Risk Factor

2023

UXR/UX/UI

Property-specific science-based climate risk data tool for homeowners, homebuyers, and real estate professionals.
Redesigned the entire platform to improve user engagement and monetization of the platform.

80% of buyers consider climate risk when looking for a new home.

Our goal was to develop a user-friendly subscription-based self-service tool for both homebuyers and real estate professionals to make informed financial decisions about properties of interest.

RiskFactor’s climate scores are available on Zillow, Redfin, Realtor, and other major platforms bringing users over to learn more about real estate they are interested in buying, selling, or improving. Our business goal was to monetize this traffic by offering unique climate data.

Getting insights from data and early adaptors.

"I think the information and data are very powerful, but if you don’t have a STEM background or training, it might be hard to understand."

Atmospheric scientist / Home buyer
"I only check the scores and flood maps. I didn't look at any other scores or functionality. I need to spend more time to undertsand your product."

Real estate agent
"I feel like I can get the same information for free. It would take some time to look around, so its nice to have it all in one place."

Home buyer

Design sprint to explore ideas and solidify decisions.

During a week-long design sprint with leadership we explored product ideas and solidified design decisions. We focused on information presentation, the potential for monetization, new critical content and engaging features.

I built quick prototypes, which we used to collect user feedback and to communicate future product vision.

Decisions:

Mobile first product design and development
One-page design with collapsable sections
Partially exposed content to stimulate further engagement
Clear call to action leading to purchasing and subscription

Information design pattern development.

Property Overview

Property details at a glance with scores and key insights that lead to detailed information on the pages.
Hazard Overview

Consistent data presentation for each hazard risk with expandable sections helps to avoid information overload.
Advanced Data

Historic events and hazard maps on demand to provide a deeper exploration of the area and property.
Damage Estimator

Manually user-adjusted property characteristics for precise damage calculation.

Progressive disclosure to avoid information overload.

The page presents a rich collection of scientific data, which everyday users described as overwhelming. To improve engagement, I focused on effective information design by organizing the content into structured, digestible sections. I implemented an on-demand reveal approach, allowing users to quickly scan the page and explore reports in detail at their own pace, thereby improving both accessibility and user engagement.

Ongoing user testing and iterative design refinment.

I was responsible for usability testing, collecting and sharing user feedback, informing product refinement and new feature development.

Driving conversions by strategically limiting access to data and features.

Over several months, we focused on optimizing our subscription model, implementing targeted interventions and tailored offerings to achieve consistent user base growth.

Key contributions included:

Defining the Golden Path for Purchasing: Streamlined the buying journey to ensure a seamless user experience.
Designing Attractive Trial Offers: Crafted compelling trial options to encourage user acquisition.
Creating Engaging Paywall Experiences: Developed intuitive and persuasive paywall designs to maximize conversions.
Highlighting Value Propositions: Clearly showcased the benefits of the product to drive engagement.
Building Trust: Provided users with guided access to additional resources, fostering confidence in the subscription process.