Georgia State Parks
SIMPLIFYING NAVIGATION AND IMPROVING AESTHETICS
TIME
SPRING 2023 (FIVE WEEKS)
TEAM
SOLO:
BOOTCAMP
TOOLS
FIGMA
FIGJAM
ROLE
UX/UI DESIGN
UX RESEARCH
OVERVIEW
Through user tests, I discovered that the original Georgia State Parks website was challenging to navigate and visually unappealing.
As a frequent visitor to my state parks, I also wanted to enhance discoverability so more people can fall in love with these beautiful places as I have. So, I created a responsive web and mobile version of the site that has a pleasing color scheme and a natural flow. The entire website had to be reimagined and reorganized, but the outcome was stunning.
PROBLEM
The current Georgia State Parks website poses significant challenges when it comes to user navigation and lacks visual appeal.
Users expressed frustration with the flow of the site and found it unattractive. These issues have a negative impact on the user experience and can deter potential visitors from exploring the offerings of Georgia's beautiful state parks.
RESEARCH: ORIGINAL SITE
I conducted research to better understand the struggles users face while attempting to navigate through the current Georgia State Parks website. I did usability testing on both the web and mobile versions of this site as well as five-second testing both in person and over Zoom.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Busy, Cluttered, and Hard to Navigate
It received a System Usability Scale (SUS) score of 64.25 on the web and 60.9375 on mobile—both ranking “Poor."
User Testing Analysis
Through my initial user research, all users mentioned it was busy, cluttered, and/or needed to be simplified. Further, most participants found it
visually unappealing and hard to navigate.
SITE MAPPING
I knew the site had to have a complete overhaul, but I was up for the challenge.
It was very frustrating at first trying to reimagine the site and completely change the IA of the Georgia State Parks website.
However, once I had some inspiration through browsing other state park websites, it all came to me quickly.
WIREFRAMING
Aesthetic Overhaul: Less is More
Homepage
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Used a larger typeface and less copy to enhance navigation and readability, addressing user difficulties experienced with the previous homepage
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I took the most popular items and put them on the homepage for ease of access
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Users LOVED the event calendar
Activities Page
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Made them bold and clear since many users overlooked them in testing
RESEARCH: MY PROTOTYPE
Objective: I conducted user tests on my web and mobile prototypes to ensure they were intuitive and easy to navigate.
My goal was to ensure that I crafted an experience that was enjoyable, visually appealing, and straightforward to navigate.
Key Takeaways
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100% completion rate for both tasks on web AND mobile
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Users mentioned they greatly preferred the redesign to the original website
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There was a lot of positive feedback on the look and the overall flow of the prototypes.
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SUS score of 98.75—ranking “Excellent”
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That’s a 34.5 point increase from web version
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Further, a 37.81 point increase for mobile
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ITERATIONS
There was no negative feedback during the tests, but I did get a couple of suggestions
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I added the “Featured Destinations” under the “Visit” tab
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Before, it was just a feature on the homepage, but it turned into a whole page on its own, so it made sense for it to be in the top nav
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I added a shadow under the dropdowns on the top nav bar on the desktop
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It stands out better now
BEFORE & AFTER
CURRENT WEBSITE
REDESIGN
HIGH-FIDELITY PROTOTYPE
Attractive, Simple Pages With a Pleasing Color Scheme
Beautiful, high-quality images are engaging and showcase the beauty of the parks.
Homepage
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Clean interface
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User mentioned “everything you want is on the homepage”
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Users also loved the event calendar
Featured Destinations
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Made “Featured Destinations” its own page due to a user suggestion
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Cards expand to receive more information
Activities
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Made the activities larger and more appealing than the original site
RESULTS
Users mentioned they greatly preferred the redesign to the original website...
and there was a lot of positive feedback on the look and the overall flow of the prototypes.
Many users thought it “felt much better than the old site,” and that it was ”pretty simple, easy to understand, and user friendly.”
I also calculated a SUS score of 98.75—ranking “Excellent" which is a 34.5 point increase from the web version and a 37.81 point increase for mobile!
REFLECTION
What I Learned
Since this is my first project, I am immensely proud of what I have done, and it really solidified my love for this field. Here are some things I learned in this project:
1.) User research is your guide- I was very overwhelmed at first since the site was so cluttered—I knew I had to do a complete overhaul. However, with my interviews, I was able to shift my focus to the essential parts that needed my help the most. I felt much better with this guidance.
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2.) Embrace Iterations- I welcomed the iterative nature of UX/UI design and realized that it's essential to refine and improve your designs based on user feedback and critiques.
3.) Feedback is there is help you- As a designer, I typically have a strong vision, but it is okay to admit there are better options than your original idea. Developing the ability to receive and incorporate feedback into your designs will lead to better outcomes.
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