Challenge
The church’s existing website was outdated and limited in customization due to the Clover Sites platform. The client had limited resources and could not allocate funds to improve their online presence, prompting me to donate my services. They wanted a welcoming and friendly site that provided essential information for potential visitors while also serving current church attendees with events and announcements.
Design Process
1: Research and Inspiration
- Explored websites of other churches and nonprofits to gather ideas and best practices for design and usability.
2: Content Creation
- Handled all copywriting to ensure a friendly and clear tone, adhering to the church’s existing branding.
3: UI Design
- Created a design that balanced visual appeal with the need to present information in an easy-to-consume format, addressing the site’s text-heavy nature.
4: Asset Limitations
- With limited visual assets, I opted for a design style that emphasized animation and UI elements to organize information effectively.
5: Streamlining Processes
- Identified and addressed the pain point of duplicate work for posting events and sermons across multiple platforms. Created direct links to their event registration portal and streaming page for easy access.
6: User Testing
- Tested the site with congregation members of varying age groups to ensure it was user-friendly and accessible to those with different levels of technological experience.
Challenges Faced
The primary challenge was the website’s heavy reliance on text, which required innovative approaches to distill complex information into easily digestible content. Additionally, the lack of visual assets required a creative focus on animations and UI elements to maintain engagement.
Outcome
The redesigned website was fun, easy to navigate, and successfully provided first-time guests with the information they needed. It also allowed current attendees to quickly find events, serving opportunities, and sermon videos. By switching to Webflow, I saved the church money, as their previous software was costing them twice as much.
Key Takeaways
- Creative solutions can effectively address limitations, such as a lack of visual assets.
- Streamlining processes enhances the efficiency of church staff and improves the overall user experience.