Brand and Site Final Presentation
Conclusion
This project extended well beyond a simple site or flow redesign (though we did plenty of that) and ventured into the realm of brand messaging. Our stakeholder had a clear vision for what she wanted her site to convey, and we had to balance her objectives while gently guiding the project toward a heuristically sound design with a cohesive color palette and typography. Every element was thoughtfully crafted to align with the overarching message.
In this project, the combination of my art background and years of e-commerce sales and marketing provided valuable insights. Branding is an area I’ve worked in extensively, but I can confidently say that in this project—more than any other I’ve participated in to date—our research proved invaluable. Our interview subjects, a diverse mix of creatives and non-creatives (including two architects), offered the guidance we needed to create a truly impactful outcome.
This project was also an excellent team experience. The other three team members were fantastic collaborators, and I would gladly work with any of them again.
The site rebuild is now in the stakeholder’s hands, and she has indicated that uploading it is a priority for 2025.
Homepage
Branding
Media Page
Filtered Media
Article
About Us
Print Magazine Sales
Updated home page with simplified
navigation and search function.
Dedicated Media page
with detailed filters
Revised article
pages with locked
image elements
Complete set of colors, fonts, card, and button elements.
Print magazine
call out
Updated footer navigation and Newseltter sign up
“Design is the silent ambassador of your brand.”
-Paul Rand
“People relate to people, and if your brand feels like people, they’ll relate to you too.”
-Luara Busche
“A brand is the promise of an experience.”
-Alexander Isley
Heuristic Analysis
Websites
Architectural Digest www.architecturaldigest.com
In Habitat www.inhabitat.com
Metropolis www.metropolismag.com
Interior Design www.interiordesign.net/
Competitive Analysis
Interview comments
“To balance sustainability with aesthetics I think a less is more approach is helpful when it comes to design and graphics”-Tori
“If it’s sustainability, I would imagine it’s more minimalistic. Minimalism implies minimal waste.” Ian
“Visual design plays a critical role of a website when it comes to determining credibility” -Tori
“On a sustainability site, I’d love to see more detailed information about the materials and innovations being used” -Lisa
“I would define an excellent user experience as a “75 to 25 ratio of ease of navigation to creativity.” -Soua
“Search bars are the most essential tools for me as they allow you to find specific information as quickly as possible” -Tori
Research
Users need clear and efficient navigation when searching for content to quickly locate information while delivering the desired brand message.
The Problem
www.PiperRepublic.Com - an architecture multi-media platform rebrand
Piper Republic is a multimedia company dedicated to inspiring the interior design and architecture community with resources that champion healthy, regenerative design. Through thoughtfully curated articles, engaging videos, and an insightful podcast, Piper Republic equips professionals with valuable tools and perspectives to create sustainable, wellness-focused spaces.
Founded by Beth Cochran, an architect and passionate advocate for sustainable construction practices, Piper Republic sought to elevate its digital presence. The existing site, built on a basic off-the-shelf media template, failed to effectively communicate the brand’s message or achieve its goals. Beth approached our team to reimagine her brand and create a site that truly reflected her vision.
Working alongside three talented UX designers, I helped deliver a refined, cohesive brand messaging site in just three weeks. The result is a seamless user experience that effectively communicates Piper Republic’s mission and critical content to its audience. The process was a synergistic and rewarding collaboration, and we were thrilled to exceed Beth’s expectations. She is now actively working on implementing our design.
4 person project team
Gabriela Chan - Project Lead
Ivanna Gong - Research Lead
David Inman - Business Analytics Lead/Design
Alex Kwon - Design Lead
3 week project Oct. 18th-Nov. 8th 2024
14 research interview (8 current/6 prototype testing)
Heuristic evaluation, affinity mapping, user journey, competitive analysis, site mapping
Topography and color palette, layout/component design
Low and high fidelity prototypes
Final stakeholder presentation and approval
Let’s do some good in the world...
