Project Overview
The project aimed to redesign and enhance the user experience for the American Documentary platform, focusing on clear navigation, engaging content, and user-friendly interaction. We began by overhauling the information architecture to improve site organization, followed by creating a detailed content outline for key pages. With inspiration from modern, visually driven platforms such as The Getty, The Met, and OpenAI, we crafted wireframes that would balance content depth with a clean, accessible design.
Challenge
The client needed a more structured and engaging platform for hosting a variety of dynamic content (episodes, films, behind-the-scenes footage). The key challenges were:
- Information Architecture: Redoing the entire site's architecture to make it easier for users to navigate and find relevant content.
- Content Outlining: Developing a content outline for key pages to ensure a logical and intuitive flow of information.
- Wireframing: Creating wireframes that aligned with the visual and functional goals, enhancing user experience while maintaining a consistent aesthetic.
Research and Inspiration
We referenced three key websites for design inspiration:
- The Getty for its structured, visually compelling layout
- The Met for its balance of content richness and modern interface
- OpenAI for its sleek, spacious design that provides clarity without overwhelming the user
These references helped shape key aspects of the project:
- Clear Information Architecture: Ensuring users can navigate the site with ease.
- Left-Aligned Content: Drawing from the clean structure of the reference sites, most content was aligned left for better readability.
- Condensed Text: A more refined look, inspired by modern platforms, was achieved by condensing the typography without sacrificing readability.
- White Space Utilization: Strategic use of white space to maintain a balanced, open feel across the platform.
Key Adjustments
As we progressed through the wireframes, a few additional changes were made to better align with the project’s goals and the references used in the moodboard:
- Left-Aligned Content: Consistent with platforms like The Getty, most content is now left-aligned, creating a more structured and professional look.
- Condensed Text: Typography was adjusted to be slightly more condensed, matching the sleek and modern style found on OpenAI, while still being accessible and readable.
- White Space Adjustments: We refined the spacing between components, giving the design a cleaner, more open feel similar to the layout strategies seen on The Getty.
- Component Adjustments: Several components were fine-tuned to better fit the moodboard and specific use cases for each section.
Final Result
The completed wireframes successfully reorganized the platform’s structure and content, aligning it with the client’s goals while offering a sleek, modern user experience. The design reflects the clear, balanced aesthetics of the reference sites, while remaining fully functional and content-rich.
