

The restructured species profile organizes dense ecological data into tabbed sections, using visual hierarchy and breadcrumbing to improve readability and orientation.

Next

Ciccone Winery