Boat Owner App
Mobile App Design
2023-2024
UX/UI Designer
Scope
Boat Owner App is a white-label mobile platform designed for boat builders to offer their customers a fully branded, smart boating experience. The app allows boat owners to monitor, control, and personalize all major boat systems in real time. It adapts to different activities like fishing, cruising, or watersports, and includes features such as trip planning, intelligent alerts, and a modular dashboard tailored to each vessel.
Challenges
Boat owners struggled with disconnected systems and lacked a mobile solution for real-time monitoring and remote control. Trip planning and activity setup were manual and time-consuming, with no smart alerts or maintenance reminders. The dashboard didn’t adapt to different activities, and users couldn’t customize it to fit their boat or preferences.
My Role
As the UX/UI designer, I led the end-to-end design of a white-label mobile app for boat builders and owners. I conducted user research, defined key pain points, and designed intuitive flows for monitoring, controlling, and customizing boat systems. I created adaptive dashboards, interactive prototypes, and a modular widget system that supports different boating activities. I also ensured the interface could be fully branded and styled to match each boat builder’s unique identity.
Methods &
Key Findings
Goal: Understand the needs, pain points, and behavior of modern boat owners.
Methods Used:
- User Interviews: Conducted interviews with boat owners of varying experience levels (cruisers, sport fishers, water sports users).
- Competitive Analysis: Reviewed marine apps (like Navionics, VesselView) to identify UX gaps and opportunities.
- Field Observation: Studied how users interact with boat control panels and maintenance tasks in real-life situations.
Key Findings:
- Most users rely on multiple tools (physical gauges, apps, mental checklists).
- Remote monitoring is a top priority, especially for high-value vessels.
- Simplicity is essential—users prefer fewer screens and a modular dashboard.
Personas
I created three core personas to guide the design - an experienced owner, a casual cruiser, and an active enthusiast. Each represents distinct needs and behaviors, helping shape a user experience that works across different boating styles.
Usability Testing
Goal: Validate usability, discover friction points, and optimize key workflows.
Methods:
- Usability Testing with 5 target users (1 cruiser, 2 sport fishers, 2 hobbyists)
- Scenario-Based Tasks: Users were asked to plan a trip, switch activities, and respond to an alert.
Insights:
- Users appreciated the activity-based widget switch feature.
- Several users struggled with customizing widgets, refined this interaction with clearer icons and drag/drop indicators.
- The notification center was a standout feature that made users feel in control.
Result:
- Improved usability score by 30% after refinement.
- Reduced average task completion time by 40% post-iteration.
The Final UI
The final UI features a clean, modular design that adapts to the user’s activity and boat configuration. From real-time system monitoring to trip planning and customizable widgets, the interface delivers a seamless, intuitive experience. The design supports white-label branding, allowing boat builders to personalize the look and feel to match their vessels.
Next Project