Why We Redesigned Our UI Three Times (And What We Learned)

If there's one aspect of MEZR that took more iterations than anything else, it's the user interface. In fact, we completely redesigned the UI three times before finding the solution that felt right. Here's the story of our UI journey, with all its twists and wrong turns.

Version 1: The "Tech-Forward" Approach

Our first UI design prioritized showcasing the technology. We built a data-rich interface that displayed real-time measurement metrics, 3D visualizations, and multiple customization options. It looked impressive in demos, with floating measurement panels, animated scanning overlays, and detailed technical readouts.

When we tested this with actual contractors, the results were unanimous: it was far too complicated. Users were getting lost in menus, missing important functions, and feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information on screen.

"I just want to measure a gutter, not launch a space shuttle." - Feedback from an early tester

We had made the classic engineering mistake of designing for ourselves rather than our users. Contractors needed simplicity and clarity, not flashy visuals and excessive data.

Version 2: The "Minimal" Approach

Our second design swung to the opposite extreme. We stripped away everything that wasn't absolutely essential, creating a minimalist interface with only basic controls visible. The scanning screen had just a capture button and a few core measurement tools. Everything else was hidden behind a menu system.

This tested better, but introduced new problems:

• Important features were too hard to discover
• The lack of visual feedback made users uncertain if scans were working correctly
• The contextual help was too hidden, leaving users confused about certain functions

We had overcorrected. While contractors wanted simplicity, they also needed clear guidance and appropriate feedback during the measurement process.

Version 3: The "Guided Workflow" Approach

For our third attempt, we took a step back and completely reconsidered our approach. Instead of focusing on features or minimalism, we designed around the contractor's workflow:

1. Project Setup: Simple forms for basic project information
2. Guided Scanning: Step-by-step instructions with visual cues
3. Measurement Marking: Intuitive touch controls with visual feedback
4. Results Review: Clear summary with easy editing options
5. Export and Share: Simple, streamlined output options

Each step had just the right amount of information and controls needed for that specific task. We used progressive disclosure to reveal advanced options only when relevant. And most importantly, we added clear visual guidance throughout the process.

The Key Insights

While this third design tested much better, we still made numerous refinements based on user feedback. The most important lessons we learned were:

1. Context is everything - Controls should appear exactly when and where users need them
2. Visual feedback is crucial - Users need to know that the app is working correctly, especially during scanning
3. Consistency matters - Similar actions should work the same way throughout the app
4. Field conditions are challenging - UI elements need to be large enough to tap while wearing gloves or in bright sunlight
5. Reduce cognitive load - Don't make users remember information between screens

The Final Design

Our final UI design combines all these insights into what we call a "guided workflow" approach. It's neither flashy nor minimal - it's purposeful, providing exactly what users need at each step of the process.

The results speak for themselves: our usability scores increased dramatically, time-to-first-measurement decreased by 64%, and user errors dropped by over 70%. Most importantly, our users consistently describe the app as "intuitive" and "straightforward" - exactly what busy contractors need.

The painful process of three full redesigns taught us that great UI design isn't about how it looks or how many features you can showcase - it's about how well it helps users accomplish their goals with minimum friction. Sometimes you have to get it wrong a few times before you get it right.