Overview
EPIC Charity Bristol is a local non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities, providing support through various programs and services. Their website, serving as the primary digital presence, needed a complete overhaul to better reflect their mission, enhance user experience, and improve functionality for their diverse audience.
The main goals for the redesign were to:
- Improve accessibility and navigation for users with disabilities.
- Modernize the website’s design to align with EPIC’s core values of empowerment and inclusivity.
- Increase engagement by providing clear calls to action (CTAs) for donations, volunteer sign-ups, and event participation.
- Ensure a mobile-first design that adapts to different screen sizes.
- Create a content management system (CMS) for easy updating by the charity’s team.
The Problem
EPIC Charity Bristol’s previous website, though functional, presented several challenges:
1. Poor Accessibility: The site was not fully optimised for individuals with disabilities, failing to meet WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards, making it difficult for some users to navigate.
2. Outdated Design: The website had an old-fashioned design, which made it difficult to convey the charity’s modern and inclusive approach.
3. Lack of Clear CTAs: Calls to action for donations, volunteering, and event participation were buried under dense text and difficult to find.
4. Non-Responsive: The site wasn’t optimised for mobile devices, resulting in poor user experience on smartphones and tablets.
5. Limited CMS Functionality: The website’s content management system was cumbersome, making it hard for the charity’s team to update information and maintain the site.
Research & Discovery
To ensure the redesign would meet the needs of EPIC’s audience, we conducted several rounds of research:
1. Stakeholder Interviews: We spoke with EPIC Charity Bristol’s staff and board members to understand their goals, challenges, and vision for the website.
* Key takeaway: The website needed to reflect EPIC’s core values—empowerment, support, and community—while providing easy ways for users to get involved and support the charity.2. User Surveys: A survey was distributed to current donors, volunteers, and service users to gather insights on their website experience.
* Key takeaway: Many users found the site difficult to navigate, with specific complaints about finding donation options and information about programs.3. Competitor Analysis: We analyzed other charity websites, particularly those focusing on disabilities, to identify best practices in design, navigation, and content.
* Key takeaway: Websites with simple, clean designs, clear CTAs, and easily accessible donation options saw higher engagement.4. Accessibility Audit: An audit of the existing website revealed several accessibility issues, such as lack of keyboard navigation support, low color contrast, and unoptimised images.
*Design Strategy & Approach**
With the research insights in hand, we formulated a design strategy that focused on the following key areas:
1. Accessibility First: The new website needed to meet or exceed W3C standards. This meant:
* Providing text alternatives for images and videos. * Implementing proper heading structure and ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) labels. * Ensuring color contrast for readability. * Offering keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility.2. Modern, Clean Aesthetic: A refreshed, visually engaging design was essential to communicate the charity’s mission. The design utilized:
* A bright and inviting color palette reflecting inclusivity and optimism. * Imagery of real individuals who benefit from EPIC’s services, emphasizing the human element of their work. * Clear typography and a simplified layout to enhance readability and user flow.3. Mobile-First Design: The new website would be designed with mobile users in mind, ensuring it was fully responsive and easy to use across all devices.
4. Optimised User Flow: We streamlined the user journey, especially for key tasks like donating, volunteering, and learning about services. This included:
* Prominent CTAs on every page, guiding users towards donations and event participation. * A simplified donation form and process to reduce friction and increase conversions. * Interactive maps and clear program information for those seeking support.5. Content Management System: We implemented a WordPress-based CMS, customised for EPIC Charity Bristol’s needs. This allowed the team to easily update content such as event listings, donation drives, and program details.
The Solution
The redesigned EPIC Charity Bristol website was launched with the following key features:
1. Home Page: A welcoming, visually appealing homepage with prominent calls to action for donations and volunteer sign-ups. The navigation was simplified with easy-to-find sections such as “Get Involved,” “Our Services,” and “Donate Now.”
2. Accessibility Features: The website includes a high-contrast mode, text resizing, and alternative text for images. The color scheme was optimized for users with visual impairments.
3. Program Information: Clear, easy-to-navigate sections on the services provided by EPIC Charity Bristol, with engaging content that was both educational and encouraging for users seeking support.
4. Donation Integration: A streamlined donation process that allows users to donate in a few clicks, with options to donate one-time or set up recurring contributions. Integration with PayPal and other payment platforms made the process seamless.
5. Volunteer Sign-Up: A straightforward volunteer registration form and calendar integration to show upcoming events, making it easier for supporters to get involved.
6. Responsive Design: The new design was fully mobile-optimised, ensuring that users could access and interact with the website on any device without issues.
7. Content Management: A custom WordPress backend that allowed EPIC Charity Bristol staff to easily update pages, manage events, and add new content.
Results & Impact
The redesigned website has had a significant impact on EPIC Charity Bristol:
1. Increased Engagement:
* A 35% increase in donations within the first three months following the redesign. * 50% more volunteer sign-ups, thanks to improved navigation and prominent CTAs. * Higher traffic to program pages, indicating that users are better informed about the charity’s services.2. Improved Accessibility: The site now meets W3C standards, allowing for a more inclusive experience for users with disabilities. User feedback confirmed a more seamless and intuitive experience, particularly for individuals using screen readers or keyboards for navigation.
3. Simplified Content Management: EPIC Charity Bristol’s staff can now easily update the website, reducing their reliance on external developers and increasing the agility of their digital communications.
4. Positive Feedback: EPIC received positive feedback from their supporters about the new design, especially for its ease of use and accessibility features.
Conclusion
The redesign of EPIC Charity Bristol’s website has empowered the charity to better serve its community, streamline internal processes, and increase engagement from both donors and volunteers. By prioritizing accessibility, modern design, and user-centered functionality, the website now serves as an effective tool for driving EPIC’s mission forward.
The project was a success in enhancing the digital presence of EPIC Charity Bristol and reflects the charity’s values of inclusivity, empowerment, and community.
