Making the Detroit Parks Coalition website more user-friendly.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The Detroit Parks Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for parks in Detroit for better funding of resources and cleanliness.
OBJECTIVES
Reorganize the tabs for a better navigation menu
Better visualize the different parks they represent by spotlighting them
Optimize interface for the donation page
Wireframing
After conducting research on what users found most frustrating about the platform, we ideated the feedback into wireframes using the platform Figma.
In general, our design did two major things. We implemented more pictures into the layout of the website for aesthetic purposes to attract more foot traffic. Additionally, we organized the navigation menu as well as its contents so that certain features would be easier to navigate to.
Prototyping
Below is our final redesign of the website for the non-profit organization Detroit Parks Coalition. We kept the same tabs for the navigation menu, but we moved around the content so as to more easily guide users to the features they're looking for. Our footer also has a subscribe button so that users can easily sign up for emails to receive monthly newsletters and upcoming events.
The homepage has a cleaner, more efficient look. To get the name of the park, the user can hover over the picture to eliminate overcrowding with words.
We decided to opt for a clear-cut design for the About Us and Resource pages, aiming for coherence and simplicity.
Similar to the homepage, the user can hover over the picture to get more information on the park, such as its name. When you scroll down from the Donate subsection, users reach the Contact Us section where they can fill out a form to get in contact with the leaders of the organization.
Final Thoughts
This UX design project was a highly rewarding experience that taught me valuable lessons about user-centered design.
One of the major takeaways that I've learned, especially during the UX research process, is the notion that "users are always right". I understand the importance of putting the user first and prioritizing their needs and preferences. Issues with the website that I thought would be a bigger burden on the users turned out to not be as troublesome as I otherwise thought. Ultimately, I had to learn to put aside my bias and instead listen to the responses of the users.
I also learned the significance of applying various UX principles such as accessibility, simplicity, and consistency to create a seamless and intuitive experience for the user.
Overall, the project was a great opportunity to further my skills and knowledge, and I'll use this experience to continue growing as a UX designer.
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