Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented
Minnesota Council for the Gifted and Talented (MCGT), a state-wide nonprofit organization, is dedicated to supporting parents of gifted and talented children. Their mission encompasses a wide range of user needs, including emotional support, programs, advocacy, and access to educational and financial resources. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, MCGT has heightened their sense of urgency to redesign their website, aiming to establish it as the central and primary touchpoint for their community.
Methods and Tools:
Usability Testing and Review
Data Synthesis
Architecture Diagram
Exploratory Research
Prototyping
Wireframing
Developer Handoff
Logo Design
Figma
Invision Whiteboard
Zoom
Foundation
To initiate the redesign of MCGT's website, I embarked on an extensive research process aimed at gathering essential information and identifying potential opportunities. In addition to addressing the design aspect, it became evident that the navigation and architecture of the site were significant pain points that needed to be addressed.
To begin, I delved into Google Analytics, meticulously analyzing the data. I crafted an Architecture Diagram that visually represented the current website's navigation bar and assessed the page views for each tab over the past year and 30 days. This provided valuable insights into user behavior and the specific content they sought on the site.
Next, I compared these metrics with the top-10 most visited pages on the website. Surprisingly, I discovered that two of these highly popular pages were not included in the navigation bar and could only be accessed through search engines.
To gain insights into the community's perspective and gather feedback on the website, I conducted a comprehensive survey. This survey aimed to delve into the community's perceptions, preferences, and experiences related to the website.. The results of the survey reinforced a crucial pain point: users found it challenging to navigate the existing site and locate the resources they needed most.
With these valuable insights in hand, I proceeded to the next phase: usability tests. Throughout the prototyping stage, I conducted tests in both the early and late stages, ensuring continuous alignment with users' perspectives. In the initial testing, I employed a card sorting activity to finalize the navigation bar and gather user feedback on the design and layout changes.
Approach
Six months later, MCGT reached out to discuss the possibility of finalizing the design work and collaborating with a developer to launch the website. During our meeting, I presented the previous designs and confirmed if they still aligned with MCGT's vision. Following their feedback, I embarked on a redesign process, incorporating necessary modifications to the UI, layout, and navigation. Ultimately, I completed and finalized 25 wireframes to ensure the website met MCGT's requirements and expectations, while also keeping the users of the site in mind.
First Draft - Hompage
Homepage Redesign
Launched Hompage
Outcome
After finalizing the design, I assumed the role of project manager, collaborating closely with the developer. I ensured a smooth handover of the style guide and promptly addressed any design-related inquiries that arose during the development phase. Throughout this process, I maintained regular communication with MCGT, providing them with timely updates on the project's progress. Ultimately, the project culminated in a successful launch of the website.
Conclusion
During the initial 4-week design sprint, the main focus was on redesigning the website, revamping the site navigation, and improving the Information Architecture. Subsequently, I received a follow-up contact to complete the final design and collaborate with a developer in order to launch the site. This phase involved refining the design and working closely with the developer to ensure a successful website launch.