User Interface

User Experience

Information Architecture

Web Design

How can we effectively communicate with a wider corporate audience?

How can we effectively communicate with a wider corporate audience?

How can we effectively communicate with a wider corporate audience?

How can we effectively communicate with a wider corporate audience?

How can we effectively communicate with a wider corporate audience?

How can we effectively communicate with a wider corporate audience?

Redesign the existing General Sports Worldwide website to bring in a fresher, more corporate feel.

Redesign the existing General Sports Worldwide website to bring in a fresher, more corporate feel.

Redesign the existing General Sports Worldwide website to bring in a fresher, more corporate feel.

Redesign the existing General Sports Worldwide website to bring in a fresher, more corporate feel.

Redesign the existing General Sports Worldwide website to bring in a fresher, more corporate feel.

Redesign the existing General Sports Worldwide website to bring in a fresher, more corporate feel.

The Project

The Project

General Sports Worldwide (GSW) required a refresh of their website, envisioning a more corporate sporting identity for their online presence. Our goal was to expand the website beyond a one-page structure and effectively showcase all of GSW's business offerings.

General Sports Worldwide (GSW) required a refresh of their website, envisioning a more corporate sporting identity for their online presence. Our goal was to expand the website beyond a one-page structure and effectively showcase all of GSW's business offerings.

January 2023 - March 2023

January 2023 - March 2023

Complete

Designer

January 2023 - March 2023

Complete

Designer

Role

Role

In January 2023, I undertook the role of the sole designer for the General Sports Worldwide website redesign project. My responsibilities included client communications, design conceptualisation, and the hands-on development of the site using WordPress. My approach emphasised fostering a clear and constructive client relationship, dedicating time to comprehensively understand their specific requirements and vision for the website. This involved a collaborative process to ensure the final product aligned seamlessly with General Sports Worldwide's identity.

In January 2023, I undertook the role of the sole designer for the General Sports Worldwide website redesign project. My responsibilities included client communications, design conceptualisation, and the hands-on development of the site using WordPress. My approach emphasised fostering a clear and constructive client relationship, dedicating time to comprehensively understand their specific requirements and vision for the website. This involved a collaborative process to ensure the final product aligned seamlessly with General Sports Worldwide's identity.

Discovery

Discovery

Research

During the initial research phase, I engaged with the organisation's stakeholders through a series of discovery interviews. These interviews were instrumental in defining specific design requirements and ensuring alignment with the stakeholders' vision for the General Sports Worldwide website.

I also proactively incorporated user feedback through observation of people's interactions with the existing website. I gained valuable insights into users' navigation patterns and behaviour on the site through a hands-on approach. This deepened my understanding of user needs and potential pain points for them and the business. The stakeholder and user-centric research approach laid the groundwork for a more informed and user-focused redesign strategy.

Competition Analysis

The redesign strategy for General Sports Worldwide's website was shaped by a thorough competition analysis. This informed our design choices and provided a benchmark for functionality and content. Identifying the strengths and weaknesses of our competitors' websites allowed us to strategically position GSW for a competitive edge.

Audience

Audience

Users

Partners

The main users of the site are potential sponsorship partners, the biggest drivers of income.

Clients

Secondary, potential management clients, investigating the ethics and values of GSW.

Pain Points

Lack of clarity

Users felt that the previous site mentioned a lot of different branches of the business, but didn't explain what they did.

Bland Design

The website incorporated a lot of beige and white tones, this left users feeling disengaged.

The old website design

The old website design

Information Architecture

Information Architecture

Approach

Recognising the dual use cases for the General Sports Worldwide website, we conducted a card sorting workshop to help define an efficient navigation system. The aim was to ensure that users could effortlessly locate information without feeling lost or overwhelmed by an excess of details. Collaborating closely with the client, we leveraged insights gathered from our research to craft a clear and well-labelled navigation structure. This involved organising content into logical categories, establishing hierarchies, and defining relationships to enhance user experience. Subsequently, I dedicated time to meticulously refining this navigation structure, ensuring clarity and coherence in the overall information architecture.

Tools

Tools

Figma & FigJam

Miro

Elementor

Wordpress

Solution

Solution

Ideation

Quickly investigating screen patterns using sketching and wireframes to draw-out different approaches to the brief.

Medium fidelity protypes

Creating medium fidelity prototypes for this project was a strategic decision. It balanced detail without overwhelming stakeholders. It allowed for swift iteration, exploration of user feedback, and in-depth analysis of functionality and user flow. This was particularly helpful in establishing a shared understanding of the application of their visual branding in colours and fonts.

Construction

Translating design concepts into functional elements to ensure a seamless user experience, my involvement extended from the initial stages to the final implementation. This hands-on development process allowed me to fine-tune the site for optimal performance and user engagement. Utilising my skills in WordPress development, CSS and basic HTML, I successfully transformed design concepts into a fully functional and aesthetically pleasing website.

The Result

The Result

Outcome

Outcome

Impact

87% increase in page duration

Through monitoring the google analytics of the site, there has been an increase in session duration and engagement.

Better SEO performance

Implemented enhancements resulted in a notable boost to the website's SEO score.

Positive stakeholder feedback

The website redesign was well received by the board and the wider company.

Conclusion

This project provided valuable insights and demonstrated the effectiveness of a holistic design approach that included stakeholder input, user feedback and competitive analysis. The strategic use of medium fidelity prototypes allowed for efficient iteration and in-depth stakeholder critique, ensuring an intuitive, user-centric navigation structure. In-house WordPress development enabled a seamless transition from design to implementation. Integrating SEO strategies resulted in a significant increase in the site's search engine visibility. The collaborative stakeholder process, adaptability and emphasis on brand alignment contributed to a successful redesign that not only met business objectives, but also optimised time and resources throughout the project.

During the initial research phase, we engaged in contextual interviews with a range of organisations and users currently using their own systems or other travel planning solutions. Our aim was to gain a comprehensive understanding of their experiences and identify pain points to take a human and heuristic approach to design.

At the same time, we conducted in-depth analyses of established programmes in the market, such as TripIt, Wanderlog, Navan and SAP Concur. Through rigorous testing scenarios, we evaluated their strengths and weaknesses, using a combination of user reviews and our own assessments to judge usability and user value.

This research not only provided valuable insights into the specific needs of our target audience, but also informed our understanding of the competitive landscape and guided our approach to creating a solution that would fill the gaps and exceed user expectations.