Duration - June to July 25, 2024
Position - UX/UI Designer and User & Accessibility Researcher
Tools - Figma and Wix Editor
The Third ACTion Film Festival was created in 2017 by Mitzi Murray, and aims to create a cultural shift around aging through the use of movies and panel discussions. It wishes to stir curiosity and emotional involvement in the seniors community, creating a safe space where people gather to understand and navigate aging and its challenges.
Website Revamp
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
To revitalize the Third Action Film Festival website, enhancing its visual appeal, user experience, and overall effectiveness in promoting the festival's brand and message, thereby increasing audience reach and tickets sales.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
ACCESSIBILITY & USER RESEARCH
Majority of users ranged between 40 to 80 years old.
A demographic that requires certain elements to comfortably navigate the website, such as:
User research demonstrated that it was imperative to implement Accessibility standards for that user demographic
WEBSITE AUDIT
Comprehensive assessment of the current website's structure, content, design, and functionality.
Identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis).
User experience (UX) analysis to understand user behavior and pain points.
Competitor analysis to identify best practices and potential differentiators.
Brand Identity and Messaging
Refinement of the festival's brand identity and messaging.
Development of a clear and consistent brand voice and visual style guide.
THE NEW WEBSITE DESIGN
The website design was crafted to immerse users in the dynamic world of action cinema while prioritizing accessibility.
A bold, visually striking aesthetic, punctuated by high-contrast imagery and typography, evokes the thrill and energy of the film festival experience.
Development of a responsive website design compatible with various devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) in Figma and deployment in WIX.
Simultaneously, we adhered to WCAG guidelines to ensure the website is usable by individuals with disabilities. This includes implementing clear and consistent navigation, sufficient color contrast, alternative text for images, and keyboard accessibility.
Optimization for search engines (SEO) to improve website visibility.
The design aims to create an inclusive environment where everyone can fully engage with the festival's content and offerings.
Content Creation and Management
Development of engaging and informative website content, including:
Home page
About the festival
Film submissions
Festival schedule
Tickets and passes
Sponsors
News and blog
Contact information
Implementation of a content management system (CMS) for easy updates and maintenance.
E-commerce Integration
Integration of Square e-commerce platform through WIX for online and in-person ticket sales.
Secure payment processing and order management.
Marketing and Promotion Integration
Integration of social media platforms for increased engagement and reach.
Integration of email marketing capabilities for newsletters and promotional campaigns.
Integration of analytics tools to track website performance and user behavior.
PROJECT Challenges
CHALLENGES AND LESSONS
Team Performance
Skill Gap - Lack of specific design or development skills within the team, leading to slow progress and sub-optimal task division.
Motivation - Difficulty in maintaining team morale due to project constraints and complexities.
Communication Breakdown: Ineffective communication within the team hindered collaboration and problem-solving.
Wix Platform Limitations
Design Constraints - Difficulty achieving the desired design aesthetic due to limited customization options.
Time Constraints
Scope Creep - Unforeseen complexities and additional features expanding the project timeline.
Resource Allocation - Difficulty in prioritizing tasks and allocating resources effectively within a tight time frame.
Quality Sacrifices - Compromises in design and functionality due to time pressures.
Wix Platform Limitations
Design Constraints - Difficulty achieving the desired design aesthetic due to limited customization options.
Time Constraints
Scope Creep - Unforeseen complexities and additional features expanding the project timeline.
Resource Allocation - Difficulty in prioritizing tasks and allocating resources effectively within a tight time frame.
Quality Sacrifices - Compromises in design and functionality due to time pressures.
THE WIX DEPLOYMENT CHALLENGE
Wix offers several key advantages that can benefit organizations, particularly those with limited technical expertise.
Hosting a website on Wix presented significant challenges due to inherent platform limitations and plan restrictions. The Wix editor, while user-friendly for basic websites, imposed stringent constraints on design customization and functionality such as the lack of a Figma plugin. This hindered the ability to create a truly unique and engaging online experience. Moreover, the tiered plan structure often necessitated upgrades for essential features, increasing costs and complicating project management.
Also, our team faced the issue with the Core plans as they were presented. The platform's Core plans, eligible for the 70% NGO discount through TechSoup, lacked the advanced features and flexibility of Wix Studio, hindering the development of interactive elements like a show game. To access Wix Studio, which offered the necessary tools for a more dynamic website, the client would need to upgrade to a Premium plan, significantly increasing costs due to the absence of the NGO discount. This limitation forced us to make compromises in design and functionality, ultimately impacting the overall user experience.
These factors collectively impacted the overall quality and performance of the website, necessitating creative workarounds and compromises.
Also, our team faced the issue with the Core plans as they were presented. The platform's Core plans, eligible for the 70% NGO discount through TechSoup, lacked the advanced features and flexibility of Wix Studio, hindering the development of interactive elements like a show game. To access Wix Studio, which offered the necessary tools for a more dynamic website, the client would need to upgrade to a Premium plan, significantly increasing costs due to the absence of the NGO discount. This limitation forced us to make compromises in design and functionality, ultimately impacting the overall user experience.
These factors collectively impacted the overall quality and performance of the website, necessitating creative workarounds and compromises.
LESSONS
Team Performance -
Skill Development - Importance of investing in team training and development to enhance capabilities.
Motivation Strategies - Effective strategies for maintaining team morale and engagement in challenging projects.
Communication Enhancement - Improved communication channels and techniques for better collaboration.
Wix Platform Limitations
Platform Evaluation - Thorough evaluation of platform capabilities before project initiation.
Workarounds and Alternatives - Creative solutions to overcome platform limitations.
Performance Optimization - Strategies for optimizing website performance within Wix constraints.
Time Constraints
Prioritization - Effective prioritization techniques to focus on core functionalities.
Agile Methodology - Benefits of adopting agile methodologies for flexibility and adaptability.
Time Management - Improved time management skills for efficient project execution.
By understanding these challenges and incorporating the lessons learned, future projects can be approached with greater efficiency, effectiveness, and success.
Duration - June to July 25, 2024
Position - UX/UI Designer and User & Accessibility Researcher
Tools - Figma and Wix Editor
The Third ACTion Film Festival was created in 2017 by Mitzi Murray, and aims to create a cultural shift around aging through the use of movies and panel discussions. It wishes to stir curiosity and emotional involvement in the seniors community, creating a safe space where people gather to understand and navigate aging and its challenges.
Website Revamp
PROJECT OBJECTIVE
To revitalize the Third Action Film Festival website, enhancing its visual appeal, user experience, and overall effectiveness in promoting the festival's brand and message, thereby increasing audience reach and tickets sales.
PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
ACCESSIBILITY & USER RESEARCH
Adherence to web accessibility standards (WCAG) to ensure inclusivity.
Majority of users ranged between 40 to 80 years old.
A demographic that requires certain elements to comfortably navigate the website, such as:
User research demonstrated that it was imperative to implement Accessibility standards for that user demographic
WEBSITE AUDIT
Comprehensive assessment of the current website's structure, content, design, and functionality.
Identification of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT analysis).
User experience (UX) analysis to understand user behavior and pain points.
Competitor analysis to identify best practices and potential differentiators.
Brand Identity and Messaging
Refinement of the festival's brand identity and messaging.
Development of a clear and consistent brand voice and visual style guide.
THE NEW WEBSITE DESIGN
The website design was crafted to immerse users in the dynamic world of action cinema while prioritizing accessibility.
A bold, visually striking aesthetic, punctuated by high-contrast imagery and typography, evokes the thrill and energy of the film festival experience.
Development of a responsive website design compatible with various devices (desktop, tablet, mobile) in Figma and deployment in WIX.
Simultaneously, we adhered to WCAG guidelines to ensure the website is usable by individuals with disabilities. This includes implementing clear and consistent navigation, sufficient color contrast, alternative text for images, and keyboard accessibility.
Optimization for search engines (SEO) to improve website visibility.
The design aims to create an inclusive environment where everyone can fully engage with the festival's content and offerings.
Content Creation and Management
Development of engaging and informative website content, including:
Home page
About the festival
Film submissions
Festival schedule
Tickets and passes
Sponsors
News and blog
Contact information
Implementation of a content management system (CMS) for easy updates and maintenance.
E-commerce Integration
Integration of Square e-commerce platform through WIX for online and in-person ticket sales.
Secure payment processing and order management.
Marketing and Promotion Integration
Integration of social media platforms for increased engagement and reach.
Integration of email marketing capabilities for newsletters and promotional campaigns.
Integration of analytics tools to track website performance and user behavior.
CHALLENGES AND LESSONS
PROJECT Challenges
Team Performance
Skill Gap - Lack of specific design or development skills within the team, leading to slow progress and sub-optimal task division.
Motivation - Difficulty in maintaining team morale due to project constraints and complexities.
Communication Breakdown: Ineffective communication within the team hindered collaboration and problem-solving.
Wix Platform Limitations
Design Constraints - Difficulty achieving the desired design aesthetic due to limited customization options.
Time Constraints
Scope Creep - Unforeseen complexities and additional features expanding the project timeline.
Resource Allocation - Difficulty in prioritizing tasks and allocating resources effectively within a tight time frame.
Quality Sacrifices - Compromises in design and functionality due to time pressures.
THE WIX DEPLOYMENT CHALLENGE
Wix offers several key advantages that can benefit organizations, particularly those with limited technical expertise.
Hosting a website on Wix presented significant challenges due to inherent platform limitations and plan restrictions. The Wix editor, while user-friendly for basic websites, imposed stringent constraints on design customization and functionality such as the lack of a Figma plugin. This hindered the ability to create a truly unique and engaging online experience. Moreover, the tiered plan structure often necessitated upgrades for essential features, increasing costs and complicating project management.
Also, our team faced the issue with the Core plans as they were presented. The platform's Core plans, eligible for the 70% NGO discount through TechSoup, lacked the advanced features and flexibility of Wix Studio, hindering the development of interactive elements like a show game. To access Wix Studio, which offered the necessary tools for a more dynamic website, the client would need to upgrade to a Premium plan, significantly increasing costs due to the absence of the NGO discount. This limitation forced us to make compromises in design and functionality, ultimately impacting the overall user experience.
These factors collectively impacted the overall quality and performance of the website, necessitating creative workarounds and compromises.
LESSONS
Team Performance
Skill Development - Importance of investing in team training and development to enhance capabilities.
Motivation Strategies - Effective strategies for maintaining team morale and engagement in challenging projects.
Communication Enhancement - Improved communication channels and techniques for better collaboration.
Wix Platform Limitations
Platform Evaluation - Thorough evaluation of platform capabilities before project initiation.
Workarounds and Alternatives - Creative solutions to overcome platform limitations.
Performance Optimization - Strategies for optimizing website performance within Wix constraints.
Time Constraints
Prioritization - Effective prioritization techniques to focus on core functionalities.
Agile Methodology - Benefits of adopting agile methodologies for flexibility and adaptability.
Time Management - Improved time management skills for efficient project execution.
By understanding these challenges and incorporating the lessons learned, future projects can be approached with greater efficiency, effectiveness, and success.
