Based in Paris, Istya is a software solution that helps businesses and communities measure and predict air pollution levels

As the market for environmental monitoring tools rapidly grows, Istya’s founder saw the need to modernize the platform—both to improve the user experience and to stay competitive. That’s where I came in.

SAAS
UX UI
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At first glance, the brief was straightforward: refresh the interface and make it easier to use. But good design starts with understanding the people behind the screens.

(CONTEXT)

Turns out, the answer wasn’t what the founder expected.

While facility managers made the purchase, everyday users were a different group entirely—diverse, but with one thing in common: none were air quality experts.

(CONTEXT)

I've conducted user interviews with a range of target users. 3 key pain points came up again and again:

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Information overload – The platform presented too much data without clear hierarchy.
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Lack of clarity – Users struggled to understand what the data actually meant.
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Uncertainty about action – Even when poor air quality was detected, users didn’t know what to do next.

In short, the platform was rich in data, but poor in guidance.

So the core design challenge became clear: How can we help non-experts quickly understand air quality data and feel confident in knowing what to do next?

(CONTEXT)

This became my guiding question throughout the redesign process.

Before: Poor Content Relevance

The interface spoke in technical terms, not the users’ language. Metrics like particle concentration left non-experts confused, unsure what the numbers meant or what to do next.

BEFORE: A Disjointed User Journey

Key information, like recommendations, wasn’t easy to find—users had to manually navigate through other sections to access it.

To solve the key challenges, I focused on 3 things: clarity, speed, and guidance.

(RESULT)

These solutions were continuously tested with real users to ensure the interface not only looked clean but also supported quick decisions in real situations.

Design a visually intuitive interface

In a SaaS platform, presenting information in a clear hierarchy is key. By prioritizing what matters most and minimizing distractions, the interface becomes easier to navigate—helping users process content quickly and with ease.

Make quick decision-making easier

When air quality drops below the optimal threshold, visual indicators shift to red, immediately alerting the user.
A clear call-to-action (CTA) prompts them to take action, reducing hesitation and encouraging quick response.

Provide tailored recommendations for specific pollution scenarios

When the user clicks the CTA, they’re directed to a set of actionable recommendations based on their specific air quality issue.
Depending on the severity of the situation, for instance if expert assistance is needed, contact details for the appropriate person or point of contact are clearly displayed.

In a simulated air quality emergency, participants used both interfaces to respond. With the old version, they hesitated. With the new one, they acted faster and with more confidence.

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