American Documentary • Information Architecture & Wireframes

Daniel G Bright

Verified

Completed work

Web Designer

UX Designer

UI Designer

Figma

Miro

Octopus.do

Film

Project Background

American Documentary is a non-profit media organization dedicated to creating and distributing socially impactful documentary films. Their website serves as a platform for showcasing their extensive film catalog, connecting with filmmakers, and providing educational resources.

I was approached by Paper Tiger to lead the UX redesign of AmDoc’s website. The goal was to create a more structured, user-friendly experience that better serves the needs of filmmakers, educators, and general audiences.

Homepage

Challenges & Objectives

Challenges:

The existing website had an outdated structure with unclear navigation.

Users struggled to find relevant content due to lack of filtering and categorization.

Filmmakers needed better visibility and a centralized hub for resources.

Educational materials were not easily accessible or well-organized.

Our Series Page

Objectives:

Redesign the website architecture for a more intuitive user journey.

Implement clear navigation and filtering for films, filmmakers, and resources.

Improve discoverability of educational and funding opportunities.

Enhance storytelling and engagement through modern UX principles.

Our Series Page

UX Process

1. Research & Discovery

To ensure the redesign met user needs, I conducted:

Stakeholder Interviews – Understanding AmDoc’s goals and pain points.

User Research – Identifying key user personas: filmmakers, educators, and general audiences.

Competitive Analysis – Benchmarking against similar documentary and media platforms.

POV

2. Information Architecture & Wireframing

Created a complete site map, organizing content into clear sections.

Developed wireframes for each primary page, focusing on usability and clarity.

Ensured the new IA supported a seamless navigation experience.

POV

3. Prototyping & User Testing

Built interactive prototypes to validate the UX flow.

Conducted user testing sessions to gather feedback and refine the design.

Iterated based on insights, improving navigation and filtering mechanisms.

Key UX Solutions

1. Structured Navigation

Designed a clear menu system with distinct categories: Films, Filmmakers, Resources, and About.

Added filtering options for searching films by theme, genre, and filmmaker.

2. Filmmaker-Centric Pages

Created dedicated profiles for filmmakers, allowing them to showcase their work.

Included funding opportunities, residencies, and submission guidelines.

3. Enhanced Educational Resources

Implemented a centralized resource hub for educators and students.

Improved categorization of teaching materials, study guides, and learning modules.

4. Improved Visual Hierarchy

Used contrast and spacing to highlight important content.

Prioritized storytelling elements with better use of imagery and text balance.

Wireframes

Final Outcome

Streamlined user journey – Navigation is now intuitive and user-friendly.

Enhanced discoverability – Users can easily find films, filmmakers, and resources.

Filmmaker engagement improved – A more structured and supportive platform.

Modern, clean UX – A fresh and engaging interface for AmDoc’s digital presence.

Conclusion

Leading the UX redesign for American Documentary was a rewarding challenge, aligning the site’s structure with user needs while ensuring a seamless browsing experience. The final design now effectively supports AmDoc’s mission of storytelling, education, and filmmaker advocacy.

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Completed work

Posted Feb 18, 2025

Redesigned AmDoc’s website UX for better navigation, filmmaker engagement, and content discovery. Led the project after being approached by Paper Tiger.

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Timeline

Oct 1, 2024 - Nov 25, 2024

Clients

Paper Tiger