WebTop app Redesign
Webtop is an app designed for students, parents, and teachers to communicate, receive updates, and manage school and learning experiences. As a mom using this app to track my daughter's academic tasks and responsibilities, I felt lost and suffocated. First and foremost, since I mostly use it on the go, like I imagine most parents do, the UI is NOT optimized for mobile view. There are so many pages, 18 (!) links on the menu, all upfront in the same hierarchy. On top of that, many pages look too similar, and in my case, most of them remain empty and unused. Are we in 2025 or what? So i started asking around. first with my mom friends who use it and then the rest of the school. I was not alone anymore.
The challenge
Transform an existing app to an easy, simple and clear tool for parents, students and teachers to share updates, manage tasks and stay connected. Streamline the app's hierarchy, for a lean and efficient experience with a touch of a UI boost for mobile optimization.
Discovery and Research
I started by mapping all pages and links in the app, checking for duplications, redundant content, and empty pages. Many pages were indeed empty. You could say someone did not do his work, but I believe that a good product is not a burden to its users. If no one entered the content, there is a problem with the app.
Top Insights
- Many pages are empty
- Different links lead to the same page
- Different pages look too much the same
- Lists have no hierarchy and structure and are hard to scan
- No white space
- No header consistency
- 18 (!!!) categories on the menu, no subcategories, no separation between app pages, technic links (Settings, help, etc.)
, and external links
Users Voice
I conducted an online survey using a digital form, which I distributed among school parents from various grade levels and age groups. The survey aimed to gather insights into their experiences, challenges, and satisfaction with the school's existing app. Parents were invited to participate through multiple communication channels, ensuring a diverse range of responses that accurately reflect the needs and expectations of different families. The questions covered various aspects, including usability, accessibility, communication effectiveness, and potential areas for improvement.
I gather these key pain points:
Poor Navigation
Navigation requires going through the main pop over menu for every action, no shortcuts and back options not always available.
Lack of Hierarchy
hard to scan and figure out where I am, what I'm viewing, and what actions I need to take.
Unoptimized UI
The text is small and the tap areas are too tight for easy and pleasant interaction on mobile. Overall sense of clutter and density.
Weak Architecture
The app’s structure lacks efficiency and clarity.
Unclear Content
The main menu categories and page names are confusing.
Inconsistent Framework
The structure and design elements are not uniform throughout the app.
01
Poor Navigation
Navigation requires going through the main pop over menu for every action, no shortcuts and back options not always available.
02
Lack of Hierarchy
It's hard to figure out where I am, what I'm viewing, and what actions I need to take.
03
Unoptimized UI for Mobile
The text is small and the tap areas are too tight for easy and pleasant interaction. Overall sense of clutter and density.
04
Weak App Architecture
The app’s structure lacks efficiency and clarity,
05
Unclear Content
The main menu categories and page names are confusing.
Design Concept
I reorganized the app architecture and created logic and content grouping between all the app pages. The home page is designed to be in a feed style, dated from recent to old, and will present all relevant happenings at the school, notifications, and updates unifing and replacing some pages that felt similar in meaning to me.
These would be the new menu categories, narrowing down the list from eighteen to six.
The Impact
This is the first phase for redesigning and upgrading the framework and ui. So far reviews have been positive but much more work is needed. I need to conduct more testing, add missing flows and design for edge cases. I plan to suggest this Improvements to the company and would love to hear their feedback.