Author Website Redesign
Prioritizing Readers for an Enhanced User Experience
About
Rebuild an author website
Timeline
Aug 2023 — Sep 2023
Role
Web Designer / UX Designer
My Role
I was brought on as a web designer and UX designer to reveal insights through research and apply those findings into an easy to use website that the author could manage herself.
Problem
As a non-techie published author, June Hur found herself overwhelmed by her WordPress website. In her own words, she likened it to a cluttered closet she was hesitant to open. While the old website contained valuable content, it required a thorough clean-up to ensure that her readers could easily access the information they were seeking
No homepage
The previous website notably lacked a conventional homepage, the cornerstone of most reader-friendly sites. Instead, it resembled more of a bio page, which often led to user confusion.
Newsletter Sign-Up Issues
The author's email communication strategy faces two challenges in the sign-up process:
Limited access: Users can only sign up on the "newsletter" page, causing friction.
Missing Confirmation Emails: Users do not receive confirmation emails from Mailchimp, raising doubts about successful sign-up.
Enhancing access to valuable resources
Beyond the book store links, there exists a wealth of valuable resources and information for each book. Regrettably, these resources are currently scattered, limiting accessibility primarily to dedicated fans.
Success will be determined by the website's capacity to accomplish these objectives, ensuring a smooth user experience, while also enhancing the author's enjoyment in managing her website
Research
Competitive Research
Prior to commencing the design process, I conducted comprehensive competitive research on author websites. This step enabled me to leverage industry insights and best practices, ensuring our design would excel in user experience and stand out among the competition.
SWOT Analysis
Next, I condensed key insights into a SWOT analysis—This succinct summary not only shed light on our current position in the market but also paved the way for informed decisions and a well-defined direction in our website design and strategy.
Strengths
Clarity and engagement
User friendly navigation
Book showcase
Subscription incentives
Opportunities
Book organization
Interactive content
Expanded about section
Visual enhancement
Weaknesses
Limited home page functionality
Small, blended navigation design
Lack of comprehensive book list
Sparse / empty pages
Threats
Overreliance on Amazon
CTA redundancy: Avoid overwhelming users and promote a smoother shopping experience.
Survey
Now it was time to hear directly from June Hur’s readers. To inform the optimal structuring of the information architecture, I initiated a comprehensive user survey, strategically designed to uncover valuable insights into user behavior. This survey included key questions that delved into user preferences, navigation habits, and content consumption patterns.
Affinity Map
From the survey results, I crafted an affinity map—a visual tapestry of user behaviors, preferences, and needs. This map unveiled recurring patterns and connections in the data, offering a comprehensive perspective on user expectations
Design
Information Architecture
By leveraging this data-driven approach, I was able to shape the website's information architecture in a way that aligns seamlessly with user expectations, ensuring an intuitive and engaging experience for every visitor.
Wireframes
After distilling user insights and refining the website's information architecture, the next step was to bring these ideas to life. I embarked on the creative journey of sketching, transforming concepts into tangible visual representations. These sketches served as the blueprints for our website's design, allowing us to iteratively explore and refine the user interface and layout.
Mood Board
June Hur sought to infuse her website with an elegant, yet serious and professional vibe. Much like her literary vision, she aimed to strike a balance that mirrored the fusion of Joseon Korea and Jane Austen's worlds, creating a digital space that exudes both refinement and a sense of gravitas.
Clean - Sophisticated - Professional - Romantic
Final design
New homepage
A new home page was designed as a starting point for readers. Here you’ll find the most relevant news, short bio and other important items the author wants to highlight.
Newsletter signup with incentive
Now one of the first things you see is an invitation to sign up for June Hur’s newsletter with a nice incentive.
Footer newsletter form
Because newsletters are so crucial to the author’s communication, we wanted it to be really easy for readers to find. What better way than to make it accessible regardless of what page you’re on!
A home for each book
Each book now has its own home with all its respective resources and links in one place.
Taking the guesswork out and giving one clear CTA while providing other purchase links below.
All resources and information pertaining to a book now lives within the books respective page, organized into clear sections.
Each resource has its own section within the book page giving it better organization and making it visually easy to find for readers.
Mockups
Client testimonial
“Geehae is an exceptional website designer! She transformed my seemingly impossible and overwhelming website into a polished creation that perfectly captured my vision -- professional, minimalistic, with a moody vibe. Her keen eye for aesthetics guided me when I was unsure, and I appreciated her commitment to prioritizing reader feedback, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience for my audience from the start."
- June Hur Author
Let’s work together
If you’re an author or small business owner needing digital assistance, give me a holla!!!!!!
