Web Design Case Study: Clicks that Convert

Cortina Jenelle Caldwell

Web Designer
Brand Strategist
UX Designer
Canva
ChatGPT
WordPress

THE NEED

In an ever-evolving business landscape, my website (cortinajenelle.com) has undergone many iterations. It started as a simple landing page to secure my domain name, grew into a lead generation space and then it gained more detailed copy and portfolio samples. Eventually, the website became a little cluttered in its content and fell to the wayside as I was working on branding + design for my clients. And once I started feeling reluctant to share the link, I knew it was time for an overhaul. For the redesign, I needed a bright, punchy, well laid out site with portfolios, a shop, a blog, a few inquiry forms, a speaker epk and the usual core website pages, all highlighted with animation, hi-res images and brand elements.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Thus, I saw an opportunity to revamp my online image, solidify my brand identity, and enhance user experiences. I wanted a design solution that would not only provide a fresh and visually captivating interface but also incorporate interactive elements to better engage my target audience; the belief was that the website itself would be a work sample for clients. The project presented an opportunity to showcase my commitment to innovation and human-centered design. The result was a visually striking, user-friendly website that gives a bright, cheery impact at first glance, is a breeze to navigate and has a good balance of text and hi-res images. The design itself aligned seamlessly with the brand identity of "Where Authenticity Meets Aesthetics", which elevated my digital impact and gained me new clients.

THE SOLUTION

For the website design project, I chose to keep designing in Wordpress - Framer hadn't yet fully rolled out, Squarespace and Wix had design limitations and I wanted to be able to make the website more robust over time using plugins that can only be found on Wordpress. To meet the needs I had outlined, I adopted a comprehensive and user-focused approach, taking myself through the same checkpoints of user acceptance testing and human-centered design that I would with any client. In the end, it helped me to refine my process and make sure that new adaptations with AI and smart technology can be integrated with my client's website design projects as well. I ensured that the website was responsive, providing an optimal experience across various devices and screen sizes. I updated the branding in the process as well which included the logo, tagline, copywritten sections, site headers, typography and UX/UI components in order to showcase brand priorities to visitors.

THE PROCESS

The design process began with a thorough analysis of the previous branding and how it might translate with my target audience. As mentioned previously, all client projects are thoroughly strategic and human-centered. The process, beyond my own work, begins with a Discovery Call, followed by an estimate that outlines timeline, rates and scope of work. Once client agrees to the terms, they are sent a design survey or moodboard questionnaire to help clarify their vision and expectations of deliverables. Prior to the call, part of my initial investment of time and your success as my future client is to conduct extensive research to align your brand with best practices in user experience + web design. From there, I proceed to create wireframes and design mockups using Figma, hand sketches, Mural, or Canva. Work continues as agreed through to the deliverable date and client receives a website maintenance video via Loom or YouTube so they can manage future updates.

OTHER LINKS

If you want to hop on a call for a demo and book a project, do set up a Discovery Call.
For a full view of my work, visit the Portfolios page of Cortina Jenelle Branding Agency.
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