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National Crystallography Service
Overview
About Project
- The National Crystallography Service: is a National Research Facility offering single crystal X-ray diffraction services.
- Main users: Academic and commercial services
My Role
- Website designer and developer: Responsible for the redesign and development of the NCS website.
- Collaboration: Lab assistant
Problem
- Outdated colour scheme
- Lack of visual images
- Overwhelming amount of text
- Confusing navigation system
- Inconsistent use of fonts
- Lack of visual cohesion
- Lengthy case studies
Design Process
User Research
- Conducted a survey to identify the target audience and understand their goals.
- Visited the lab to align the design with the unique aspects of crystallography and gather insights.
- Identified stakeholders involved and considered their needs and pain points throughout the process.
- Investigated website traffic for insights into performance and user behavior.
Ideation
- Explored creative ideas to enhance the website’s visual appeal and functionality.
- Personally conducted photography to showcase the unique aspects of the lab’s work environment.
- Selected new brand colors to match the National Crystallography Service’s logo.
Prototyping and Testing
- Created wireframes to establish the website’s structure and layout.
- Developed mock-ups to provide stakeholders with a realistic preview of the design.
- Incorporated feedback and refinement based on mock-up reviews.
- Ensured the website’s functionality and aesthetics met the lab’s objectives through iterative design
Iteration
- Implemented the new design focusing on creating a visually appealing and user-friendly website.
- Detached the website from the Southampton domain.
- Enhanced the navigation system for improved user experience.
- Established consistency in font usage.
- Improved the overall quality and performance of the website.
Outcomes
Final Designs
- Design and developed a transformative revamp of the National Crystallography Service’s website, aligning it with the organisation’s strategic goals.
- Elevated the overall user experience by introducing visually enhanced elements, a streamlined and user-friendly interface, and a cohesive design language.
- Delivered a final design that seamlessly blends functionality and aesthetics, ensuring a polished and engaging online presence for the National Crystallography Service.
Impact and Results
- Demonstrated a measurable increase in user engagement, showcasing a substantial rise in website interactions and user activity.
- Implemented improvements in navigation that resulted in a more intuitive and seamless user experience.
- Elevated design aesthetics, enhancing the visual appeal of the platform and contributing to a more engaging user interface.
- Conducted thorough analytics to precisely gauge and quantify the positive impact on user engagement metrics.
Challenges and Learnings
- Successfully addressed challenges associated with outdated elements and increased user engagement, implementing effective solutions to enhance the overall platform.
- Gained invaluable insights into aligning design principles with scientific goals, fostering a more harmonious integration of visual elements with complex scientific concepts.
- Developed expertise in conveying scientific information to diverse academic audiences, tailoring design elements to effectively communicate intricate details.
- Deepened understanding of laboratory processes and crystallography, allowing for more informed and contextually relevant design decisions.
