Overview – Springboard UX Design Class / HQ Website Research + Redesign
For my capstone project as part of my enrollment in Springboard’s UX Design Curriculum, I chose to conduct research, develop designs, and guide usability testing focused on the redevelopment of the Handi Quilter website. Through extensive user surveys, user testing, prototyping, and iterations I was able to develop a concept for a new website design that more closely accommodates users’ needs and interests as well as addressing business goals such improving access to education, increasing online product sales, and encouraging ongoing interaction with users.
The Handi Quilter website’s goal is two-fold. To provide detailed information about HQ-brand longarm quilting machines and accessories, but to also provide education, quilting resources, and inspiration to the entire quilting community, regardless of brand preference. Existing quilters need access to easy-to-use content and a space to develop an approachable, online community. A challenge in designing for quilters is that the demographic consists primarily of older women who don’t necessarily use online resources or the same resources as younger makers. An additional goal of the website is to provide a starting point where beginning quilters will feel welcome and can develop their skills, ultimately developing a new age of quilters, strengthening the industry as a whole.
Below you will find links to my user experience design process, as well as detailed findings from each.
Initial research plan + survey data
User Personas + Empathy Maps
User Testing – Card Sort Exercise
HQ Site Map Development
Initial Wireframe Sketches
Web Usability Test Plan + Guide
Final prototype used for testing (Created with Sketch App + InVision.)
Excerpt from data found during initial user research. The primary focus of the initial user research included surveys of ‘makers’ in general, not just quilters. This survey consists of answers from both quilters and non-quilters. I chose to not focus on only quilting-specific groups in order to test the idea that a quilting website with resources that are familiar to those who also have interests in related activities, could potentially encourage crossover into the world of quilting. Perhaps a well-designed, and easy-to-use site with the right resources will make the topic more approachable to beginners while also catering to an existing demographic. This was the basis behind many of my questions, which was intentional in my effort to gather a variety of responses and depart from answers that might have been anticipated.
Using responses and data from the user survey, I was able to establish three primary personas of users who would potentially be visiting the proposed site. This is Amy, one of the three quilter personas.
After developing the quilter, Amy's, persona, I went on to create an empathy map of possible user flows - or paths - that she might take through the website to better define her goals and experience. This is Amy, one of the three quilter personas.
Top-level development for website site map.
Initial wireframe based on sitemap; precursor to interactive prototype.
Design prototype based on initial sitemap and wireframes. This and following few screens are from interactive mockup for user testing.
