Overview
Women in the automotive industry are not a myth; the majority of users on the Vitu and DMVdesk vehicle registration platforms are women. MVSC continues to find creative and unique messaging to celebrate gender, racial, and ethnic diversity, and show appreciation and acknowledgement of women’s professional efforts. “Women who Changed the Face of the Auto Industry” is an interactive gallery that celebrates women inventors who have innovated, inspired, and driven technical progress throughout history.
Roles
- CX Designer
- Web Developer
Client
Responsibilities
- Project Brief
- Information Architecture
- Wireframing
- Usability Testing
- Web Development
Project
Process
I was approached by a creative writer to come up with an idea to celebrate women in the automotive industry for Women's History Month. Based on user data, we identified that women composed more than 70 percent of the company’s software user base, and made up more than 80 percent of those who used its educational services. I proposed the creation of an interactive gallery piece where women’s success stories would serve as an inspiration to both those who are already in the professional field and those who are considering entering it.
Together with creative writers, we identified 40 articles for this project. Each article displayed facts regarding women inventors. The goal was to introduce small pieces of information and keep the user engaged.
Based on the written content, I developed the website architecture.
Grid Concept
The next step was to develop wireframes with several user cases tagged to the website's functionality. After sketching out several ideas, I researched grid-based templates that were readily available on the market and could be utilized as a base for the project. My choice was to go with the Multiverse template.
Usability Testing
Prior to starting work on the visual design, I conducted a usability study on the Multiverse template and analyzed what types of customization needed to be implemented in order to ensure a positive user experience within desktop, tablet, and mobile interfaces.
Mobile-First, High Fidelity Prototype
After usability testing analysis, I chose a mobile-first approach and started work on high fidelity prototypes for mobile and tablet use. Based on that, I finalized the visual design and updated the user interface for the desktop. Finally, I customized the template’s HTML and CSS according to the visual design prototypes and conducted usability testing when everything was ready.
Solution
The final version of the site was created based on the Multiverse template with customizations to the HTML and CSS. Based on user feedback, the site has a pleasing visual style, is easy to navigate, and keeps the reader highly engaged. “Women who Changed the Face of the Auto Industry” increased conversion rates for the v2Gov website, and has been well-received by industry experts. The project has continued to expand, later taking on a life of its own by bringing additional stories of inspiration to its users.