Making data entry convenient for all users.

Minnowtech App

IOS/Android • User Interface • Wireframes • Prototyping

Problem Statement

Minnowtech’s biomass assessment system relied on weekly manual data entry from shrimp farmers. During beta testing, missed or late entries led to inconsistent data, reducing the accuracy of biomass readings and undermining decision-making for farm operators.

The issue was not technical failure—it was human friction.

Goal

Design a lightweight mobile application that:

  • Encourages consistent weekly data entry

  • Reduces missed or late submissions

  • Operates reliably in remote, low-connectivity environments

The goal was to improve data reliability without increasing cognitive load for busy, non-technical users.

Role: Solo UX Researcher & UX Designer
Timeline: July 2023 – August 2023
Company: Minnowtech (Aquaculture Technology, B2B)

My Role & Ownership

As the sole UX designer, I owned:

  • UX strategy and interaction design

  • Visual design and motion

  • Prototyping and design validation

  • Close collaboration with engineering during beta

This was a supporting product designed to strengthen an existing hardware + software ecosystem.

UX Challenge

During beta testing across two major farm sites (Hawaii and Ecuador), Minnowtech identified a recurring issue:
users frequently forgot to log weekly shrimp data, resulting in gaps that compromised biomass accuracy.

Shrimp farmers—often operating in physically demanding, time-sensitive environments—did not consistently engage with the existing system unless prompted.

The challenge was to:

  • Improve compliance without adding complexity

  • Support users across languages, regions, and connectivity constraints

  • Keep the experience fast, intuitive, and non-intrusive

Key Design Decisions

1. Reminders as the Core Feature (Not an Add-On)

Tradeoff: Add features vs. solve the real problem.
Decision: Center the app entirely around reminders and data entry—no dashboards, analytics, or secondary tasks.

2. Escalating Notifications, Not Punitive Alerts

Tradeoff: Accountability vs. user frustration.
Decision: Use gentle weekly reminders that escalate to daily notifications only when entries are overdue, maintaining urgency without alienation.

3. Visual-First UX Over Text

Tradeoff: Text clarity vs. global accessibility.
Decision: Rely on icons, indicators, and visual cues to reduce language dependence and support global users.

4. Fastest Path to Completion

Tradeoff: Rich onboarding vs. efficiency.
Decision: Design a direct path from app launch → data entry → confirmation, minimizing steps for busy users.

Design Solution

I designed a mobile-first data entry application that integrates seamlessly with Minnowtech’s existing system.

Core Features

  • Weekly and overdue push notifications

  • Clear indicators for missing data

  • Streamlined data entry flow

  • Minimalist UI optimized for speed and clarity

Visual Design

  • Preserved Minnowtech’s brand identity while refining the color palette

  • Introduced a custom background gradient to elevate the minimalist interface

  • Selected familiar, high-legibility typography to ensure ease of use

  • Designed for consistency across devices and environments

The visual system supported clarity, trust, and usability without distracting from the app’s primary function.

Getting Started Guide

Outcome & Impact

  • Improved consistency of weekly data submissions during beta

  • Reduced missed entries caused by forgetfulness

  • Increased reliability of biomass assessments

  • Strengthened the overall value of Minnowtech’s hardware + software ecosystem

Impact (Directional):

  • Higher data completeness across test sites

  • Reduced manual follow-up required from internal teams

  • Increased confidence in system-generated insights.

Mobile Slides

What This Case Study Demonstrates

  • Designing for behavior change, not just interfaces

  • Strong judgment in scope control and prioritization

  • Ability to design for global, non-technical users

  • Experience building UX for low-connectivity, real-world environments

  • Translating academic/technical systems into practical tools

What I Learned

  • How to design technology that works across languages, cultures, and geographies

  • The importance of simplicity when designing for physically demanding workflows

  • How UX can meaningfully improve data quality—not by enforcing rules, but by supporting users