Case Study
The Highland Project Website Refresh
Working with Techademics, I had the opportunity to work on a project for The Highland Project, a trailblazer in the social impact sector. The project aimed to rejuvenate THP's website. The objective was to align the site more closely with the client's unique vision and to give it a fresh and more feminine aesthetic.
The Challenge
The Highland Project had a website that didn't fully resonate with its vision. The site felt too cold, sharp, and masculine. The objective was to soften the edges, brighten the color palette, and make it more inviting, all while maintaining a corporate feel.
The Solution
A comprehensive website refresh was planned, focusing on the homepage, impact section, and vision pages. The logo was also updated for better legibility and visibility.
My Role in the Project
As a subcontractor for Techademics, I was brought in to expedite the project. My role evolved from initially creating wireframes and a refreshed visual presence to leading client-side project management and ensuring proper approvals on content and layout.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Planning: Aligned the website redesign closely with the client's vision.
- User Experience Design: Created low-to-high fidelity wireframes to guide the development team.
- Client Communication: Acted as the liaison between the client and the development team, ensuring that the client's vision was accurately translated into the design.
Project Management: Implemented a streamlined process using Google Sheets to track progress, manage content, and handle bug fixes/cosmetic changes.
The Process: A Symphony of Strategy and Execution
Discovery and Planning
The journey began with a series of discovery sessions with the THP team including Gabriella, the visionary behind The Highland Project. These meetings were crucial for understanding her goals, aspirations, and the unique challenges she faced. The insights gathered here laid the foundation for the entire project.
Wireframing and Design
Once the client's needs were clearly defined, I moved on to creating low-fidelity wireframes and a site map. These skeletal layouts served as the blueprint for the website, providing a visual guide that represented the framework of the site. Upon client approval, these were iteratively refined into high-fidelity mockups, which offered a more polished, detailed view of the future website.
Content Strategy
To streamline the content creation process, I devised a numbered key system that mapped to Google Sheets. This allowed the client to easily input text, images, and graphics within specified character count ranges, ensuring that the content would seamlessly fit into the design.
Development and QA
Working in tandem with the Techademics development team in Argentina, I stayed one or two pages ahead in terms of client approvals to avoid any lag in the development timeline. As pages were coded, I performed quality assurance checks before forwarding them to the client for final review.
Launch and Review
After a fast-paced two months, the website was ready for launch, perfectly timed for The Highland Project's planned marketing blitz. The final product not only met but exceeded client expectations, setting a new standard for how fast and efficiently a project could be executed without compromising on quality.
Tools and Technologies
- Wireframing: Adobe Suite
- Communication: Skype, Zoom
- Project Management: Google Workspace
By employing a meticulous yet agile process, we were able to transform The Highland Project's website into a platform that truly resonates with its mission and audience.
The Outcome: Success in Collaboration and Execution
The project was a testament to seamless teamwork and efficient communication, involving close collaboration with the Techademics team in Argentina and direct engagement with Gabrielle and Raven from The Highland Project. Despite geographical distances, the workflow was smooth and unimpeded. The website was successfully launched, aligning perfectly with the client's planned marketing blitz. This timely delivery not only met but exceeded client expectations, as evidenced by The Highland Project's continued partnership with Techademics. In reflection, the project was a fast-paced yet well-coordinated endeavor. The focus and commitment from all team members were exemplary, and the strategies employed have since been adapted for other projects, showcasing the project's lasting impact and effectiveness.
The Outcome: Success in Collaboration and Execution
The project was a testament to seamless teamwork and efficient communication, involving close collaboration with the Techademics team in Argentina and direct engagement with Gabrielle and Raven from The Highland Project. Despite geographical distances, the workflow was smooth and unimpeded. The website was successfully launched, aligning perfectly with the client's planned marketing blitz. This timely delivery not only met but exceeded client expectations, as evidenced by The Highland Project's continued partnership with Techademics. In reflection, the project was a fast-paced yet well-coordinated endeavor. The focus and commitment from all team members were exemplary, and the strategies employed have since been adapted for other projects, showcasing the project's lasting impact and effectiveness.
Testimonial from Techademics
Al Motley
Founding Partner
Techademics
Tricia was introduced to me to help on a large, complex, and quick-turn website project. Tricia is very skilled at leveraging her experience to add value to our team and to provide the client the proper framing needed to help them understand the "why" behind design and technical decisions. In the months since, I’ve pulled her in on other projects with other needs–including information design, UX/product design, and creative direction. Tricia is one of those people that you want to tell the world about, while simultaneously keeping her as our secret weapon. I am so thankful we met Tricia and look forward to working with her moving forward!