Background
During the fall semester of my senior year in 2020, I enrolled in LSC 532: Web Design for the Sciences, a course emphasizing the clear and accessible communication of scientific information online. For our final project, my team collaborated to redesign the website for the University of Wisconsin Arboretum (https://arboretum.wisc.edu/), aiming to enhance user engagement and streamline information accessibility.
Our approach began with gathering insights from an original designer of the website and analyzing site analytics to identify user preferences and traffic patterns. Armed with this information and user archetypes representing diverse visitor needs, we crafted a modern redesign focused on presenting key information prominently on the homepage. Additionally, we restructured sections of the site using a question-answer format to simplify navigation, particularly within the Visit section.
What I Did
I took the lead in gathering insights from the original website designer and conducting user research to inform our redesign strategy. Collaborating closely with my team, I translated these insights into a comprehensive redesign plan aimed at addressing user needs and improving overall website usability.
What I Learned
This project reinforced the importance of thorough client/project owner interactions to understand goals and user needs effectively. By asking pertinent questions and empathizing with diverse user perspectives, we were able to prioritize redesign efforts and deliver a minimal viable product tailored to user expectations. Additionally, this experience provided valuable insights into user-centric design principles and the iterative nature of web development.
Redesigned Home Page
This new website now spans the entire width of the screen and features information about the Arboretum, including Our Mission and Our Vision statements.
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Original Home Page
The original page had its content width style as boxed and was not welcoming to new visitors unfamiliar with the Arboretum.
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Redesigned Visit Page
The content within the Visit page was restructured into sections in a Question-Answer style, allowing users to find specific information quickly.
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Original Visit Page
The original visit page had its content under different sections but presented information in paragraphs without clear distinctions.
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Redesigned Learn Page
The new Learn page features content organized in a Question-Answer style and utilizes accordion components to prevent overwhelming users with unnecessary text.
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Original Learn Page
Similar to the original Visit page, information was presented in paragraphs and sections without clear labeling.
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Harold Persona Info
When redesigning the page, it was essential to create personas like Harold to guide design and concept decisions.
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Harold Persona Info
Two personas were developed for this project, with Harold being the first and Sarah being the second.