Pulse
ROLE
SCOPE
TOOLS
Claude, Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop,
My Approach
Trust has to be visible, not assumed
When reading trail advice, there's no way to know who to trust. "Moderate" means different things depending on who's saying it. I designed visible expertise indicators on every profile with experience level badges, activity timelines, helpful vote counts so advice becomes verified guidance.
Celebrate impact, not just distance
Most apps focus entirely on physical accomplishments but performance-obsessed gamification alienates casual enthusiasts and ignores environmental impact entirely. I designed a dual achievement system: adventure badges balanced with conservation badges.
The right information at the right moment
Weather forecasts, offline maps, and safety contacts matter when you're planning a trip not when you're casually browsing trails. Users have two distinct mindsets: exploring possibilities and preparing for a specific adventure. I separated the experience: browsing and "Plan Trail"
Key Takeaways from Research
01
Information architecture is about timing, not just organization
I initially thought users needed all weather data upfront to make decisions. Designing the flows taught me something different — users need different information at different journey stages. Good IA matches content to the moment, not just to a category.
02
Serving two audiences requires progressive disclosure
Anxious beginners need simplicity. Experienced hikers want comprehensive tools. The solution was progressive disclosure — essentials above the fold, depth accessible through tabs on demand. Neither audience gets in the other's way.
03
Gamification works when it serves real behavior
I was skeptical about badges for serious outdoor enthusiasts, worried they'd feel gimmicky. Research showed gamification works when it reinforces authentic behaviors rather than manufacturing artificial ones. Badges that celebrate real conservation actions land differently than badges for streaks.
Key Takeaways from Research
01
Information Architecture is also about timing
When I struggled with where to place weather information, I initially thought "users need all weather data to make decisions." But through designing the flows, I realized users need different information at different moments. This taught me that good information architecture matches content to the user's journey stage
02
Two audiences requires progressive disclosure
My biggest challenge was serving anxious beginners needing simplicity and experienced mentors wanting comprehensive tools. The solution: progressive disclosure with essentials above fold and detailed data accessible through tabs.
03
Gamification works when it serves purpose, not just for fun
I was initially skeptical about badges and achievement systems, worried they'd feel gimmicky for serious outdoor enthusiasts. But researching taught me that gamification works when it reinforces authentic behaviors rather than manufacturing artificial goals.
