NIC MAP

Mobile App Redesign — Companion for a Desktop-First Platform

UX Design

Visual Design

Prototyping

User Flows

Usability Testing

Overview

NIC MAP is a data platform used by investors, operators, and executives in the senior housing sector. The desktop platform supports advanced analytics and complex workflows, but the mobile app had not kept pace. Built years earlier and untouched since, the app no longer reflected the quality of the platform. When NIC MAP introduced a new brand identity, the team saw an opportunity to redesign the mobile experience from the ground up.

I led the redesign end-to-end as the sole product designer, working alongside the product manager and engineers over a four-week timeline.

Type

In-house Product

Role

Product Designer

Date

2025

Timeline

4-week design sprint

Tools

Figma

Deliverables

Engineering handoff

Team

Product Manager, Engineers

Problem

The mobile app had zero customer adoption. It was used exclusively by internal team members, and not the users the platform was built to serve. The interface felt outdated, navigation was difficult to follow, and the experience did not represent the quality of the broader NIC MAP product.

At the same time, the desktop platform is dense with complex workflows and detailed datasets that wouldn't translate well to a small screen. The challenge wasn't just a visual refresh. It was deciding what the mobile app should actually be: not a replica of the desktop, but a focused companion for users who need key insights while away from their desk.

Discovery

Without formal user research on the mobile app, I started by becoming the user myself. I walked through the existing experience end-to-end, mapping current flows and documenting where navigation broke down, where hierarchy was unclear, and where interaction created friction.

In addition, I joined stakeholder discussions to understand how the team envisioned the future role of the mobile product. There was a clear priority: the app should surface what matters most for someone checking in on the go — not replicate the depth that belongs on desktop.

Before

Design Process

I started with mid-fidelity wireframes to work through layout, information hierarchy, and user flows before making visual decisions. At this stage the focus was purely structural: what does each screen need to show, in what order, and how does a user move through the app naturally.

Once the structure was set, I moved into high-fidelity and adapted the new NIC MAP brand system for mobile. The goal was to create an experience that felt visually aligned with the desktop platform while remaining clear, lightweight, and usable on a smaller screen.

Before handoff, I ran usability testing with three colleagues to validate navigation and identify any points of confusion. Their feedback informed a round of iterations before the final designs were delivered to engineering.

Key design decisions

Map-first exploration
The redesign puts the map first, helping users see where properties are before exploring the data. This matches how investors and operators naturally think about different markets and locations.
Quick-to-scan property details
Once a property is selected, users see the most important information upfront: key metrics, charts, and images. The layout is designed for quick decisions rather than deep analysis.
Research on the go
For users who need more than a quick overview, the app provides a conversational assistant for questions and in-app reports for deeper review. This keeps users informed without needing to return to their desktop.

Outcome

The redesigned app shipped successfully, with the full design sprint completed in four weeks — from initial stakeholder alignment to engineering-ready designs. Internal teams responded positively, describing the new experience as significantly easier to navigate and visually aligned with the desktop platform for the first time. Engineers noted that the simplified structure made the designs straightforward to implement.

The app evolved from an internally used tool with no customer adoption into a product ready to launch to a broader user base.

Reflection

The biggest challenge in this project was the lack of existing user research. Without prior insights to rely on, I had to build context by using the product myself and gathering input through stakeholder conversations. This helped me make design decisions based on observed needs, product goals, and core principles rather than simply building on previous solutions.

Given more time, I would've validated the decision to lead with map-based exploration over a traditional data dashboard. This approach felt aligned with how users explore properties and markets, but testing with real users would've confirmed whether it was the right solution.

phamjle@gmail.com

Virginia, USA