UGM website
The Union Gospel Mission website refresh project was an ambitious endeavor aimed at revamping the online presence of an organization dedicated to transforming lives. The goal was to create a more engaging, informative, and user-friendly website that mirrors UGM's impactful work in the community.
I was responsible for the overall direction of the website's design and content. My role involved strategizing the site layout, defining the user experience, and ensuring that the content effectively communicated UGM's mission and services.
The team included 2 designers, 2 developers, content creators, and project managers, all working cohesively to bring this project to life.
May, 2020 - April, 2021
I analyzed similar websites in the credit union sector to understand industry trends and benchmark best practices, providing a framework for our redesign strategy. This step also informed our Information Architecture, allowing us to create a site structure that was competitive and up-to-date.
Dive into User Needs: Our research focused on deeply understanding UGM's audience through interviews and surveys, revealing essential needs like simplified navigation and more engaging content. These insights guided critical enhancements, aiming to meet both the practical and emotional needs of users.
Competitor Analysis and Web Trends: We evaluated industry peers and current web trends to benchmark UGM's site. This analysis informed our design strategy, blending visual appeal with functionality, ensuring the website not only stands out but is also user-friendly and meets high accessibility standards.
The design process was iterative and user-centered. We created prototypes, conducted usability testing, and gathered feedback to refine our ideas. Our focus was on creating an intuitive navigation structure and a visually appealing interface that resonates with UGM’s ethos.
The redesign significantly enhanced user engagement and accessibility, underscoring the value of deep user insights and strategic design. Had my role at UGM continued, I would have planned to implement the following enhancements, although I transitioned to a new role shortly after the refresh:
