New Diabetes Fonds website launched
In January the Diabetes Fonds launched their new website. User Intelligence developed the Concept and Interaction Design based on thorough User Research. User Intelligence introduced UsMedia as technology partner and together they implemented the website.
Web site goals
The Diabetes Fonds want to establish themselves as the primary platform to help increase awareness about diabetes. User Intelligence was asked to help the Diabetes Fonds to reach this goal by creating a new website.
One of the challenges was to design a website that would not only offer information to patients, but also to inform people that run the risk of getting this disease. Besides providing information, the new website should also play an important role in encouraging visitors to take action to help the in the fight against diabetes (e.g. by volunteering or making a donation).
User Research
The first phase of the project consisted of doing User Research. Contextual interviews were conducted with users from various target audiences. These groups consisted of patients, volunteers, donators and people that had no direct connection with diabetes. Besides an interview, a mini-usability test was conducted on the Diabetes Fonds website.
One of the main findings from the User Research was the overlap in roles (potential) visitors of the website had: users were for instance rarely just a patient or donator. This was something the new design needed to take into account.
Example of overlap between various user groups
Stakeholder workshop
The needs and wishes of the Diabetes Fonds were also research. In a workshop the various stakeholders within the organisation provided us with valuable input. This resulted in a list of priorities from the point of view of the Diabetes Fonds.
Concept and interaction design
The results of the interviews and usability test were compared to the priorities of the organisation. These findings were combined into a single report. The gained knowledge on the (potential) users and insight in the needs of the organisation helped to define what the new website needed to deliver. This report was used as input for the creation of several concept designs. Together with Diabetes Fonds one of the concepts was chosen. This concept was then worked out in more detail in the interaction design.
Implementation by UsMedia
User Intelligence introduced UsMedia as a technology partner to implement the website. Working with an Agile process together with an interaction designer from User Intelligence they build the new website in a Drupal Open Source Content Management System (CMS).
New web site Diabetes Fonds
Result
In January 2010 the website went live. The new website allows the diverse target groups to find information in an easier and more comfortable way. One of the outcomes of the User Research was the wish of users to find more information on research that is being done on diabetes. Although this section was present on the previous website, it has now been made much more prominent.
The new site also makes it easier for visitors to be involved in the activities of the Diabetes Fonds and to make a donation online. Fundraising is crucial for the Diabetes Fonds, as it allows them to support various research projects and conduct education activities.
The new website now plays an important role for the Diabetes Fonds to reach their goals in the fight against diabetes!
In need of a successful website?
For questions or more information about this project or if you have the feeling that your current website is not helping you reach your goals contact us.