South Coast Air Quality Management District Mobile App Redesign

Resource Accessibility

We approached this in two ways: introducing onboarding screens, and adding more detail to the help button.

Problem #1

Users aren't well-informed of all the new features in the application.

The solution

We added onboarding screens on startup to introduce new features. They help first-time and returning users alike, and lend the app some credibility — people learn to use it properly instead of feeling overwhelmed. The screens we added cover Facilities, Complaints, and Complaint Tracking.

Problem #2

The 1-800-CALL-SMOG help button was misleading and easy to misclick — it dialed the user's phone directly the moment it was tapped.

The solution

We replaced it with the pop-up tray pictured here, giving users three clear options instead of one accidental phone call:

1. File a Complaint — report dust, gasoline dispensing, residential wood burning, or smoke.
2. Track Status — check a complaint already filed, and follow up if needed.
3. Call Now — reach the help line directly when that's genuinely what's needed.

Improving the F.I.N.D. (Facility INformation Detail) Search — More Info

F.I.N.D. is an integral part of the SCAQMD system: it lets residents search public information about AQMD-regulated facilities — those required to hold a permit for equipment that releases pollutants — and track their data. That transparency gives residents a way to raise issues and hold companies accountable.

Improving the search meant better facility information pages (map and list views pictured here), added filters, and a search design robust enough to work across different use cases. It took a few rounds with the client to confirm we were headed the right direction, but the result integrates cleanly into the rest of the app.

Complaint Submittal & Management

Complaints let the public report odors or pollution they're noticing. Before this redesign, submitting one was buried on the website somewhere users rarely found it. We brought it to the forefront of the app so more residents would use it — and so SCAQMD could hold corporations accountable.

Complaint submittal

Users tap the help button in the bottom navigation to reach the complaint flow, then add contact info and complaint details — type, description, street address, and business name. After submitting, they receive a complaint number for reference, and the complaint is saved inside the app.

Complaint management

From the same help button, users can open "Track Complaint" to view, add, or delete complaints at any time. It's one of the features we've heard the most positive feedback on — people like having that information within easy reach.