Project Overview
As the web designer for Sarnia Rapids Swim Club, I was tasked with revamping their website to address branding, usability, and event management issues. The goal was to create a platform that improved communication with current members while also attracting potential new members and sponsors.
Stakeholders
- Paula Gilmore: President of Sarnia Rapids Swim Club (Director of Rehabilitative and Palliative Care at Bluewater Health)
- Alison Ewart: Member at Large (Dean of Research and Innovation at Fanshawe College)
- Coaches: Provided bios for accomplishments.
understanding the problems
The previous website faced several problems:
- The CMS only allowed customization on the homepage, and the color scheme didn’t align with the club’s branding.
- Content editors didn’t know how to add or style content effectively.
- The design was not appealing, easy to navigate, and user-friendly.
- The website was using a SportsEngine-generated domain, and they needed help updating the DNS settings to their custom domain.
- The visuals did not convey the messages and the club’s content.
Research & Analysis
I reviewed competitor websites shared by the directors and identified gaps and best practices. The site’s branding was enhanced by integrating the club’s logo and color scheme to ensure consistency.
- Target Audience: Parents, potential members, current swimmers, and sponsors.
- Platform: Built on SportsEngine (formerly GoMotion).
Design Strategy
Interactive elements: Registration page, event calendar, fees, and coach bios were integrated to enhance the user experience.
Accomplishments: The coaches’ bios were used to highlight the club’s expertise.
The design aimed to improve communication and create a visually appealing, user-friendly experience. Emphasis was placed on visual design, easy navigation, mobile responsiveness, and accessibility.
Visual Design
The design was kept clean and modern, with a bold, athletic look to match the club’s competitive spirit. I used Adobe Photoshop to edit the swimming imagery and created a color palette based on the club’s logo.
- Brand consistency: Club colors were integrated throughout the design.
- Swimming imagery: High-quality images added vibrancy to the site.
Front-End Development
Since SportsEngine Motion limited JavaScript to use. I conducted the development of the pages by using custom HTML and CSS, I built a responsive design using these technologies. The site was developed following AODA accessibility standards, ensuring it was accessible to all users.
My Role as an Instructional Designer
To ensure the content editors could manage the site independently, I prepared video tutorials to teach them how to add and edit content. These tutorials covered everything from creating new posts to ensuring the content remained visually appealing and on-brand.
During the kick-off meeting, I clearly outlined the steps that needed to be followed throughout the project and guided the stakeholders through the process. This allowed for smoother collaboration and ensured everyone understood the workflow from start to finish.
Testing & Feedback
Both the client and I tested the site, focusing on mobile responsiveness and key functionalities like registration, form submissions, and event updates.
Feedback Process:
We conducted multiple rounds of review, using Google Slides to share feedback, communicate, assign tasks, and gather input from stakeholders.
Outcome
The redesigned website successfully resolved the issues with branding, domain management, and usability. It now provides a seamless platform for managing events, registrations, and communications while showcasing the club’s achievements to attract new members.
