Open drone map: website redesign
Drone mapping and photo-geometry
Simplify the installation journey of Open drone map applications, ensure users can easily locate support whether from documentation or the community, based on their profile and provide clear pathways for contributions of new ideas, development, writing and finance.
Areas of contribution
User research
Prototyping
Business collaboration
Rebranding
Usability testing
Key principles
Clarity through simplification
Accessibility and inclusivity
Collaboration and co-creation
Platform
Website
Time line
4 weeks
My role
Leading an open-source redesign through collaboration, alignment and mentorship
Led the redesign end-to-end, collaborating with ODM directors, engineers, open-source contributors, and community members across 3 countries.
Facilitated cross-functional workshops to align on goals balancing technical accuracy with usability.
Mentored 1 junior designer and 1 developer, introducing structured usability testing methods that improved their confidence and team efficiency.
Challenge
Simplifying complexity to improve clarity, onboarding, and community engagement
The current website struggles to serve its diverse audience, leaving installation confusing, information scattered, and paths to support or contribution unclear.
Fragmented support system
Unclear workflows limits engagement
Complex steps of onboarding
Approach and outcome
Balancing expert precision with accessibility through research testing and collaboration
We made, user-centricity above all else by conducting interviews with both GIS experts and community members. The biggest challenge was balancing GIS professionals need for advanced mapping tools with GIS professionals who are non technical. We explored two alternate navigation patterns,
Feature-first vs. Task-first
and validated through usability testing; task-first proved 40% faster for non-expert users. Established evidence-based design practices within the team by introducing usability testing and iteration cycles. Strengthened collaboration across contributors and developers in multiple countries, ensuring shared ownership and long-term scalability.
Problem analysis
Understanding how users navigate and find support on the site
I analysed the site’s structure, user flows, and content, focusing on how different users access installation guides and support.
Old ODM website
Ideation
Turning quick ideas into aligned solutions through collaboration
I sketched quick flows, mapped priority content, and drafted how the homepage could guide different user types. Ideas came fast, but alignment was key, so I turned to collaboration.
Rebranding
Creating a visual identity that reflects power, openness, and community
The original site lacked visual coherence, no real brand identity, inconsistent typography, and a color palette that didn’t reflect the spirit of the project. I saw an opportunity to give OpenDroneMap a visual system that matched its mission: powerful, open, and community-driven.
Structured navigation
Users can easily get the support for installation, path way for doing open source contribution and find the right product information.
Identify the right product from ODM
Depending on specific area of business/ work, users can find the right product with two simple steps then ODM will suggest the right product specific to the problem.
One-click installer options for non-tech users
To make setup effortless for non-technical users, added clear subscription pathways that leads to a small financial support and streamlined access to CLI and Docker guides for advanced users.
Layouts that work for all screens
The layout adapts smoothly across devices, and accessibility is built in from the start. Every element was tested for clarity, speed, and ease of use, making the site feel not just redesigned, but reimagined for the people it serves.
Learnings
Learned how evidence-based testing helps balance the needs of experts and beginners.
Realised that clarity and simplicity can be as valuable as advanced functionality.
Saw how inclusive design directly broadens adoption and community engagement.
Experienced that co-creation with global contributors not only aligned technical and user priorities but also built lasting ownership within the open-source community.
Understood that leadership also means mentoring and building team practices that last.