Improving site findability
Redesigning Community Southwark’s website architecture to improve findability and support strategic goals.
Role:
Product Designer, UX Researcher
Team:
Product Design
Skills:
User Research, Design, Content Design, Prototyping & Testing
Situation
Community Southwark's website failed to meet its strategic goals due to poor organisation and difficult navigation. Users frequently reported difficulty finding specific information, leading to frustration and disengagement. The lack of a logical user journey hindered the organisation’s ability to effectively communicate and support its members and the broader community.
Task
My role as UX Researcher, Product Designer, and Content Designer was to overhaul the website's architecture to enhance user findability and satisfaction. This required a deep understanding of user needs, reorganising content, and ensuring the site’s structure aligned with the organisation's strategic goals of supporting members, sharing resources, and facilitating community engagement.
Action
User research
Conducted a card sort with 11 participants using KardSort to understand how users categorise the content.
Analysis and design
Developed a new site structure based on findings, focusing on clear categories like "Volunteering," "Membership," and "Resources/Help."Collaborative design
Collaborated with the Product Manager and facilitated workshops to align the redesign with user needs and organisational goals.Phased rollout
Proposed a phased implementation, starting with key categories and followed by usability testing to refine the design.
Reviewing existing site structure
Ideating approach based on outcomes
Setting up and testing an online card sort exercise
Writing up card sort instructions to share with participants
Analysing data from the card sort exercise
Ideating concepts based on data analysis and UX trends
Presenting back insights and recommendations to the clients
Documenting a next step action plan
Results
Improved findability
The redesigned website structure, directly informed by user input, significantly improved content findability and user satisfaction.
Positive feedback
Preliminary feedback on the new site structure has been overwhelmingly positive, with users reporting easier navigation and better alignment with their needs and expectations.Ongoing improvements
The project laid the foundation for continuous improvements, with plans in place for ongoing usability testing and adjustments to ensure the site remains aligned with Community Southwark’s strategic objectives.
Design process
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Minimal change - mobile closed
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Minimal changes - mobile open
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Minimal changes - desktop closed
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Minimal changes - desktop open
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Advanced changes - mobile closed
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Advanced changes - mobile open
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Advanced changes - desktop closed
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Advanced changes - desktop open
