Role
Researcher, Designer
Timeline
May - Aug 2024
Team
Skandalaris Intern- Personal 100%
Skills
User Research
Stroy-telling
Website Design
Tools
Wix
Figma
Illustrator
Photoshop
Empowering Youth through Cultural Competence and Engagement with Web Design
The Noire Series needed a website to advance their mission of empowering underrepresented youth through culturally and educationally tailored workshops. They wanted an online presence that reflects their core values of cultural competence, progression, and authenticity. The new website aims to provide essential information about their workshops, facilitate engagement with educational partners, and serve as a platform for community connectivity and student empowerment.
Overview
Designed to showcase cultural aspects while balancing business goals and ensuring easy usability
Website Analysis
The Noire Series Team received number of calls and emails confirming what their mission and activities are
The Noire Series Team has noticed a rise in redundant questions about clarifying their mission and activities. It seems like people aren’t quite sure what they do, which means it’s time to clarify and make things more straightforward.
A. Lack of organization and structure
The original Noire Series Team website featured a large, centered logo and a basic navigation bar that lacked essential details such as session information and contact options, resulting in a confusing user experience.
B. Inconsistent Visual Hierarchy
The Noire Series Team has noticed a rise in redundant questions about clarifying their mission and activities.
C. Missing footer
The Noire Series Team has noticed a rise in redundant questions about clarifying their mission and activities.
Considering the challenges faced by the users and the Noire Series team,
How might we enhance the website to better organize information and establish a consistent visual hierarchy, so that users clearly understand The Noire Series' mission and activities?
Ideation
Information Architecture
To begin organizing the website content and enhancing usability, I first focused on structuring the information architecture. By grouping related content and establishing a logical hierarchy, I aimed to create a seamless navigation experience.
Design
A. Low fidelity wireframes
After creating the low-fidelity wireframes, I shared them with the Noire Series Team to confirm the content and layout. After tons of back-and-forth emails, endless replies, and feedbacks, I made several revisions based on the feedback.
Final Design
Exploring and Celebrating Blackness with the Noire Series Team
The new site is designed to deliver essential information more effectively while fostering community and student empowerment.
Reflection
Navigating Remote Collaboration
Working with the Noire Series team was an exciting and valuable experience for me. I had so much fun collaborating on their project, and it was my first time working fully online with a client. While I thoroughly enjoyed the process, I also faced new challenges, like spending long hours in front of the computer, communicating primarily through emails, and trying to convey ideas effectively without face-to-face interaction. This experience taught me the importance of clear, concise communication when working remotely, as misunderstandings can easily arise without the nuance of in-person conversation.
From a UI/UX perspective, this project deepened my understanding of designing for others. Working with a client remotely required me to step into their shoes even more, ensuring that the user’s experience aligned with the client's vision. It also highlighted the importance of empathy in design—understanding both the needs of the team and the end users to create something that feels intuitive and engaging for everyone involved.