YPAC
Shaping identity through vibrant, engaging website design.
Project overview
We embarked on an endeavour to design and build a new website for YPAC Manchester, an organisation wholeheartedly dedicated to shaping the identity of young individuals.
The task at hand was to construct a digital platform that was easily navigable, vibrantly aesthetic, and engaging for the young demographic.
The challenge
• Constructing a website that catered to the needs of a wide age range, from six to 25 years, was a significant hurdle. Striking a balance between the varied interests and requirements of each age group necessitated creative and strategic thinking.
• Showcasing the centre’s diverse initiatives, which spanned detached youth work to centre-based youth work, called for a nuanced understanding of information clarity and user experience.
• The website was required to display the myriad events hosted at the centre in an accessible and engaging format.
• The effort was put into developing a suitable colour palette that reflected the centre’s spirit and updated assets to make the website visually appealing.
• Developing a platform that was both simple to use and update was crucial, considering the spectrum of users involved.
• We were faced with the technical challenge of integrating new software onto an older server while ensuring that the website maintained optimal speed.
• An easily updated events calendar was incorporated to track the centre’s activities efficiently.
• Decision-making regarding the inclusion of various pages was a collaborative process, ensuring the website effectively represented the centre’s mission, vision, history, team, and activities.
• The effort was put into developing a suitable colour palette that reflected the centre’s spirit and updated assets to make the website visually appealing.
Conscientious, diligent ‘gets the job done’ attitude coupled with speed and efficiency and all that in a friendly, relaxed and purposeful environment.
Chris
YPAC Director
Our process
• We began our journey with an in-person visit to the centre, interacting with the staff and stakeholders, absorbing their perspectives, and understanding their expectations.
• A questionnaire was developed for the stakeholders to ensure their vision was seamlessly incorporated into our design plan.
• By studying the centre’s mission, values, and aims, we gained deeper insight into its ethos and objectives.
• Initial wireframes were drafted in Adobe XD, and stakeholders’ feedback was actively sought to ensure alignment with the centre’s requirements.
• We hired a professional photographer to capture authentic images of the centre’s activities, ensuring the vibrancy and dynamism of the website.
• The effort was put into developing a suitable colour palette that reflected the centre’s spirit and updated assets to make the website visually appealing.
Our work
• We constructed a streamlined information-gathering system that served as a single source of truth for the website.
• An efficient events calendar was integrated into the site to help users efficiently track the centre’s activities.
• A speed optimisation plugin for images was implemented to ensure rapid browsing, contributing to an effortless user experience.
• Although the transfer of the database and content to the old website server posed complexities due to server incompatibilities, we successfully transitioned all content, maintaining website speed and accessibility.
Results
• They now have a centralised and reliable source of information, serving as the connection point for all stakeholders and individuals of all ages.
• The staff can easily access updates through a user-friendly website.
• They have a dedicated platform to introduce funders and donors to the team, showcasing their certificates and accreditation documents.
• Events now generate increased engagement, allowing parents to stay informed about upcoming activities and learn how to participate in the centre actively.
Thoughts
Our journey in designing the website for YPAC Manchester was an exciting challenge that enabled us to utilise our skills and creativity for a meaningful cause. Successfully navigating age group needs, content organisation, and technical constraints, we crafted a user-friendly, engaging, and vibrant platform.
This case study illuminates our strategic, collaborative, and problem-solving approach, demonstrating our capability to transform complex requirements into a successful digital solution.
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