SightConnection

SightConnection, a nonprofit providing programs and services for the visually impaired, wanted to integrate their local adaptive aids retail store with a new online sales platform. They reached out to us to help create a design for the new online store that was especially user friendly for those with visual impairment.

The Strategy

Before we started the design process, we performed a complete audit of their existing e-commerce site and researched current design trends used by other successful e-commerce sites. The research and audit enabled us to to identify what was not working in their current
e-commerce site from a design and usability perspective.

We shared this comprehensive audit with SightConnection and worked together to develop a scope of work that would both address the fundamental issues and fit within their budget. We had three goals:

Improve credibility. Elements of the old design didn’t convey the 50 year history of the community organization, or inspire confidence in the security of the online shopping experience.

Improve usability. Inconsistent application of design elements left it hard for the user to infer what to do or how to navigate from one page to the next. The new design needed to be consistent and predictable for older shoppers and be mobile friendly for users accessing the site on mobile devices.

Improve accessibility. As an organization dedicated to serving the visually impaired, it was important that the new design be accessible and incorporate web design best practices for those using reading aids.

The Tactics

We began with SightConnection’s brand guidelines, partnered with our research on designing for accessibility to create design comps for the home page, search landing pages, product pages, shopping cart, user account set up, check out process, and confirmation emails.

We also conducted a series of meetings with SightConnection’s team to review the scope of the work and accessibility of the design elements. We met with the e-commerce provider to make sure the designs could be implemented and integrated into their platform.

The design comps were handed off to the development team at the e-commerce provider for implementation. When the development team completed their work, we worked side-by-side with SightConnection to conduct a pre-launch audit to verify everything matched the specifications. View our work in action here!

The Results

SiteConnection’s new e-commerce site launched in December of 2015.  The new design increased customer satisfaction and streamlined fullfillment of orders by staff.