Wave App

Wave is a smart platform that enhances the surfing experience by delivering accurate wave forecasts and integrating with sports watches. It helps surfers decide the best time to hit the water — with fewer mistakes and more confidence.

Overview

Wave is a mobile application designed for surfers, featuring a real-time wave radar that alerts users about upcoming surf conditions. The app automatically connects to the surfer’s sports watch, seamlessly syncing session data and displaying personalized tracking insights through graphs and statistics over time.

Project Goal

Designing an intuitive user experience for an app that provides surfers with real-time sea conditions and wave quality data, specifically tailored to the surfing spots in Israel.

THE Challeng

While there are several platforms (apps/websites) available for surfers, none provide the complite, comprehensive and accurate data needed. Inaccurate forecasts force surfers to rely on multiple sources, making it difficult to get a complete and reliable picture of sea conditions.

What I did

UX Research

UX Strategy

Wireframing

UI Design

Role

As the UX/UI Designer for the Wave app, I was responsible for every aspect of the design process, from conducting research and defining the user experience to creating design solutions that addressed the challenges and needs of the users.

The Problem

While there are several great platforms, each offering unique information, surfers must rely on multiple sources to get a complete picture of sea conditions. This requires constant synchronization between platforms, leading to inconvenience and inaccurate forecasts. As a result, surfers often end up at the beach at the wrong time, missing ideal surfing conditions.

UX - User Experience

Challenge

Designing the user experience for an app that displays real-time sea conditions and surf quality specifically for surfing in Israel.

The app’s mockup was evaluated on a Samsung 7S device running the Android operating system. The key focus was on providing surfers with real-time, accurate data to enhance their experience.

Research
I researched the three leading apps and websites in this field, analyzing their features, strengths, and weaknesses to inform the design of Wave App. The research helped identify the gaps in existing platforms and the key metrics needed to improve the surfing experience.

A Worldwide Web / App

MSW surf forecast

4surfers App

Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR)

Israeli Website

Persona

and flow chart

Research questionnaire

App Specifications

A detailed specification document for an app that provides real-time information on sea conditions and surf quality in Israel. The app is designed to deliver accurate data on wave height, wind direction, water temperature, and surf quality, all tailored to local surfing spots.

Selected screens

from three sources

MSW Website: The global MSW website is the primary platform for real-time, accurate data on sea conditions, though it lacks specific information on wave quality. Despite this, it is user-friendly and designed with surfers in mind.
4surfers App: This app offers useful data, but it falls short by not providing precise water temperature information, which is critical for surfers.
Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research (IOLR): This website is not designed for surfers, as it provides general sea condition data for the public. While it offers broad information on the state of the sea, it lacks the specific metrics and surf-focused insights that surfers need.

A Graphical Comparison

of Homepages & Key Features

SWOT Analysis

Based on the research and insights gathered, a SWOT analysis was conducted to identify the strengths of the upcoming WAVE application, ensuring it will meet the needs of surfers and keep them engaged over time.

Strengths:

Real-time and Accurate Data: WAVE will provide surfers with reliable, up-to-date information on wave conditions, ensuring they can make informed decisions about when to surf.
Comprehensive Wave Information: The app will offer detailed data on wave size, direction, and period, giving surfers all the essential metrics in one place.
User-friendly Interface: WAVE will be designed with a clean, intuitive interface, making it easy for surfers to navigate and find the information they need quickly.
Personalization Features: The app will allow users to customize their preferences and receive personalized wave alerts and recommendations based on their specific surfing needs.
Integration with Social Platforms: WAVE will integrate with social media, enabling surfers to share their experiences, connect with others, and discover new surfing spots.

By leveraging these strengths, WAVE aims to attract and retain surfers, offering them a valuable, efficient, and enjoyable tool for planning and tracking their surf sessions.

Research & Discovery

Interviews with Users and Surfers

For the research phase, I selected three leading apps and websites in the sea and surfing domain to analyze their strengths, weaknesses, and key features. I conducted an in-depth review of these platforms, focusing on their real-time data regarding sea conditions and wave quality in Israel.

Later, I created a detailed document specifying the essential features required for the app, and compared the accuracy of real-time data from these different sources. This comparison allowed me to understand the gaps and areas for improvement, which directly informed the design and functionality of the WAVE app.

Research Focus:

Evaluating the reliability and comprehensiveness of the data provided by each platform.
Identifying features that are most valuable to surfers (e.g., wave size, swell direction, water temperature, etc.).
Analyzing how each platform presents data and user experience to ensure that the WAVE app would offer a more cohesive and streamlined solution.

Interview Focus:

As part of the interviews, my primary goal was to gain a deeper understanding of two key areas:

The Pain Points of Surfers:
I sought to uncover the main frustrations and challenges that surfers face when using current platforms for checking sea conditions. These included issues like:
Inaccurate forecasts: Many surfers expressed frustration with platforms providing unreliable or outdated data.
Multiple sources: Surfers had to consult various platforms to get a complete picture of the sea conditions, which was time-consuming and inefficient.
Lack of personalization: Current apps don't offer the ability to customize information or provide personalized alerts, which surfers want to improve their experience.
The Positive Aspects They Want to Preserve:
In addition to identifying pain points, I also explored the features that surfers liked and wanted to keep. Some of these included:
Real-time data: Surfers appreciated platforms that provided up-to-the-minute updates on sea conditions.
Detailed wave information: Many surfers value having in-depth data about wave size, direction, and period, which helps them plan their sessions more effectively.
User-friendly interface: Surfers preferred platforms with intuitive designs that made it easy to navigate and find the information they needed quickly.

By focusing on these two areas, I was able to ensure that the WAVE app would address the key pain points while preserving the features that surfers already found valuable.

Insights from Surfer Interviews

"An important parameter is the Swell direction (i.e., how often a wave arrives and at what height)."

"The importance of beach cameras will be reflected in the online streaming of the sea so that surfers can see the crowd density – a parameter that does not exist in any app. The key is knowing when it's best to go to the sea because once the surfer is already at the beach, the forecast is no longer relevant, as they’ve invested time and arrived."

"Beach structure is also important (in terms of the seabed, which is less critical in Israel)."

"The wind is also important (the direction and intensity of the wind are very important, as they can ruin a wavy sea or turn it into a perfect Surf). and the Water temperature. "

"Alongside all of this, it is especially important to have visual representations, meaning there should be as many beach cameras and/or photos and/or videos taken on-site as possible."

Summary of Problems and Suggestions

Problems:

Inaccurate Data: Surfers face a lack of accuracy in critical parameters, such as wind direction and speed and water temperature, which significantly affect their surfing experience.
Lack of Visual Representations: Existing platforms do not offer videos or images of real-time conditions, leaving surfers without the ability to visually assess wave quality and crowd density.
No Beach Cameras: There is a lack of beach cameras, which are essential for measuring wave height and observing real-time surf conditions, a vital tool for surfers when planning their sessions.

Suggestions for Improvement:

Increase Accuracy: Ensure that the app provides accurate wind data, wave height, and water temperature, along with other vital parameters to give surfers a reliable forecast.
Visual Representations: Integrate live images, videos, and beach cameras that can provide real-time visual feedback to users, helping them make better-informed decisions before heading to the beach.
Beach Camera Integration: Explore partnerships with local municipalities or businesses to incorporate beach cameras into the app, allowing users to see the surf conditions firsthand, improving the app’s reliability and user experience.
By addressing these problems and implementing the suggestions for improvement, the WAVE app can provide a more accurate, comprehensive, and engaging experience for surfers.

Insights &

Guidelines

The research helped identify key problems and provided solutions, including essential metrics for surfers. By understanding their pain points, I was able to develop actionable recommendations.

Key insights include:

Accurate Data: Surfers need precise information on wave height, wind direction, water temperature, and swell direction to plan their sessions effectively.
Visual Feedback: Real-time beach cameras, live images, and videos are crucial for surfers to assess conditions before heading to the beach

I also saw opportunities for collaborations with external parties (e.g., local municipalities or businesses) to integrate beach cameras and share real-time data. These partnerships would enhance the app’s functionality and improve the user experience.

The research helped shape the project’s direction, ensuring the app provides value and keeps users engaged over time.

Regarding the beach camera project, it is recommended to collaborate with municipal bodies or businesses located at the beach in exchange for advertising space within the app. This partnership would help generate a budget for the app’s financing and development, ensuring sustainable growth and enhancing the overall user experience.

It is suggested to collaborate with content creators to provide real-time updates on beach conditions, along with enabling user-generated visual representations (such as photos and videos). Additionally, promoting Facebook pages that post wave-related videos, at no cost, could enhance the app's content and foster community engagement

It is suggested to integrate an algorithm that combines key factors such as wind direction, swell height, currents, seabed structure, tides, and measurements. This comprehensive system would enable the app to provide more accurate future Surfers forecasts, helping surfers make better-informed decisions.

The findings of the new model suggest that the WAVE app should prioritize integrating the following features:

Automatic Integration with Sports Watches: For competitive and curious surfers, allowing them to maintain a surfing journal.
Supplementary Content: Adding live pictures, videos, and explanations to enrich the user experience.
Updated Sea Forecasts: Including detailed information on breaking waves, wind direction, and water temperature to provide a comprehensive view.

The research revealed that many existing apps and websites do not meet all essential parameters. The key parameters identified are:

Swell Direction: How often a wave arrives and its height.
Beach Structure: Less critical in Israel but important for international surfers.
Wind: Direction and intensity, which can either ruin or create ideal surf conditions.
Tides: Although less relevant in Israel, this is critical for surfers in other regions.
Water Temperature and Visual Representations: The inclusion of beach cameras, pictures, and videos to provide real-time conditions, which no app currently offers.

Surfers value knowing when the surf conditions are ideal before they head to the beach, as once they arrive, the forecast may no longer be accurate due to the time invested.

UX Decision

Structural Hierarchy – Tree of Screens

The first step in designing the app was to establish a clear and intuitive structure. Understanding that surfers are often impatient and need quick access to information, I focused on simplifying the user flow.

To address this, I implemented quick-access buttons for the most critical features, including:

Wave Radar: Providing surfers with instant updates on wave conditions.
Connection to Sports Watch: Enabling users to seamlessly sync their surfing sessions for tracking and analysis.

This streamlined approach ensures that surfers can access the information they need without unnecessary delays.

From a Tree

to a Wireframes

I translated the screen hierarchy (tree) into a detailed wireframe structure. This step helped to map out the user interface and define the layout of each screen. The wireframes served as a visual blueprint for the app, ensuring a smooth and logical flow between screens, while prioritizing ease of use and quick access to the most important features.

Wireframes – Content Structure/Components

Adding

New Properties

While existing models primarily focused on providing specific information, I took a more integrated approach by consolidating all relevant features from various platforms into one comprehensive app. Additionally, I introduced a no-registration option, allowing users to access real-time data immediately without the need to create an account. This ensures a hassle-free experience for users who want quick access to the app’s essential features.

Fourth Screen - Connect to Personal Profile

Users have the option to connect to their personal profile, where they can track and display their personal achievements. The profile allows surfers to review their training history, compare workouts, and monitor progress over time. This feature enhances user engagement by providing a personalized experience and encouraging surfers to track their improvements.

Fifth Screen - Personal Training Map

The Fifth Screen displays a Personal Training Map where surfers can review the metrics of the same workout over different sessions. This map visualizes performance data, such as wave conditions, surf duration, and any other relevant metrics, helping users track their consistency and improvements in specific workouts.

Sixth Screen - Optional Registration

The Sixth Screen introduces an optional registration feature to enhance user experience. Understanding that mandatory registration can sometimes lead to user drop-off, this feature is entirely optional. To streamline the process, users can register quickly by connecting with Google or Facebook, making it easier for users to access the app without unnecessary barriers.

Seventh Screen - Personal Training Map

The Seventh Screen also features the Personal Training Map, where users can view metrics of the same workout. This map allows surfers to track performance over multiple sessions, comparing key data like wave conditions, surf time, and intensity. It offers a comprehensive view of their training patterns and helps identify areas of improvement or consistency in their performance.

Conclusions

Impact
My app design significantly improved the pre-surf experience for users, making it easier, more accessible, and of higher quality. This enhancement led to a noticeable increase in user engagement. Many of the solutions I implemented received excellent feedback from surfers, highlighting the app’s value in providing a seamless experience.

Takeaways

The field of surfing is especially meaningful to me, and I was able to enhance the user experience by consolidating all relevant metrics into one platform, in contrast to existing platforms that specialize in specific data sets.

Through working with knowledgeable surfers, I gained valuable insights into their needs and preferences. I also learned that collaborations with external parties (such as municipal entities) are a viable avenue for development and growth, providing potential for long-term success.

The New

App Model

Prototipe

Projects Management

Paris Hosting

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