User Experience & User Interface Designer
New York City Peace Corps
Duration
2 Months
Role
UX Designer
Project
Usability Audit
What does NYCPC?
The mission of the New York City Peace Corps Association (NYCPCA) is to support people in New York City by fostering lifelong connections, promoting Peace Corps ideals, and engaging members in impactful community service both locally and globally.
What was the purpose of the UX Audit?
This UX audit involved a usability evaluation to determine how easily users can navigate and interact with NYCPCA's website.
The primary focus was key user interactions, such as newsletter sign-up, and donation process.
Furthermore, client needs to explain their mission and works in a user-friendly way.
Designing for Impact:
Aligning User Experience with Association Objectives
My Role
As a volunteer UX Designer, the UX audit for The New York City Peace Corps Association (NYCPCA) aimed to enhance the user experience on NYCPCA’s website by identifying and addressing usability challenges that may impact user engagement, particularly in key areas such as newsletter sign-up, donations, and community involvement.
This audit focuses on making the website more intuitive and user-friendly, aligning with NYCPCA’s mission to connect, engage, and support the vibrant community of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) in New York City.
Association Priorities
Refine user interactions to:
Increase accessibility for all users
Boost conversion rates
Strengthen NYCPCA’s online presence
Provide a smoother, more effective experience for all visitors
Methodology
I've conducted User interviews to observe user behaviour and gained comprehensive insights into their experience.
Additionally, a Heuristic Evaluation has been performed to systematically assess usability issues, categorise key findings, assign severity levels, and provide actionable recommendations.
Designing for Clarity and Inclusivity
User Needs & Pain Points Review
Needs
A clear and focused donation page that directs attention to the primary goal.
Simplified navigation for the newsletter sign-up and donation pages.
An intuitive, streamlined process that encourages users to take action without distractions.
Pain Points
The donation page design is cluttered, which distracts users from completing the primary action.
Inconsistent labeling makes it difficult for users to navigate to the correct pages.
Lack of error prevention causes frustration and increases the likelihood of user mistakes.
Recommendations Overview
To elevate usability and enhance the user experience, I've put together some recommendations:
Newsletter Sign-Up
Improve usability by adding
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Confirmation messages
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Inline validation
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Clearer link labelling.
Donation Process
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Increase transparency with clear donation impact information.
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Give Real-time feedback
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An option for recurring donations.
Get Involved & Stay Updated Links
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Add tooltips to clarify their purpose
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Use contrasting colours to increase visibility
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Ensure consistency in naming and merge them.
Implementing these changes can reduce user confusion, improve engagement, and increase newsletter sign-ups & donations.
How to get there?
I set an Implementation Roadmap
Design & Development
Collaborate with design and development teams to update layout, labelling, and tooltips on the homepage.
Testing & Iteration
Conduct usability testing after implementing each recommendation to validate improvements and further refine if necessary.
Stakeholder Review
Engage stakeholders regularly to align on progress and ensure solutions resonate with NYCPCA’s mission.
Post-Implementation Testing
Schedule follow-up testing to confirm that updates have achieved the intended effect on usability and user engagement.
Result & Key Learnings
This UX audit provides NYCPCA with a structured approach to improving its website’s usability and engagement. By implementing the recommendations, they can create a more intuitive and accessible user journey, ultimately fostering deeper connections with their community and driving greater participation in their mission.
Key Learnings
User-Centred Design is Crucial: Focusing on the needs and behaviours of users ensures that the website is intuitive, accessible, and efficient.
Simplicity Drives Engagement: A minimalist design approach eliminates distractions, helping users focus on core actions like donations and sign-ups, leading to higher conversion rates.
Consistency is Key: Clear, consistent labelling and error prevention across pathways reduce confusion and friction, resulting in smoother user experiences.
Accessibility Enhances Reach: Prioritising accessibility in design ensures that all users, regardless of ability, can navigate and engage with the website effectively.
Credits: NYCPCA & Gönül Gökberk
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