​​Quiet Lightning
​​A case study for a redesign of a San Francisco-based literary arts non-profit
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​​UX/UI 
​​Information Architecture
​​Visual Design
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User-uploaded image: image.png
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​​Brief.

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​​This is a UX case study for a responsive site I designed for Quiet Lightning, as part of Designlab’s UX Academy, focusing on information architecture and visual design.
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​​Quiet Lightning is a San Francisco literary arts non-profit. They self-publish a monthly journal, solicit submissions and curate monthly author readings in the form of what they call “literary mixtapes.” 
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​​QL’s stakeholders needed a revamped, responsive website, for desktop and mobile. They were looking to improve the following aspects of their site: 
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  1. ​​Make author submission CTAs more prominent and accessible
  1. ​​Make donation CTAs more prominent and compelling
  1. ​​Improve overall information architecture and navigation
  1. ​​Surface QL’s associated literary events calendar - Litseen for easier access
  1. ​​Streamline Visual Design based on existing look and feel
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​​The new QL site’s audience -
  • ​​Writers in the San Francisco community looking to submit their work and connect with a literary community
  • ​​Potential donors seeking to financially support a lit-arts organization

​​My role

  • ​​Researched and developed the new site for QL
  • ​​Reorganized their IA
  • ​​Original visual design to complement their existing brand

​​Timeline

​​80 hours, 4 weeks

​​Research. 

​​Research Goals

  • ​​Learn about non-profit lit arts scene in the Bay Area
  • ​​Determine responsive site best practices of sister orgs’

​​Research Methods

  1. ​​Market research + competitor analysis
  1. ​​User research + in-person interviews*
  • ​​*3 interviewees, all writers, each with varying editing/curatorial experience
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​​Market Research Findings 

​​Similar orgs receiving substantial funding:
  • ​​Small Press Traffic Literary Arts Center (SPT)
  • ​​826 Valencia
  • ​​The Moth
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​​Donor needs 
  • ​​Make a difference in their community
  • ​​Feel directly connected to arts scene
  • ​​Perks!
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