March 26, 2025
March 26, 2025
NČS: Helping Researchers and the Public Record Nature Together
NČS: Helping Researchers and the Public Record Nature Together
NČS: Helping Researchers and the Public Record Nature Together
Designing a simple tool to collect and analyze bird songs through collaboration between scientists and the public.
Designing a simple tool to collect and analyze bird songs through collaboration between scientists and the public.
Designing a simple tool to collect and analyze bird songs through collaboration between scientists and the public.
Time frame
4 weeks
My ROLE
PRODUCT, UI/UX, BRAND DESIGNER
PRODUCT, UI/UX, BRAND DESIGNER
PRODUCT, UI/UX, BRAND DESIGNER
Client
Charles University
Charles University
Year
2025
Project Overview / Context
Project Overview / Context
Project Overview / Context
The Faculty of Science at Charles University has been studying regional variations in the song of the Yellowhammer for years. Researchers needed a way to gather more data efficiently and involve the public in the process. Existing collection methods were slow and relied on manual uploads through an old web portal, which made it difficult for volunteers to contribute directly from the field.
The goal was to design a mobile and web app that would allow anyone to record and submit bird songs easily while helping scientists manage, validate, and analyze them using AI tools. The app also served as a visual refresh of the project’s identity, with a modern icon set and brand feel consistent across both platforms.
I led the design of the user experience and interface for both the mobile and web versions. Within a short timeframe before my final exams, I created user flows, wireframes, and an interactive prototype in Figma that could be tested directly with researchers and the student developers implementing the system.
The Faculty of Science at Charles University has been studying regional variations in the song of the Yellowhammer for years. Researchers needed a way to gather more data efficiently and involve the public in the process. Existing collection methods were slow and relied on manual uploads through an old web portal, which made it difficult for volunteers to contribute directly from the field.
The goal was to design a mobile and web app that would allow anyone to record and submit bird songs easily while helping scientists manage, validate, and analyze them using AI tools. The app also served as a visual refresh of the project’s identity, with a modern icon set and brand feel consistent across both platforms.
I led the design of the user experience and interface for both the mobile and web versions. Within a short timeframe before my final exams, I created user flows, wireframes, and an interactive prototype in Figma that could be tested directly with researchers and the student developers implementing the system.
The Faculty of Science at Charles University has been studying regional variations in the song of the Yellowhammer for years. Researchers needed a way to gather more data efficiently and involve the public in the process. Existing collection methods were slow and relied on manual uploads through an old web portal, which made it difficult for volunteers to contribute directly from the field.
The goal was to design a mobile and web app that would allow anyone to record and submit bird songs easily while helping scientists manage, validate, and analyze them using AI tools. The app also served as a visual refresh of the project’s identity, with a modern icon set and brand feel consistent across both platforms.
I led the design of the user experience and interface for both the mobile and web versions. Within a short timeframe before my final exams, I created user flows, wireframes, and an interactive prototype in Figma that could be tested directly with researchers and the student developers implementing the system.
Problem / Discovery
Problem / Discovery
Problem / Discovery
The original data collection relied on an outdated, slow web interface that wasn’t mobile-friendly. Volunteers recording birds in the field had no simple way to upload audio. Some sent files via email or shared drives, which caused inconsistent file formats, missing metadata, and more manual work for researchers.
The process lacked automation, clarity, and accessibility. The main challenge was to design a tool that anyone could use outdoors with minimal friction, while still providing scientists with structured, accurate data including location, time, and song characteristics.
Since the development was handled by a small group of student programmers with limited front-end experience, the design had to remain technically simple, visually clean, and easy to implement while preserving scientific reliability.
Goals & Constraints
Goals & Constraints
Goals & Constraints
The goal was to create a functional prototype showing how the app could make bird song collection faster, clearer, and more collaborative.
The design needed to:
Enable quick recording and uploading directly from a phone
Guide users through tagging and categorizing the song
Provide visual feedback and progress states
Support AI-based evaluation on the backend
Be visually consistent with the scientific project’s identity
The main constraint was time. The prototype had to be delivered in just a few weeks before my graduation, so the focus was on clarity of flow and interface rather than deep technical integration.
The goal was to create a functional prototype showing how the app could make bird song collection faster, clearer, and more collaborative.
The design needed to:
Enable quick recording and uploading directly from a phone
Guide users through tagging and categorizing the song
Provide visual feedback and progress states
Support AI-based evaluation on the backend
Be visually consistent with the scientific project’s identity
The main constraint was time. The prototype had to be delivered in just a few weeks before my graduation, so the focus was on clarity of flow and interface rather than deep technical integration.
The goal was to create a functional prototype showing how the app could make bird song collection faster, clearer, and more collaborative.
The design needed to:
Enable quick recording and uploading directly from a phone
Guide users through tagging and categorizing the song
Provide visual feedback and progress states
Support AI-based evaluation on the backend
Be visually consistent with the scientific project’s identity
The main constraint was time. The prototype had to be delivered in just a few weeks before my graduation, so the focus was on clarity of flow and interface rather than deep technical integration.
Approach / Process & Decisions
Understanding the flow of research
Phase 1
I began by mapping the end-to-end process – from field recording to data labeling and analysis – to uncover where friction appeared. Uploading and classifying recordings were the biggest pain points, especially for volunteers using different devices.
Understanding the flow of research
Phase 1
I began by mapping the end-to-end process – from field recording to data labeling and analysis – to uncover where friction appeared. Uploading and classifying recordings were the biggest pain points, especially for volunteers using different devices.
Understanding the flow of research
Phase 1
I began by mapping the end-to-end process – from field recording to data labeling and analysis – to uncover where friction appeared. Uploading and classifying recordings were the biggest pain points, especially for volunteers using different devices.
Designing for both experts and the public
Phase 2
The app needed to work for both scientists and casual contributors. I simplified the process into four main steps – record → review → tag → submit – with clear icons and visual cues guiding each action. This balance ensured scientific accuracy while keeping the experience lightweight and intuitive for volunteers.
Designing for both experts and the public
Phase 2
The app needed to work for both scientists and casual contributors. I simplified the process into four main steps – record → review → tag → submit – with clear icons and visual cues guiding each action. This balance ensured scientific accuracy while keeping the experience lightweight and intuitive for volunteers.
Designing for both experts and the public
Phase 2
The app needed to work for both scientists and casual contributors. I simplified the process into four main steps – record → review → tag → submit – with clear icons and visual cues guiding each action. This balance ensured scientific accuracy while keeping the experience lightweight and intuitive for volunteers.
Visual and Interactive Design
Phase 3
I designed custom icon system for dialects and categories. The recording interface used iOS’s Dynamic Island for live capture feedback, while haptics and soft transitions made the app feel calm and responsive. A gamified map divided into geo-grid squares visualized recordings, with users able to “dominate” an empty square by submitting the first song – encouraging exploration and community-driven data collection.
Visual and Interactive Design
Phase 3
I designed custom icon system for dialects and categories. The recording interface used iOS’s Dynamic Island for live capture feedback, while haptics and soft transitions made the app feel calm and responsive. A gamified map divided into geo-grid squares visualized recordings, with users able to “dominate” an empty square by submitting the first song – encouraging exploration and community-driven data collection.
Visual and Interactive Design
Phase 3
I designed custom icon system for dialects and categories. The recording interface used iOS’s Dynamic Island for live capture feedback, while haptics and soft transitions made the app feel calm and responsive. A gamified map divided into geo-grid squares visualized recordings, with users able to “dominate” an empty square by submitting the first song – encouraging exploration and community-driven data collection.
Prototyping and Collaboration
Phase 4
I built an interactive prototype in Figma, covering onboarding, recording, tagging, and the map interface. Close collaboration with iOS, Android, and web developers helped adapt the design to their technical limitations while keeping consistency intact. This iterative process ensured the design remained realistic, scalable, and ready for active development.
Prototyping and Collaboration
Phase 4
I built an interactive prototype in Figma, covering onboarding, recording, tagging, and the map interface. Close collaboration with iOS, Android, and web developers helped adapt the design to their technical limitations while keeping consistency intact. This iterative process ensured the design remained realistic, scalable, and ready for active development.
Prototyping and Collaboration
Phase 4
I built an interactive prototype in Figma, covering onboarding, recording, tagging, and the map interface. Close collaboration with iOS, Android, and web developers helped adapt the design to their technical limitations while keeping consistency intact. This iterative process ensured the design remained realistic, scalable, and ready for active development.
Final Design / Solution
Final Design / Solution
Final Design / Solution
The final prototype presented a clear, mobile-first experience for recording and submitting bird songs. Each submission automatically included metadata such as GPS coordinates, time, and recording conditions. The map view allowed both researchers and volunteers to see which areas had been covered and which remained unexplored, turning data collection into a collaborative effort.
Researchers could browse submissions on the web dashboard, filter by dialect, and monitor recording density. The backend system was designed to work with AI models that analyze and classify the songs based on acoustic similarity.
The project is still actively in development – the research team continues to test different AI models for song classification and improve the way dialects are visualized on the map. The UI is being implemented and refined by student developers, with ongoing iterations between the design and data science teams.
The final prototype presented a clear, mobile-first experience for recording and submitting bird songs. Each submission automatically included metadata such as GPS coordinates, time, and recording conditions. The map view allowed both researchers and volunteers to see which areas had been covered and which remained unexplored, turning data collection into a collaborative effort.
Researchers could browse submissions on the web dashboard, filter by dialect, and monitor recording density. The backend system was designed to work with AI models that analyze and classify the songs based on acoustic similarity.
The project is still actively in development – the research team continues to test different AI models for song classification and improve the way dialects are visualized on the map. The UI is being implemented and refined by student developers, with ongoing iterations between the design and data science teams.
The final prototype presented a clear, mobile-first experience for recording and submitting bird songs. Each submission automatically included metadata such as GPS coordinates, time, and recording conditions. The map view allowed both researchers and volunteers to see which areas had been covered and which remained unexplored, turning data collection into a collaborative effort.
Researchers could browse submissions on the web dashboard, filter by dialect, and monitor recording density. The backend system was designed to work with AI models that analyze and classify the songs based on acoustic similarity.
The project is still actively in development – the research team continues to test different AI models for song classification and improve the way dialects are visualized on the map. The UI is being implemented and refined by student developers, with ongoing iterations between the design and data science teams.
Outcome / Impact
Outcome / Impact
Outcome / Impact
The prototype successfully demonstrated how design can make scientific participation more open and structured. Researchers appreciated the map-based data visualization and the simplified submission flow, while volunteers found the recording process clear and rewarding.
Even though the first development version is still in progress, the concept proved valuable in bridging public involvement with scientific research. It showed that a well-designed interface could both improve data quality and motivate people to participate through light gamification and clear feedback.
The prototype successfully demonstrated how design can make scientific participation more open and structured. Researchers appreciated the map-based data visualization and the simplified submission flow, while volunteers found the recording process clear and rewarding.
Even though the first development version is still in progress, the concept proved valuable in bridging public involvement with scientific research. It showed that a well-designed interface could both improve data quality and motivate people to participate through light gamification and clear feedback.
The prototype successfully demonstrated how design can make scientific participation more open and structured. Researchers appreciated the map-based data visualization and the simplified submission flow, while volunteers found the recording process clear and rewarding.
Even though the first development version is still in progress, the concept proved valuable in bridging public involvement with scientific research. It showed that a well-designed interface could both improve data quality and motivate people to participate through light gamification and clear feedback.
Learnings / Reflection
Learnings / Reflection
Learnings / Reflection
This project taught me how design can support scientific collaboration by turning complex research workflows into accessible, human-centered interfaces.
Working under tight deadlines before exams meant prioritizing the essentials – clarity, consistency, and purpose. I learned how to adapt design to technical constraints and communicate with less experienced developers while keeping the product vision intact.
The gamified map approach turned out to be one of the most effective motivators for participation. If the project continues, I’d like to explore more social and community-based features – allowing users to compare contributions, share recordings, or track dialect changes over time.
The ongoing AI experimentation and UI implementation make this an evolving project – one that continues to show how thoughtful design can amplify both science and public engagement.
This project taught me how design can support scientific collaboration by turning complex research workflows into accessible, human-centered interfaces.
Working under tight deadlines before exams meant prioritizing the essentials – clarity, consistency, and purpose. I learned how to adapt design to technical constraints and communicate with less experienced developers while keeping the product vision intact.
The gamified map approach turned out to be one of the most effective motivators for participation. If the project continues, I’d like to explore more social and community-based features – allowing users to compare contributions, share recordings, or track dialect changes over time.
The ongoing AI experimentation and UI implementation make this an evolving project – one that continues to show how thoughtful design can amplify both science and public engagement.
This project taught me how design can support scientific collaboration by turning complex research workflows into accessible, human-centered interfaces.
Working under tight deadlines before exams meant prioritizing the essentials – clarity, consistency, and purpose. I learned how to adapt design to technical constraints and communicate with less experienced developers while keeping the product vision intact.
The gamified map approach turned out to be one of the most effective motivators for participation. If the project continues, I’d like to explore more social and community-based features – allowing users to compare contributions, share recordings, or track dialect changes over time.
The ongoing AI experimentation and UI implementation make this an evolving project – one that continues to show how thoughtful design can amplify both science and public engagement.
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