Overview
CTHI VisaService is a danish company that offers visa services for travel to China. They contacted me for help updating and improving their website with an emphasis on enhancing user experience, enriching the text content, and cultivating a professional online presence.
I created a complete redesign of the website. This included a new visual identity to align with the company’s professional ethos.
The final design
The new UI design is the product of a dynamic, iterative process, developed in close collaboration with the client. This approach ensured a design that not only meets the project’s objectives but also aligns closely with the client’s vision.
Interface design
The original design suffered from navigational complexities and readability issues, compounded by a color scheme that failed to align with the website’s objectives. The redesign focused on fixing these aspects, delivering a coherent, user-friendly interface that resonates with the website’s goals.
Iconography
To enhance the website’s aesthetic and support the text content, a new set of icons was designed. With a focus on minimalism and simplicity, these icons were crafted to subtly complement the content rather than overshadow it.
Color Scheme
Aligning with the client’s vision for a professional and serious look, I opted for a blue color scheme. Blue is a color frequently associated with professionalism and reliability, making it an ideal choice for this project. To add visual depth and interest, I selected three shades of blue.
Typography
Considering the client’s focus on text content, I selected sans-serif typography for both headings and body text on the website. Sans-serif fonts are known for their readability on digital screens, which was a crucial factor in this decision.
The process
The heart of my approach was an iterative design process, deeply rooted in ongoing communication with the client to ensure alignment with their vision and business objectives.
Research
The research phase of this project was crucial in laying a solid foundation for the design decisions. I made a competitive analysis, evaluation of the client’s existing website, and in-depth discussions with the client to gain an understanding of the business landscape and client expectations.
Competitive Analysis
The analysis of competitor websites involved examining a variety of visa service providers in Denmark. My goal was to identify industry standards and potential gaps in the market. This analysis provided valuable insights into user expectations and trends.
Evaluating the old website
One aspect of my research was a deep dive into the client’s existing website. I identified usability issues and areas for improvement. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the current site, I was able to pinpoint key areas where the user experience could be enhanced.
Personas
The client had a clear idea of the costumers they wanted to attract and what costumers they already had. They had both primary costumers such as travel agencies and schools, and secondary costumers such as tourists.
Writing the text content
The text content guided me in shaping the website’s structure and laying a solid foundation for the overall design.
Text content was much more than an afterthought – it was the cornerstone of the project. From the beginning, I focused on crafting content that was not just informative and relevant to the audience, but also fine-tuned for SEO.
Navigation Flowchart
With the text content in hand, the next step in my process was to create a flowchart. This flowchart served as a visual guide to the user navigation and information structure of the website. It was a crucial tool for mapping out the user journey, ensuring that the content was organized logically and intuitively.
Low-fidelity wireframes
To establish the foundational structure of the website’s interface, I created low-fidelity wireframes. They also allowed me to experiment with different layouts.
High-fidelity prototype
Before developing the final website, I created high-fidelity prototypes. These prototypes closely resembled the final design but were flexible enough to accommodate later changes requested by the client.
Sharing these prototypes with the client was key — they could visualize the final product and provide essential feedback, ensuring the design met the clients needs and vision.
Implementing the final design
The implementation of the final design was an iterative process. It involved the translation of the design into a functional website and continuous adjustments and refinements over time. Regular meetings with the client were essential in this phase, allowing for feedback. This collaborative approach ensured that each element of the website was aligning closely with both the design principles and the evolving needs of the client.