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← All work
Joshcloudcast.
Cloudcast
Research + UI
Calm in the storm.
An AI hurricane tracker that shows what matters right now and keeps your family in the loop.
Your turn
A storm is coming. Do you need to leave?
Find out if you have to evacuate. First in a typical storm app, like the ones I benchmarked. Then in Cloudcast. The clock is running.
Typical app{{cq.t1}}{{cq.k1}}
Cloudcast{{cq.t2}}{{cq.k2}}
Same storm, same question. In my interviews people described exactly this: too much technical data and no clear next step. In one survey, 38% of people had trouble logging in or missed instructions during a storm.
Round 1 of 2
Hurricane Suzy is 6 hours from Port Isabel.
Find out if you need to evacuate. Tap around like you normally would.
STORM TRACKER{{cq.live}}
Pressure972 mbMax wind85 ktGusts105 ktMotionNW 12 ktPosition25.9N 96.8WCone67%Surge6 to 9 ftCat2RMW18 nm
GFS 06zLandfall 26.1NECMWF 00zLandfall 25.8NHWRF 06zPeak 92 ktHMON 06zPeak 88 ktCMC 00zLandfall 26.4NUKMET 00zLandfall 25.6NConsensusTVCN 25.9N
QPF 24h6.2 inQPF 48h11.8 inTide gauge+2.4 ft MHHWBuoy 42020Seas 21 ftDew point77 °FWind field34 kt / 140 nm
Unitskt / mbMap layers12 onNotificationsCustomData sourceNHC / NWS
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Found it in {{cq.t1}}
Now try the same thing in Cloudcast.
Same storm, same question: do you need to evacuate?
Strong winds arrive in about 6 hours. Finish getting ready now.
Immediate Action
Charge phones and portable power banks
Results
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Typical app: {{cq.t1}}, {{cq.k1}}.
Cloudcast: {{cq.t2}}, {{cq.k2}}.
Problem
Storm apps flood people with data when they need clear steps.
Role
Solo designer. Research, flows, two design directions, UI.
Approach
3 interviews, 4 app benchmarks, persona, journey, task flow.
Outcome
A dashboard that reorders by urgency, plus family tracking.
The problem
When a hurricane is coming, people get charts and jargon instead of clear answers.
Alerts arrive too late
Too much technical data
No way to check on family
Matthew, before the storm
A storm through Matthew's eyes
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Guiding question
How might we help people stay calm and act fast when a hurricane is on the way?
AI tracking and alertsPut the most urgent thing first, in plain words.
Family trackingSee that the people you love are safe.
Usable under stressBig, clear and simple when hands are shaking.
What I learned
In a crisis, people need clarity, not more data.
3interviews across Texas, Tamil Nadu and Raleigh
Tap a card to flip it.
Secondary research
38%had trouble logging in or missed instructions
72%said they needed more support
43%saw inaccurate forecasts
Source: Warzel, The Atlantic, 2023.
Research journey
From real stories to a calmer app.
Pick a step to see the artifact behind it.
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Pain points addressed
Delayed notificationsAI pushes the most urgent update to the top.
Information overloadPlain language and clear next steps.
No family coordinationSee where family is and if they are safe.
My role
I led this end to end: research, flows, two design directions and final UI.
UX researchInteraction designAI dashboardAccessibilityPrototyping
Challenges
High stakesA wrong or late signal can put people at risk.
Emotional calmThe design has to lower stress, not add to it.
Weak connectionStorms knock out networks when people need help most.
Language barriersAlerts must be easy to understand for everyone.
Key decisions
Five choices that lowered the stress.
Switch between what I saw, what I did, and what I chose not to do.
Iterations
Sketches, two directions, one clear choice.
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The result
Clear, calm and built for family.
AI dashboardFamily trackingEvacuationCommunity
Urgent alert first
What to do now
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What I learned
In high stakes design, calm is a feature.
High stakesEvery word and color has to earn its place.
Emotional calmSpace and plain language lower stress.
Life centeredDesign for the person and the people they care about.
Where it could go next
Other emergenciesOther industriesSmart cities
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