Role - Team Research Lead | Tools - Figma, Squarespace | Year - 2023
Problem
Difficulty engaging potential donors and increasing contributions due to ineffective communication.
The center needed a better way to connect with potential donors and encourage support for its mission. Without a clear strategy in place, engagement remained low, making it difficult to secure the funding necessary to sustain and grow its impact.
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The Solution
A fresh digital experience for Southside
Community Center.
Our team decided to revamp the Center’s website, making it more intuitive, visually appealing, and user-friendly. Through strategic design choices, clear messaging, and improved navigation, we aimed to create a seamless experience that better communicates the center’s mission and encourages contributions.
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Design Process
Our mood board captures a vibrant and welcoming aesthetic, blending warm colors and utilizing modern design elements to reflect the energy and inclusivity of the Southside Community Center.
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Flow Charts & Site Map
Our flow charts and site map illustrate a streamlined user journey, designed to prioritize intuitive navigation and accessibility. By organizing content logically and simplifying pathways, we ensured users can effortlessly access essential information and engage with the center’s offerings.
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SWOT Analysis & Quad Chart
We conducted a comprehensive SWOT analysis to evaluate the website’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This analysis provided valuable insights into areas where the site excelled and where improvements were needed.
Using a quad chart, we prioritized solutions like storytelling, impact-driven visuals, and features such as an annual report page, ensuring the redesign better connects with donors and showcases the Center’s mission.
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Wireframes
We created low-fidelity wireframes to explore different layouts, structure, and navigation options. These wireframes allowed us to visualize key components of the user experience and test initial concepts.
Through iterative feedback and refinement, we improved the clarity, functionality, and usability of the designs, ensuring they aligned with user needs and project goals. We then created our final high-fidelity wireframes to show the client our ideas.
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What I Learned
The Impact of Broader User Research
Engaging with a diverse range of community members provided valuable insights, reinforcing the importance of inclusive research to capture varied user needs effectively.
Engaging with a diverse range of community members provided valuable insights, reinforcing the importance of inclusive research to capture varied user needs effectively.
The Value of Stakeholder Collaboration
Frequent feedback sessions and workshops helped align the design with stakeholder expectations. I learned that continuous engagement fosters better communication and ensures the final product meets real-world needs.
Frequent feedback sessions and workshops helped align the design with stakeholder expectations. I learned that continuous engagement fosters better communication and ensures the final product meets real-world needs.
Prototyping Early for Better Insights
Introducing high-fidelity prototypes earlier in the process would have allowed for more realistic user interactions and actionable feedback, highlighting the importance of testing polished designs sooner.
Introducing high-fidelity prototypes earlier in the process would have allowed for more realistic user interactions and actionable feedback, highlighting the importance of testing polished designs sooner.
Fully Developed Prototypes
Working within time constraints and project objectives meant delivering a partial prototype. This taught me the impact that a fully developed prototype can have on a client and made my team wish for more time with the project.
Working within time constraints and project objectives meant delivering a partial prototype. This taught me the impact that a fully developed prototype can have on a client and made my team wish for more time with the project.
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Link to my Figma file HERE.
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