Redesigning 25 pages for Brighton Center, a leading non-profit organization in San Antonio dedicated to providing services for children with disabilities and developmental delays. The goal was to create a user-friendly, empathetic design that resonates with parents and caregivers, conveying trust and support.
Art Director
Michael Bound
Designer
Bruno Loverbeck
› Personas Development: Created personas representing the primary user groups, focusing on parents and caregivers of children with disabilities.
› Site Analysis: Conducted a thorough analysis of the existing website to identify pain points and areas for improvement.
› Design System Implementation: After receiving the rebranding guidelines from a design agency, developed and applied a comprehensive design system to ensure consistency across all pages.
› User Interface Testing: Conducted user interface tests with a group of users representing our personas to gather feedback and refine the design.
Created personas representing the primary user groups, focusing on parents and caregivers of children with disabilities.
Ocupation: Full-time Mother
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Background:
Maria is a mother of a 5-year-old boy, Lucas, who has been diagnosed with mild autism. She has limited access to specialized resources and depends heavily on online platforms to find support and information. English is her second language, which makes her more inclined towards simple, easy-to-navigate websites.
Goals:
Maria wants to find reliable, easy-to-understand resources that help her manage Lucas’s development and connect with other parents in similar situations.
Frustrations:
She often struggles with websites that are cluttered, difficult to navigate, or filled with technical jargon that she doesn’t understand. She needs a platform that offers clear, supportive content in a straightforward manner.
Ocupation: Software Developer
Location: Austin, Texas
Background:
John is the father of Emma, an 8-year-old girl with cerebral palsy. As a tech-savvy individual, he values well-structured and accessible information. He uses both desktop and mobile devices to browse the internet, often during short breaks or in the evening.
Goals:
John seeks detailed, technical information about the latest therapies and technologies that can aid Emma’s development. He also looks for ways to contribute to or support the Brighton Center.
Frustrations:
John gets frustrated with websites that lack responsive design or are difficult to use on mobile devices. He values websites that respect his time by providing easy access to the information he needs without unnecessary clicks.
Ocupation: Elementary School Teacher
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Background:
Emily is a teacher working with children who have developmental delays. She often searches for educational resources and workshops to recommend to the parents of her students. Emily values educational content that is engaging and easy to share with parents.
Goals:
Emily wants to find and share valuable resources with the parents of her students. She is also interested in attending workshops and webinars offered by the Brighton Center.
Frustrations:
Emily finds it difficult when resources are buried deep within a website or are not easily shareable. She needs a site where she can quickly locate and share relevant content.
Conducted a thorough analysis of the existing website toidentify pain points and areas for improvement.
The previous website of the Brighton Center presentedseveral challenges:
› Poor Navigation: The site had a complex and confusing navigation structure. Key resources and information were buried under multiple layers of menus.
› Non-Responsive Design: The site was not optimized formobile devices. Given that many users access the site from their phones or tablets, this was a significant usability issue.
› Lack of Accessibility: The website did not meet WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards, making it difficult for users with disabilities to navigate and use the site effectively.
›Overloaded Content: The site was cluttered with dense text and lacked visual hierarchy.
The navigation structure was completely overhauled. We created a simplified, user-friendlymenu system that categorized content logically. We introduced clear labels anda “quick links” section on the homepage to give users direct access to the mostsought-after resources. This made it easier for users to find what they neededwithout unnecessary clicks.
We implemented a responsive design approach to ensure the website works seamlessly across all devices. Whether users access the site on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone, the design adapts to provide an optimal viewing experience. This improvement was particularly beneficial for users like John Thompson, who frequently access the site from mobile devices.
The redesign prioritized accessibility, ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.1 standards. This included features such as alternative text for images, keyboard navigation, and sufficient color contrast. These changes made the site usable for all users, including those with visual impairments or other disabilities, aligning with the Brighton Center’s mission.
We decluttered the site by reducing the amount of text on each page and organizing content into easily digestible sections. We used visual hierarchy to highlight the most important information, making it easier for users like Maria Silva to find relevant content quickly. Images, icons, and headings were strategically placed to guide the user’s attention and improve the overall reading experience.
This project highlighted the importance of user-centered design, especially for an organization serving such a critical and sensitive community. By focusing on the specific needs and challenges faced by Brighton Center’s users, we were able to create a website that not only improved user satisfaction but also advanced the organization’s mission. The feedback from usability testing confirmed that our design decisions were effective, resultingin a more accessible, user-friendly, and engaging platform for parents, educators, and supporters of Brighton Center.
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