Open Data Portal - European Commission
Responsive Redesign to Improve Performance and Usability Across Devices
Stage 1. User Research
Analyzed usage data to understand current mobile and tablet traffic, then ran an online survey to capture user expectations for mobile access. Findings showed a clear need for faster performance, touch-friendly navigation, and content clarity on smaller screens. Based on this, devices were classified by screen size and capabilities, forming the basis for a mobile-first design approach.
Stage 2. Ideation & Conceptualization
Start from the smallest screen (mobile HTML structure) and gradually enhance layouts for larger devices.
Maintain the existing portal structure while introducing media queries and responsive adjustments to ensure content readability on all screen sizes.
Conceptualized user journeys for key tasks: browsing datasets, searching, and downloading on mobile.
Co-creation sessions with stakeholders ensured alignment between technical feasibility and user needs, balancing the European Commission’s objectives of accessibility, inclusivity, and performance.
Stage 3. Design Execution
Wireframing
Developed responsive wireframes for mobile-first layouts, focusing on dataset browsing, filtering, and download processes.
Ensured touch-friendly navigation with larger tap targets, collapsible menus, and simplified forms.
Prototyping
Built interactive prototypes simulating the portal on multiple device categories.
Tested transitions from mobile to tablet and desktop views, ensuring consistent task flows across breakpoints.
UI Design
Prioritized clarity and performance, using lightweight design patterns and typography optimized for readability.
Ensured accessibility compliance (WCAG 2.1), crucial for a European public-facing platform.
Integrated feedback loops to refine the mobile-first layout while preserving the familiarity of the existing desktop structure.
Stage 4. User Testing & Iterations
Conducted remote usability tests with participants representing different device categories. Key findings included:
Users valued the consistency of dataset search and filtering across devices.
Some confusion arose from collapsing menus on tablet views.
Iterations included:
Refining navigation patterns to remain intuitive across screen sizes.
Improving dataset metadata display on mobile without overwhelming the interface.
The iterative process ensured that the portal performed well across smartphones, tablets, and intermediate devices.
Stage 5. Final Presentation and Documentation
Delivered a comprehensive package including:
Research insights from analysis and user surveys.
Device classification framework and responsive design rationale.
Annotated wireframes and prototypes demonstrating mobile-first adaptations.
Testing results and documented design iterations.
Guidelines for scaling the responsive approach to future portal updates.
Outcome
The redesigned portal delivered a seamless mobile-first experience, significantly improving accessibility for users on smartphones and tablets. The new responsive structure ensured faster performance, clearer navigation, and consistent usability across devices, while maintaining the familiar desktop experience. This approach increased user satisfaction, broadened the portal’s reach to a wider European audience, and positioned the European Commission’s Open Data Portal as a future-proof, accessible, and scalable platform.
