Web Soil Survey (WSS)
WEBSITE REDESIGN
Web Soil Survey (WSS) Website Redesign
Web Redesign, Systems Thinking, Environmental Data
Solo project for Touching Grass (Interaction Design 2)
Figma
Jan 2025
OVERVIEW
The USDA’s Web Soil Survey is an online tool that allows users to explore the soil makeup of any U.S. area. The dataset ranges from basic classifications (e.g., soil type) to more complex data (e.g., vegetation potential). The data is gathered and maintained by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), a division of the USDA. The platform's outdated interface makes it difficult for users, especially non-experts, to understand or access the data’s full value.
OBJECTIVE
Redesign the landing page and information hierarchy of the Web Soil Survey to improve accessibility and guide new users through a complex environmental dataset.
WIREFRAMES
Heuristic analysis and peer feedback flagged the original site’s overwhelming density and inconsistent structure.
My redesign focused on improving wayfinding, hierarchy, and accessibility to make exploring soil data more intuitive.
Using my wireframes, I:
My redesign focused on improving wayfinding, hierarchy, and accessibility to make exploring soil data more intuitive.
Using my wireframes, I:
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Introduced clearer calls-to-action, including a split option to either zoom and select or enter an address—making the entry points to the tool more visible and less confusing.
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Consolidated overwhelming menus into simplified subject-based navigation, reducing visual clutter and making key tools like “Start WSS” and “Explore AOI” more prominent.
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Visually modernized the landing page, maintaining the existing green branding button while adding supplementary ways to begin exploration, giving users choice without confusion.
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Used visual cues (like red and square motifs) to reference the AOI drawing tools, priming users early on for the map-based interaction model.
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Enhanced the information hierarchy by prioritizing interactive guidance and hiding dense metadata behind expandable sections, improving readability while retaining access for advanced users.
The goal of the redesign was to improve the home page’s functionality in ways that were more digestible and user-friendly.
LOGO
To retain the original site’s unexpectedly charming and slightly offbeat energy, I designed a new logomark featuring a hand-drawn flower. Created in Illustrator, the logo nods to the platform’s agricultural focus while softening the government-tool aesthetic with a more inviting, semi-playful tone.
This touch reflects my belief that serious data tools can still feel human, especially when the audience includes curious, non-expert users. The flower also subtly connects back to soil health and vegetation, reinforcing the tool’s purpose through visual metaphor.
This touch reflects my belief that serious data tools can still feel human, especially when the audience includes curious, non-expert users. The flower also subtly connects back to soil health and vegetation, reinforcing the tool’s purpose through visual metaphor.
REFLECTIONS
This project pushed me to think deeply about how design can bridge the gap between powerful data tools and everyday users. The Web Soil Survey is robust and well-structured beneath the surface but its outdated interface makes it nearly inaccessible to anyone unfamiliar with GIS tools or government datasets. Designing a more intuitive landing page required me to balance clarity with functionality, ensuring that the redesign didn’t oversimplify what the tool offers.
I learned how to critically evaluate legacy systems, identifying what to keep (like the iconic green button) and what to improve. Creating a visual guide and proposing alternate entry points taught me how to reframe overwhelming interfaces through hierarchy, tone, and visual structure.
This was also a playful project! Drawing the new floral logo in Illustrator gave the platform a warmer, more human touch. It reminded me that even small design decisions can shape how users feel when approaching complex systems. If continued, I’d love to explore how to redesign the tool itself while preserving its technical depth.