One application for the whole city

Design a unified digital platform that consolidates city services across 28+ city districts.

Client

Brno

Timeline

March - August 2025

Services

UX/ UI Design

Challenge

Citizens across the city were struggling with fragmented services scattered across different city districts. Each of the 28+ city parts had their own forms for essential services, creating confusion and inefficiency. The city needed a unified platform that would: Consolidate multiple district-specific forms into one cohesive system Provide a clear, navigable information architecture for diverse city services Create intuitive user flows that prevent users from getting lost in complex processes Integrate with existing payment systems and city databases Ensure compliance with legal requirements across all districts

Exploration Study - Comprehending the Human Component

The project began with a strategic positioning workshop to:

  • Define expectations for the first phase rollout

  • Identify the most critical services for initial implementation

  • Establish project scope and priorities

Service Catalog Analysis

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of existing forms across all city districts, focusing on:

  • Dog services: Registration, payments, and information updates

  • City flat registration: Application processes for municipal housing

Key findings:

  • Significant variation in form requirements across districts

  • Overlapping information requests that could be streamlined

  • Legal requirements that necessitated certain data collection

  • Opportunities to eliminate redundant steps

Building solutions

Research Insights & Opportunities

My Learnings

Technical Challenges

  • Managing data consistency across 28+ city districts

  • Balancing legal requirements with user experience

  • Creating flexible forms that adapt to district-specific needs

Design Solutions

  • The wizard-based approach prevented user overwhelm

  • Clear information architecture reduced navigation confusion

  • Integrated payment systems improved user convenience

Future Considerations

  • Scalable architecture supports additional service integration

  • Framework established for ongoing usability improvements

  • Foundation set for mobile-first optimization

Challenges on the Way

Methods

Methods

User Testing

Tested with 5 citizens who regularly use city services:

  • Users successfully completed previously abandoned processes

  • "This actually makes sense. I can see what I need to do and why."

  • Participants asked when they could start using the real app

  • Minor fixes needed for labels and interactive elements

Summary

Phase 1: Core Services

Primary focus:

  • Dog registration and payments

  • City flat registration

Phase 2: Additional Services

Expanded to include:

  • Demonstration notifications

  • Fishing permit requests

  • 7 additional low-frequency but important services

  • Streamlined bureaucratic processes

Prototyping & Testing

  • Created high-fidelity interactive prototypes

  • Conducted usability testing with 5 users

  • Presented findings to city hall representatives

The Solution

Information Architecture

Created a structured hierarchy that organizes all city services into intuitive categories, ensuring users can easily find and access the services they need without getting lost in the system's complexity.

Wizard-Based Forms

I transformed complex applications into step-by-step wizards:

  • One topic per step

  • Progress indicators show completion status

  • Questions appear based on previous answers

  • Automatic progress saving

  • Clear explanations for the required information

Key Features

  • Unified dashboard shows all pending payments and service statuses

  • Payment integration connects to existing city systems

  • District-specific content maintains local identity

  • Mobile-first design works on any device

Expected Impact

For Citizens:

  • Clear navigation eliminates confusion

  • Step-by-step guidance prevents abandonment

  • One place for all city services and payments

For City Staff:

  • Reduced duplicate data entry across districts

  • Fewer incomplete applications

  • Automated payment reminders reduce late fees

For the City:

  • Scalable framework for adding new services

  • Improved citizen satisfaction

  • Streamlined operations across all districts

Outcome


User Feedback

  • Positive reception: Users asked when the app would be available for immediate use

  • High usability scores: Minimal navigation issues identified

  • Clear value proposition: Users understood and appreciated the consolidated approach

Stakeholder Response

  • City hall representatives provided enthusiastic feedback

  • Successful validation of the unified approach

  • Smooth handoff to the technical implementation team

Process Improvements

  • Reduced bureaucratic complexity for city hall staff

  • Eliminated duplicate data entry across districts

  • Created a scalable framework for future service addition

My Learnings

Research Insights & Opportunities

Technical Challenges

  • Managing data consistency across 28+ city districts

  • Balancing legal requirements with user experience

  • Creating flexible forms that adapt to district-specific needs

Design Solutions

  • The wizard-based approach prevented user overwhelm

  • Clear information architecture reduced navigation confusion

  • Integrated payment systems improved user convenience

Future Considerations

  • Scalable architecture supports additional service integration

  • Framework established for ongoing usability improvements

  • Foundation set for mobile-first optimization