CP24 Weather Tab

The Challenge
The CP24 Weather Tab had usability and engagement issues, with users struggling to find essential weather information quickly. Research revealed that users found it difficult to access key weather details like wind speed, humidity, and hourly forecasts due to poor information hierarchy.

Approach

To solve these problems, I began with competitor analysis and usability testing, studying how users interacted with industry leaders like AccuWeather and The Weather Network. This allowed me to identify best practices and pinpoint common frustrations across weather apps.

Research

Competitor Analysis

I conducted usability research and competitor analysis, testing how users interacted with leading weather apps, including AccuWeather and The Weather Network. The study focused on evaluating:

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  • User expectations for a modern weather app.
  • Pain points and frustrations with current weather tab experiences.
  • Opportunities to improve navigation, content prioritization, and personalization.

What Users Liked in Competitor Apps

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  • Clear Weather Information: Users appreciated when current conditions, temperature, and forecasts were front and center.
  • Extended Forecasts: Hourly and 7-day forecasts were crucial for planning.
  • Dynamic Backgrounds: AccuWeather and The Weather Network’s interactive visuals enhanced the experience.

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What Users Disliked in Competitor Apps

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  • Excessive Ads: Advertisements disrupted usability and made navigation frustrating.
  • Poor Information Hierarchy: Important details like wind, humidity, and hourly forecasts were buried or hard to find.
  • Complexity in Navigation: Users struggled with unnecessary steps when switching between cities or finding relevant weather details.

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Benchmarking & Usability Testing

After launching the new CP24 Weather Tab within the new app, I conducted benchmarking usability tests to measure improvements.

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The testing compared the old and new versions of the tab, tracking key metrics such as completion rates, time-on-task, System Usability Scale (SUS) scores, and user pain points.

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Internal Benchmarking Usability Test Tracker

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Old CP24 Weather Tab
  • SUS Score: 59.50 (Indicating usability challenges)
  • Avg. Time on Task: 35 seconds
  • Avg. Errors: 1.8
  • Pain Points: Too many steps confused users when toggling between cities

New CP24 Weather Tab
  • SUS Score: 92.50 (Significant usability improvement)
  • Avg. Time on Task: 25 seconds
  • Avg. Errors: 0
  • Pain Points: None reported
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Valued Features Identified in Research

When users were asked to check the weather and change the city on the old app, the main issue was that the current process was too complicated and confusing, involving unnecessary steps. The recommendation is to simplify the process of switching between cities, making it more straightforward.

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Wireframing

Optimizing for Simplicity

With clear usability insights in hand, I moved into wireframing and iteration, focusing on translating research findings into an intuitive, seamless weather experience. One of the most persistent frustrations was the inefficiency of switching cities. Users expected a quick, natural way to navigate between locations, yet they were forced to go through multiple steps, causing unnecessary friction.

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To address this, I reimagined the city-switching experience, replacing the cumbersome process with an intuitive swipe gesture and enhanced search functionality. Instead of navigating through layers of menus, users could now simply swipe left or right to toggle between saved cities.

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New Features introduced:
  • Introducing swipe gestures for effortless city-switching.
  • Enhancing search functionality with predictive results and recently searched cities.
  • Allowing users to favorite and reorder locations for a more personalized experience.

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Design Refinements

With user research and feedback in mind, I proposed key UX/UI enhancements:

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Optimized Information Hierarchy
  • Prioritized hourly forecasts, wind, and humidity at the top.
  • Reduced visual clutter for a streamlined, more readable layout.

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Enhanced Navigation & City Switching
  • Implemented clear location controls for better visibility.
  • Introduced swipe gestures for effortless city-switching.
  • Added recent and favorite cities for quicker access.

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Reflections

This project underscored a valuable lesson: great design is not just about adding features — it’s about removing barriers. By simplifying interactions and aligning with user expectations, we delivered a solution that made checking the weather feel effortless, setting a new standard for the CP24 digital experience.