Wayfinding on the web
A familiar, flexible way to explore large venues and find your way from any device.
- When
- 2018–2022
- Where
- Mappedin
- What I did
- Product design, Product strategy, User research, Prototyping
Outcomes
- Over 75% of directory customers adopted Mappedin Web in its first year.
- Blue Dot positioning increased location selections by 42% and direction lookups by 2.2x.
- Blue Dot positioning created a new recurring revenue stream.
Context
Shoppers expect outdoor map quality inside malls, stadiums, and airports, but nobody wants to download an app to find a store. Our existing web maps were slow custom builds that generated little engagement or insight for venues. We replaced them with Mappedin Web, an embeddable, map-first SaaS product that venues add to their site with a single script tag.
Process and usability testing
We designed around two journeys, planning from home and navigating on site, and organized both around one principle: the interface and the map should work together instead of competing for space. I worked with engineering on layout, hierarchy, and a component model that could scale, and we checked our assumptions in remote UserTesting.com studies.
Embeds we couldn't control
Each venue decided how much space the map got on its website, and people struggled when that space was too small. Dense labels and small touch targets were hardest on phones. We added configuration options and published sizing guidance so venues gave the map enough room, and we tested label density and touch targets on small screens.
Accessibility without clutter
The product needed WCAG 2.1 A to AA support, including screen readers, readable text directions, and a clear tab order, without adding visual noise to a minimal, map-first interface.
What we shipped
We released search, directions, and map navigation first. Blue Dot positioning and 2D labels followed once we had the evidence and the technical groundwork.
Map-first search and directions
Search, directions, and browsing all happened next to the map. The interface stayed minimal, so people could always see where they were and where they were going, even across floors and buildings.
Familiar Blue Dot positioning
We partnered with Apple to bring its Indoor Positioning System to the web map on iOS. Auto-orientation, a persistent Locate Me control, and smooth floor transitions made indoor navigation feel like the map apps people already used. 35% of mobile users turned it on, and they selected 42% more locations and looked up 2.2x more directions.
Labels that respond to the screen
A 2D label system adjusted to screen size and zoom level. It was clearer than our 3D-only labels and helped people pick out nearby stores and amenities.
Theming the system, not each deployment
A component-based design system let customers set brand colors, typography, and logos through the CMS while keeping the structure, usability, and accessibility intact. The whole thing embedded with one script tag.
Final notes
Mappedin Web became one of the company's most successful products, and over 75% of directory customers adopted it in its first year. As product designer, I helped define the strategy, shaped the interface, and guided the technical decisions that made indoor navigation on the web feel familiar.
After I moved into product management, I worked with a new product designer on a refreshed interface and helped launch find-your-seat, seat views, saved parking, and multi-destination navigation.