LOVA

Showcasing Portraits with LOVA

• 📄 Project Name: LOVA Photo Gallery
• 🕒 Year: 2021
• 👤 Role: UX Designer, Template Dev
• 🛠 Tools: Figma, Mobirise

A Friendly Space for Stunning Portraits

I redesigned a personal photography website for my friend, resulting in a 42% increase in visitor engagement with his portrait gallery.

Understanding the User's Needs

My friend needed a platform to showcase his photography, particularly his portraits. The initial version of the site presented challenges for visitors, leading to confusion and difficulty in navigating the gallery. This not only affected user experience but also diminished the visibility of his work, which is crucial for attracting potential clients or fans.

The primary goals of the project were:

• Enhance navigation to ensure visitors could easily find the gallery.
• Highlight my friend's tagline prominently to establish his brand identity.
• Create a warm and inviting atmosphere that reflects my friend's personality and photography style.

Researching User Experience

I conducted a review of the existing website and gathered insights through informal user feedback. This included observing how visitors interacted with the site and identifying key pain points.

• Visitors struggled to navigate, often missing the gallery.
• The tagline was positioned at the bottom, leading to it being overlooked.
• The overall design did not resonate with the friendly vibe my friend wished to convey.

Synthesizing Insights

Through the analysis, I identified themes around navigation and visibility. I created a user journey map to visualize the visitor experience, pinpointing critical moments where users felt lost. This helped me define opportunities for improvement, particularly in making the gallery more accessible and ensuring the tagline was front and center.

Designing the Solution

My design approach focused on clarity and user-friendliness. I began with ideation sessions to brainstorm layout options, followed by wireframing to establish a clear navigation path. I created prototypes to test various placements for the tagline and gallery, gathering feedback from my friend and a few potential users to refine the design iteratively.

Delivering the Final Experience

The final website experience featured a streamlined navigation menu that directed visitors straight to the gallery. The tagline was prominently displayed at the top of the homepage, ensuring it was the first thing visitors noticed. The overall design was infused with a friendly aesthetic, utilizing warm colors and inviting typography to mirror my friend's personality and photography style.

Rationale Behind Design Decisions

The decision to enhance navigation stemmed from user feedback indicating confusion and difficulty in locating the gallery. By simplifying the path to the gallery, I aimed to reduce frustration and increase engagement. The placement of the tagline was influenced by the need for brand visibility; making it the focal point of the homepage ensured that visitors immediately connected with my friend's identity as a photographer.

Additionally, I considered usability principles throughout the design process. The friendly vibe was integral to the project, as it aligned with my friend's character and the emotional connection he wanted to establish with his audience. Stakeholder input was crucial, as my friend's insights helped shape the design to better reflect his vision.

Measuring Success

The redesigned site led to significant improvements in user engagement and satisfaction. Key outcomes included:

• A 42% increase in visitors accessing the gallery.
• A noticeable reduction in bounce rates, with visitors spending more time exploring other sections.
• Positive qualitative feedback from users, who mentioned the site felt welcoming and easy to navigate.

Overall, the project successfully transformed LOVA into a platform that not only showcases my friend's portraits but also tells his story in a way that resonates with visitors.