New Hampshire Employment Services Website Redesign
The current New Hampshire Employment Services website is outdated and difficult to navigate, so our team decided to update and simplify the site to make it easier to access its services. This was a hypothetical website redesign but could hopefully have real-world application.
ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
All members of the team worked collaboratively on this redesign but I specifically contributed on the navigation bar update and new website design layout.
METHODS
Using journey maps and Figma, we reimagined the NHES website user in this modern context.
EMPATHY AND USER RESEARCH
To start, our team reviewed the current NHES website to see what we thought needed to be improved. Using a journey map (below) to put ourself in the shoes of the user, we were able to identify and prioritize issues that would create the greatest impact for usability. We decided to streamline the application process, clarify the menu for easy navigation per intention, and update colors and accents to catch up to current trends.
Drawing from the New Hampshire state crest, we chose colors that we felt best exemplified the spirit of the state. We also wanted a higher contrast between the colors to make it easier on the eyes. While still utilizing some of the original grey of the website, the added brightness will create a more engaging experience for the user.
DEFINITION, SYNTHESIS, AND IDEATION
After simplifying the color palette, we turned our focus to updating the buttons and input functions as the previous buttons were difficult to differentiate from the background. We wanted to update their aesthetic as well as be more easily identified. The pops of color paired with the bold lettering should help navigate the site more smoothly.
PROTOTYPING
Simplified and updated lo-fi mockups of NHES homepage, form input, and unemployment benefits application.
Our hope was that the site’s options are now streamlined and easy to find, plus easier on the eyes.
Adding in color, graphics, and refining touches really highlights the differences between this reimagining and the current NHES website.
CONCLUSIONS & FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
While the scope of this project ended here, I believe that this New Hampshire Employment Services Website redesign be expanded upon to make it an enjoyable step of a tedious process. I would have liked to do more user research, asking potential participants to voice their own grievances and suggestions for a more representative portrait of actual users. Because this was a shallow dive into the website’s facelift, the layout and graphics are a good jumping off point, but I would like to experiment with design to figure out something more unique to the site’s values and services.