Whympr

Designing for expert outdoor contributors

A community map app for mountain explorers, where the most expert users (French Alps mountain guides) enrich the map for everyone else.

Most mapping apps are designed for consumers. Whympr's users are different: they're "premium" contributors with deep terrain knowledge. The challenge was getting them to participate without friction, while keeping the app usable for everyone else.

The major changes I made for the past few years were:

• Reporting flow: designed a contribution flow that respects guides' expertise and makes signaling fast.

• Navigation overhaul: instead of filters scattered everywhere, I built a top navigation with no scrolling, putting community contributions front to the user experience.

• Visual modernization: the map should always be the star. I removed full-page detours that pulled users out of the exploration experience.

What I like in this project: Designing for experts is rare. Most apps optimize for the lowest common denominator. Here, all details matters, every small improvement go from content to visual, in order that users tools that feel as sharp as their knowledge, while keeping the map experience clean for casual hikers.

https://get.whympr.com