Web Design – Lab for Inclusive Entrepreneurship
WordPress website redesign and development
Project type： Web Design, Wordpress Creation
Role：Web Designer, WordPress Developer
Project Background
The Lab for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, a Northeastern University Center, is dedicated to supporting small, local businesses by providing education, assistance, research, networking, and growth opportunities to help them scale and succeed.
This project was completed solely by me as a Research Assistant in the Lab for Inclusive Entrepreneurship. My responsibilities included redesigning the lab's website, as well as developing the new site on WordPress.
Objective
Redesign the information architecture to improve usability.
Increase the organic search traffic by 30%.
Project Workflow
Website audit: Analyze the existing site to identify technical and SEO issues.
Wireframing: Create user-friendly, responsive UX design to improve usability.
Development: Build the new website in WordPress.
Testing and iteration: Test user flows and functionality, improve the design before launch.
Site Audit
A website audit is a comprehensive evaluation of a website's performance, health, and effectiveness across various aspects, such as SEO, user experience, content quality, and technical functionality. It identifies potential issues and provides actionable insights to enhance the site's visibility, usability, and overall performance.
Wireframes
Wireframes are the first step in the design process. They outline content, establish structure for each page, and define hierarchy through size and positioning. This ensures the design tells a clear story before moving on to color mockups.
Design Document
A design document aligns stakeholders on goals, scope, user needs, and standards before coding. It clarifies architecture, flows, accessibility, content, and performance, enabling accurate estimates and smooth collaboration. As a single source of truth, it reduces ambiguity, scope creep, and rework, producing a cohesive, user-centered site.
The Results
The newly designed and developed website provides a more comprehensive showcase of the lab's work and achievements, offering users richer information. The new structure enhances content depth while removing redundant elements, making the overall layout more streamlined and user-friendly. The new website has received unanimous praise from lab members.