IISD Experimental Lakes Area Website Redesign

Redesigning the IISD-ELA website to enhance its usability, appeal, and ability to communicate the impact of groundbreaking freshwater research.

The IISD Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) is a one-of-a-kind natural laboratory for freshwater research.

While its research is globally recognized, the existing website struggled to communicate its importance and engage key audiences.

I led the website redesign to create a modern, user-friendly platform that celebrates IISD-ELA's work and strengthens connections with researchers, donors, and the general public.

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Overview

The Challenge

How can we design a website that effectively conveys the complexity and significance of IISD-ELA’s research to a diverse audience?

Key challenges included:

Clarity

Making the wealth of research, resources, and impact accessible to everyone.

Engagement

Creating a design that invites interaction, encourages exploration, and inspires action.

Navigation

Ensuring seamless navigation for varied users, from potential donors to visiting researchers.

I employed a research-driven, collaborative design process:

Stakeholder Interviews:

Engaged with six key stakeholder groups, including Data, Science, Education & Outreach, Operations, Giving, and Communications, to understand user needs, organizational goals, and pain points of the existing site.

Content Audit & Strategy:

Reviewed the existing website using a Coggle mind map to identify redundant or unclear content and created a streamlined structure to highlight research, programs, and impact.

User-Centric Design:

Developed wireframes and prototypes prioritizing key user journeys, such as accessing research and education pages, learning about IISD-ELA’s history and offerings, and making donations.

Visual Refresh:

Designed a modern, clean interface that reflected IISD-ELA’s mission and integrated compelling visuals, including interactive elements like maps and infographics. Also, designed the site to reflect the main IISD site's branding for a more cohesive feel between the sites.

Testing & Feedback:

Conducted usability testing to refine the design and ensure it met the needs of all audiences before final implementation.

My Approach

The redesigned website achieved significant improvements in usability and engagement:

Simplified Navigation:

Improved site structure and user pathways made it easier to explore IISD-ELA’s research and initiatives.

Increased Engagement:

Visual storytelling and interactive elements enhanced user engagement and time spent on the site.

Improved Accessibility:

Compliance with WCAG accessibility standards ensured inclusivity for a diverse audience.

Stakeholder Satisfaction:

Positive feedback from staff and key stakeholders validated the design’s alignment with organizational goals.

Using the style guide as a foundation, I designed new templates to enhance flexibility and user control. A key feature I designed was the introduction of flexible content blocks, allowing ELA staff to easily create custom page layouts. These blocks included a variety of structures, such as full-width blocks, fifty-fifty blocks, two-thirds blocks, and testimonial blocks, among others.

This modular approach empowered ELA staff to dynamically rearrange and customize content on any page, ensuring a more intuitive and adaptable user experience. By providing this level of flexibility, we enabled staff to tailor the website to better meet the diverse needs of their users, improving both functionality and engagement.

Results

The redesigned IISD-ELA website now serves as a powerful communication tool, effectively showcasing the importance of freshwater research and driving support for IISD-ELA’s mission. It bridges the gap between science and public understanding, fostering connections with global audiences and solidifying IISD-ELA’s position as a leader in freshwater sustainability.

I had a wonderful experience working with the IISD-ELA team on their website redesign project. As a designer who is passionate about merging design and science, I enjoyed collaborating with them to create a website that went beyond their needs and expectations.

The ELA team was impressed by the improved aesthetics and functionality of the new website, especially the enhanced custom block system that gave them more control and flexibility over their pages. They also appreciated how I organized their content and navigation system to make it more user-friendly and accessible. Moreover, the IISD team was pleased that the ELA site followed the IISD standards and showcased their professional identity.

Impact

Want to learn more?

Connect with me on LinkedIn or email me at jananiramesh75@gmail.com