WEB 210 | Group 2 | Freedom Project
This study was prepared for Freedom Project to help determine how their websites site structure and navigation can be reorganized to improve the user experience. Utilizing the insights gathered from this process we intend to develop a clearer, more intuitive pathway to information and resources as well as a greater emphasis on the priorities that are held by the Freedom Project organization.
Good information architecture is crucial for any website to provide an intuitive and effective structure of information enabling its users to find content easily. This requires a methodical approach in identifying every piece of content that a user may need and then organizing that content into a logical structure that incorporates clear navigation, site mapping and page structure.
Procedure:
For Freedom Project, we approached the task of creating the initial information architecture from both a “top-down” and “bottom-up” approach. Looking at the site from the “top-down” we created a ‘rough draft’ of how we envisioned the navigation and site map will look like based on our knowledge of Freedom Project. This is a traditional approach that is helpful but can also often miss certain details and tends to rely on preconceived ideas as opposed to innovating new ones.
We then took a look from the opposite perspective. What would a prospective volunteer, donor, family member possibly ask Freedom Project? We then listed out every possible question someone visiting the site might want answered. From this list, we then began to group the questions by theme and refine the grouping into subgroups until they represented a preliminary site structure.
Conclusion and Recommendations:
Below we’ve included a sitemap that outlines the proposed site structure and navigation that we’ve developed through this process. Continuing on we’ve also included documentation of the approaches we used to come to these conclusions.
Documentation:
The “Bottom Up” Approach:
Step 1: Question Brainstorm:
What questions will visitors to the site ask?
What do you do?
How do you work? Approach?
What is mindfulness?
What is non-violent communication?
How long has Freedom Project been around?
What events do you have?
How often do you have events? (Calendar)
What is mindfulness?
What is non-violent communication?
How long has FP been around?
What events do you have?
How often do you have events?
How is FP funded?
How can I give to FP?
Is FP non-profit?
What prisons does FP go to?
How do I get updates from FP?
How can I join? Volunteer?
Who can volunteer?
What are your values?
What’s your mission?
Who is your current staff?
How are big decisions made?
How can I get in contact?
What are some of your success stories?
Can I connect with you on social media?
How do I signup for a newsletter?
What are some statistics for benefits of the program?
Why have the program?
How are donations used?
What is the impact of small/large/medium donations?
How does this work save tax payer $$?
Does this work make safer communities?
How do families of prisoners get helped?”
Step 2: Initial Grouping:
About
What do you do?
How do you work? Approach?
What is mindfulness?
What is non-violent communication?
How long has Freedom Project been around?
Is FP non-profit?
What prisons does FP go to?
What are your values?
What’s your mission?
Who is your current staff?
How are big decisions made?
What are some of your success stories?
What are some statistics for benefits of the program?
Why have the program?
Donations
How is FP funded?
How can I give to FP?
Events
What events do you have?
How often do you have events? (Calendar)
How do I get updates from FP?
How do I get updates on what you’re up to?
Volunteer
How can I join? Volunteer?
Who can volunteer?
Contact
How can I get in contact?
Can I connect with you on social media?
How do I signup for a newsletter?
Step 3: Sub Grouping:
Who We Are
What is mindfulness?
What is non-violent communication?
Is FP non-profit?
What are your values?
What’s your mission?
Who is your current staff?
How are big decisions made?
What are some statistics for benefits of the program?
History
How long has Freedom Project been around?
Why have the program?
Testimonials
What are some of your success stories?
What We Do
What do you do?
How do you work? Approach?
What prisons does FP go to?
Donations
How is FP funded?
How can I give to FP?
Events
What events do you have?
Calendar
How often do you have events?
Volunteer
How can I join? Volunteer?
Who can volunteer?
Connect with us
How can I get in contact?
Can I connect with you on social media?
How do I signup for a newsletter?
How do I get updates from FP?
How do I get updates on what you’re up to?
Step 4: Final Grouping:
Who We Are
Is FP non-profit?
What are your values?
What’s your mission?
Leadership & Staff
Who is your current staff?
How are big decisions made?
History
How long has Freedom Project been around?
What We Do
What do you do?
How do you work? Approach?
What prisons does FP go to?
Mindfulness
What is mindfulness?
Nonviolent Communication
What is non-violent communication?
Our Impact
Why have the program?
What are some statistics for benefits of the program?
Testimonials
What are some of your success stories?
Donations
How is FP funded?
How can I give to FP?
Connect with us
How can I get in contact?
Can I connect with you on social media?
How do I signup for a newsletter?
How do I get updates from FP?
How do I get updates on what you’re up to?
Events
What events do you have?
Calendar
How often do you have events?
Volunteer
Volunteer Events
What events do you have for volunteers?
How can I join? Volunteer?
Who can volunteer?
How do I join the board?