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Sutton Mitra Mandal
Overview
Summary
Role: Website Designer & Developer
Collaboration: Community Manager, Community Leaders
Tools: Figma, WordPress, Elementor, Google Forms
Deliverables: Full website design, timeline feature, photo gallery, accessible UI and brand colour system
Focus: Brand presence, community storytelling
I designed and developed the official website for Sutton Mitra Mandal—a community-driven organisation that celebrates Indian culture in Sutton Borough. The goal was to build a distinct digital identity and showcase the community’s history, while also improving accessibility, engagement, and event visibility.
Problem Statement
Sutton Mitra Mandal previously lacked a cohesive online presence. Community members had difficulty staying informed about upcoming events and accessing historical content. Key issues included:
No strong visual identity or colour system
Lack of digital platofrm and presence
Outdated visuals and typography insufficient attention to responsive design
These limitations hindered the organisation’s ability to engage both current members and prospective audiences from the wider Sutton community.
About the Project
Sutton Mitra Mandal is a non-political, cultural organisation that brings together Indian communities across the London Borough of Sutton. It serves as a platform for cultural expression, local engagement, and community cohesion through various events and initiatives.
The goal of the new website was to:
Create a vibrant, accessible brand identity that reflects Indian heritage
Centralise event information in a clear and intuitive layout
Showcase the community’s history via a gallery and timeline
Build a sense of belonging for members, both existing and new
Design Goals
Design an inclusive and culturally sensitive visual identity
Improve information discoverability and navigation
Develop an interactive timeline and gallery that capture the organisation’s history
Align the website with WCAG AA accessibility standards
Foster pride and visibility for the community within the wider borough
Research
Methods:
Conducted user surveys and interviews with Indian community members to understand their needs, habits, and digital expectations
Performed competitor analysis of similar cultural and community-based websites
Collected high-quality images and videos to enrich the storytelling experience
Consulted SEO practices and ensured cross-browser responsiveness
Prioritised inclusive design principles, recognising age, language, and tech accessibility needs
“We want a site that reflects our culture but feels modern and welcoming too.” — Community leader, Sutton Mitra Mandal
Ideation & Design
Core Ideas:
Emphasise non-political, celebratory energy through a vibrant yet respectful design
Collaborated with the community manager and leaders to develop a meaningful digital brand
Developed a culturally resonant colour palette, testing for accessibility and emotional tone
Explored how a timeline could serve as a digital memory wall, fostering continuity and belonging
Prototyping & Testing
Prototyping & Key Deliverables:
Created wireframes to test information hierarchy, layout, and navigation structure
Developed high-fidelity prototypes featuring the new brand colours, typography, and gallery functionality
Incorporated a timeline module to showcase historical milestones and celebrations
Tested the experience with users across age groups, iterating on feedback related to navigation clarity, colour contrast, and content placement
Ensured cross-browser compatibility and responsive behaviour across devices
Final Solution
Features Delivered:
A visually cohesive website that reflects the identity and values of Sutton Mitra Mandal
Accessible, high-contrast colour combinations that comply with WCAG AA standards
A responsive timeline section showcasing the evolution of the organisation
A gallery of past events, built from community-submitted imagery and videos
Clear and intuitive event information layout, ensuring easy updates and user-friendly browsing
Seamless integration of SEO best practices for discoverability
Impact and Results
Successfully launched a culturally aligned, fully responsive website for the Sutton Mitra Mandal community
Increased engagement and digital presence across Sutton Borough, improving event visibility
Users reported improved ease of use and satisfaction with the navigation and design
Community leaders noted that the site now felt like a “true reflection” of their values and identity
Analytics showed positive trends in time spent on page, return visits, and event-related page clicks
Challenges & Learnings
Key Challenges:
Defining a colour scheme that was both visually appealing and culturally respectful
Translating cultural values into modern UX and design language
Managing feedback from multiple community stakeholders, balancing diverse opinions and requirements
Ensuring content was readable and accessible across generations
Learnings
Effective community design requires empathy, clarity, and close cultural collaboration
Balancing traditional and modern visual cues can be powerful when done with intent
Continuous feedback from the community was essential for getting the tone and usability right
Inclusivity is not just accessibility it’s making people feel seen, understood, and celebrated
Reflection
This project taught me how to translate deep cultural values into visually expressive and technically sound design. By bridging traditional symbolism with modern usability, I was able to help Sutton Mitra Mandal strengthen their digital presence and expand their community impact.
For future iterations, I would:
Add a news/blog section to regularly highlight events and members
Include real-time event registration or RSVP functionality
Explore multilingual support for broader engagement within the Indian diaspora
