Digital Reporter
Client
Role
Project Year
Understanding the problem
Digital-Reporter is a web magazine that aims to provide high-quality content on a variety of topics, including food, travel, fashion, and beauty.
I was tasked with designing a website for Digital Reporter that effectively showcases the magazine's content, attracts and engages readers, and supports a wide range of topics.
Research & Discovery
I conducted stakeholder interviews, user and competitive analysis in order to gain insights into who the target audience is and what they need. My research findings indicated that the target audience is primarily looking for high-quality content on a variety of topics, including food, travel, fashion, and beauty. The client already had in mind a desired colour scheme for the website as well as ideas on layouts. I used this information along with my own research into existing news platforms and blogs to identify various design solutions that can be applied to this project. Based on these findings I started designing various UI elements and wireframes that effectively showcased the content.
UX challenges
Information Architecture
Enabling the user to access information in simple, straightforward and expected ways.
Connection to social media account
The client wanted their Social media accounts to be featured on the website to encourage users to connect with them on various platforms as well as to share other digital content (Instagram)
User Engagement
Encouraging users to stay and explore more content on the website
Subscription to newsletter
Encouraging & facilitating users to subscribe to the email newsletter featuring new articles/ posts
Targeting pain points
Difficulty in finding relevant content
Solution:
A clear and intuitive navigation menu that categorises content based on topics such as food, travel, fashion, and beauty.
Provides a search functionality to allow users to quickly find specific articles or keywords.
Incorporate a tagging system that allows users to filter content based on their interests.
Lack of integration with social media
Solution:
prominently feature social media account icons and links on the website's header or footer for easy access.
Include social media sharing buttons on individual article pages to allow users to share content on platforms like Instagram.
Display social media feeds or highlights on the website to showcase the brand's presence and encourage users to connect and engage.
Limited engagement and exploration
Solution:
Incorporate related articles or "You may also like" sections at the end of each article to encourage users to explore more content.
Use visually appealing and attention-grabbing thumbnails or images to entice users to click on articles.
Implement a popular articles or trending section to showcase the most engaging and popular content.
Emphasis on newsletter subscription
Solution:
Display a prominent newsletter subscription form on the homepage and relevant article pages.
Clearly communicate the benefits of subscribing to the email newsletter, such as exclusive content, early access to articles, or special offers.
Provide a seamless and user-friendly process for users to subscribe, including a confirmation email and options to manage subscription preferences.
Access to site on various devices
Solution:
The website design is fully responsive and optimised for various screen sizes, including smartphones and tablets.
Test the website on different mobile devices to identify and fix any layout or usability issues.
Simplify navigation and optimise the user interface for mobile devices to ensure a smooth and intuitive browsing experience.
Wire-framing, High Fidelity UI Designs & final Website
Reflection
This project was an exciting opportunity to apply user-centred design principles to create a positive user experience for readers. I enjoyed the process of designing the user interface, as it required balancing the users' needs and preferences with the goals of the website.
