As the principal UX Designer for the Know the Dangers website, I had the privilege of spearheading a thoughtful redesign that prioritized a user-centered approach. This project went beyond a simple refresh—it was a strategic transformation that significantly enhanced the site’s functionality and its ability to serve as a vital resource for those seeking information on opioid misuse.
In my role, I focused on elevating user engagement and refining the overall experience through carefully considered, data-driven enhancements. By leveraging insights from user behavior studies, heatmaps, user interviews, and SEO audits, we made targeted improvements that greatly enhanced the site’s usability and performance. These changes evolved the site into a powerful tool for spreading awareness and providing essential resources.
The Know the Dangers website initially struggled with several usability issues that detracted from the user experience. The site’s outdated content, cluttered layout, and inconsistent design made navigation difficult and often confusing. The complex structure of the site and the disorganized presentation of information further complicated the user experience, while the visual design lacked the intuitiveness needed for user-friendliness. Moreover, the challenge of integrating multiple custom functionalities within a constrained development environment made the redesign process even more demanding.
As the sole UX designer on this project, I played a critical role in steering the redesign from concept to completion. This included close collaboration with the development team to ensure that the design was both functional and visually compelling. I conducted extensive research, created sketches, wireframes, and mockups, and led the development process to maintain our high standards. Throughout this journey, I continuously integrated user feedback and analytical insights to iteratively refine the design, aiming to create a more intuitive and user-friendly experience.
Through thoughtful analysis, we set key objectives to align the website with user needs and enhance their overall experience:
Our detailed UX and SEO reports provided valuable insights that guided the redesign:
Before the redesign, Know the Dangers faced several obstacles that impaired its usability. The cluttered design and overwhelming color palette made it difficult for users to find the information they needed. The site’s complex structure and unintuitive user flow contributed to high bounce rates and low engagement. Additionally, the lack of mobile optimization was a major issue, as a substantial number of users accessed the site via mobile devices. These factors resulted in missed opportunities to connect users with crucial information about opioid misuse.
The redesigned Know the Dangers website addressed these issues with a streamlined, user-centric approach. The new layout featured a cleaner design with simplified navigation and strategically placed CTAs such as “Find Naloxone” and “Get Help Now.” Content was reorganized into more intuitive categories, making it easier for users to locate relevant information. Mobile optimization was a top priority, ensuring a smooth and seamless experience across all devices. These changes led to substantial improvements in user engagement, particularly on high-priority pages.
Throughout the development phase, I led the UX efforts with a strong focus on data-driven decision-making. Insights from UX and SEO reports highlighted the need for improved mobile responsiveness, better user interaction with CTAs, and strategies to maintain engagement throughout the site. These insights guided our design strategy, leading to the implementation of a sticky header, reorganized content sections, and well-placed CTAs. We also emphasized the importance of key pages like the “Naloxone Finder” and demographic-specific content, which were crucial in engaging our target audience.
During the development phase, I led the UX efforts with a commitment to data-driven decision-making. Insights from our UX and SEO reports illuminated the need for better mobile responsiveness, enhanced user interactions with CTAs, and strategies to maintain engagement throughout the page. These insights guided our design strategy, leading to the implementation of a sticky header, reorganized content sections, and thoughtfully placed CTAs. We also emphasized the importance of key pages like “Naloxone Finder” and demographic-specific content, which were pivotal in engaging our target audience.
The transformation of Know the Dangers showcases the profound impact of well-executed UX design and continuous development. By addressing the site’s initial challenges and utilizing valuable data insights, we created a platform that not only enhances the user experience, but also aligns with the organization’s mission to educate and support individuals affected by opioid misuse.
