Coquitlam River Community Garden Website Redesign
Full redesign of the official website of a local not-for-profit community garden organization.
Client: Coquitlam River Community Garden (CRCG)
Space: Urban gardening, sustainable communities
Timeframe: 5 months
My role: UX Researcher, Visual Designer, UX/UI Designer, UAT
Team: 3 core team members: Webmaster, Garden President, and Designer
Context: volunteer passion project
Enhanced website has clear structure, improved navigation, and modern design to engage new and seasoned gardeners
Problem: Outdated website lacked clear structure, incompatible with mobile devices, and visually unappealing
Solution: Visually refresh the website to engage new and seasoned gardeners in the community
User Assessment and Competitive Analysis Uncover Desired Changes
Recommendations from findings include adding a search bar, featuring demo plots prominently, and improving access to contact info and event registration. Merging document categories will also clarify content. Competitor analysis shows opportunities to enhance content presentation and streamline user processes.
💡How might we improve the accessibility and visual appeal of gardening resources while ensuring a user-friendly experience for individuals with varying levels of digital proficiency?
Optimized Information Architecture for Navigation and Content Visibility
Refreshed Visual Design Improves Legibility and User Engagement
The brand colours were refreshed with accessible shade variations, and the font was changed to Cabin for improved accessibility and a more modern aesthetic. Navigation was reworked, with tile components added to the index page above the fold for easy linking to key pages. A search bar was added to the navbar to help users find specific items quickly.
Hi-Fidelity mockups compatible with mobile and desktop sizing
Learnings and Takeaways
Accessibility Focus: The design prioritized accessibility for a senior-aged audience, ensuring WCAG compliance and user-friendly features. Key adjustments were made to improve visual clarity and usability.
Collaborative Leadership: I guided the team by sharing expertise and organizing tasks, such as user research and design principle education. The experience reinforced the value of balancing expert input with team collaboration.
Community Engagement: Working on the project allowed me to connect with fellow gardeners, strengthening their positive feelings toward the website redesign. This sense of community was a key motivator throughout the process.
