Website \ Desert West Construction
Understanding the Problem
I was approached to replace a flash-based website with a responsive website that looked amazing on different devices. As a UX designer, it was important to understand the specific needs and goals of the users when creating a great user experience for the Desert West Construction website. This included researching and understanding the target audience, such as potential homeowners and clients who would be interested in custom home-building services. I also needed to consider the unique challenges and opportunities that came with designing a custom homebuilder website, such as providing information about the building process, available floor plans, and options for customization. The goal of this project was simple: to display the various custom home projects, and awards, and to provide contact information. Additionally, I needed to stay up to date on the latest design trends and best practices in the field to ensure that the final product was both visually appealing and user-friendly. Furthermore, user feedback was important to ensure that the design was meeting the users' needs and expectations and incorporating them into the final product. I also had to make sure that the website was optimized for search engines and was accessible to all users by adhering to web accessibility guidelines. Overall, understanding the audience and the industry was crucial in creating a great user experience for the Desert West Construction website.
Research
My research approach when creating a great user experience for the Desert West Construction website involved conducting a variety of user research methods. This included conducting user interviews to gather qualitative data on the users' needs, goals, pain points, and preferences when looking for a custom home builder. Many custom home builders show some sort of gallery of projects to give prospective customers ideas or a starting point. It was important for the owner to have a message on the homepage overlaying a custom home he built. Additionally, I observed users interacting with similar websites in the industry to understand their behaviors and frustrations. I also analyzed website analytics to understand how users were currently interacting with the Desert West Construction website. Furthermore, I conducted a competitive analysis to understand how similar websites in the industry were addressing the same user needs. This comprehensive research approach helped me to gain a deep understanding of the users' needs and create a user-centered design that met those needs effectively.
Sketch
I began the design process by creating low-fidelity sketches and wireframes to explore different layouts and design options. This allowed me to quickly iterate on different ideas and test them with users before committing to a final design. I also created user flow diagrams to map out the different paths that users could take on the website and ensure that they were intuitive and easy to navigate. I also created detailed high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes to test the design with users and gathered feedback on the overall user experience. Furthermore, I created sitemaps and information architecture diagrams to ensure that the website was well-structured, intuitive, and easy to use. These techniques helped me to create a design that was both visually appealing and user-friendly, and that met the needs of the users effectively.
Design
My design choices when creating a great user experience for the Desert West Construction website were focused on providing a seamless and enjoyable experience for the users. Based on my research findings, I made sure that the website was easy to navigate and had a clear visual hierarchy. I used colors and typography that were consistent with the branding of Desert West Construction to create a visually appealing design. The gallery has a dark background which makes the pictures pop, and can open it via a lightbox to see more of it fullscreen. There were a lot of pictures to display, so the gallery utilized smaller thumbnails that responsively change the number of views per row, based on the viewport display. I also made sure that the website was optimized for search engines, allowing users to access it on any device. Furthermore, I included features such as clear calls to action, intuitive search functionality, and integration of social media to enhance the user experience. Additionally, I made sure that the website was accessible to all users by adhering to web accessibility guidelines. I also made sure to provide detailed information about the building process, available floor plans, and options for customization which were important for the target audience. Overall, my design choices were focused on creating a user-centered design that met the needs of the users effectively, while also being visually appealing and easy to use.
Implement
The owner and his family loved the website and were excited to share it. The website felt well on all devices. The implementation of the design for the Desert West Construction website was a critical step in creating a great user experience. I did the development to ensure that the design was properly translated into the final product. Additionally, I conducted testing to ensure that the website was functioning correctly and that the user experience was consistent across all browsers and devices. I also worked with the owner to gather feedback on the final product and make any necessary adjustments. Through this process, I was able to ensure that the final website met the needs of the users and provided a positive user experience. I made sure to implement features such as easy navigation, clear calls to action, forms, and online appointment scheduling to streamline the process for the users. Overall, it was a collaborative effort and the close coordination between the design, development, and testing team helped to deliver a great user experience for the Desert West Construction website.
Conclusion
My closing thoughts about the user experience for Desert West Construction website is that it was a rewarding process. Throughout the project, I was able to gather a deep understanding of the users' needs, pain points, and goals when looking for a custom home builder. I was able to design a user-centered solution that met those needs effectively, while also being visually appealing and easy to navigate. The website was implemented successfully with close collaboration with the development and testing team, resulting in a high-quality product. I received positive feedback from both the users and the owner, which is a clear indication that the user experience was successful. I believe that the user-centered design approach, the consistent user feedback, and the collaboration between the teams were key factors in delivering a positive user experience for Desert West Construction website. This project was a blast to work on, and I loved putting the images together to show off Desert West Construction's talented construction. They truly build masterpieces for their customers. Overall, it was a great learning experience and I am proud of the final product.
View Next Case Study
