Congregation Beth El
Website Redesign
Role
UX Designer
Web Development
Timeline
December -March 2024
Industry
Non-Profit, Education, Community Building, Web Design
Area of Focus
User Interface Design
& Interactivity, User Research, Accessibility, Prototyping, Web Design & Development
Copy Writing
I.
Define
At Congregation Beth El, I serve as the web designer, graphic designer, and marketing manager. My first major project involved redesigning their outdated website, which was cluttered with repetitive information and failed to reflect the remarkable work CBE does as a cultural, spiritual, and educational center.
The old site did not adequately represent how CBE serves the San Diego Jewish community, so I revamped it to better showcase its contributions and enhance its online presence. This redesign aimed not only to improve the online experience but also to increase registration and participation post-COVID.
II.
Ideate
During the ideation phase, I reviewed the old design system for Congregation Beth El and modernized it while drawing inspiration from the existing elements to ensure branding remained recognizable for veteran users and more inviting for new users.
One of CBE's goals is to grow their Young Families community, so I aimed to make the site more appealing to that demographic. I started by creating a new design system and experimented with paper wireframes and user journeys to lay the foundation for the revamped site.
III.
Research
In the research phase, I conducted an in-depth competitive analysis of other well-known conservative synagogues in the US, such as Valley Beth Shalom, Ikar, and Park Avenue Synagogue. I examined their website layouts by creating wireframes to understand their design processes, identifying what worked for their users and what wouldn’t for ours.
I then developed wireframes for our site, along with information architecture charts and user journeys. To ensure our design resonated with our target audience, I tested the wireframes on congregants aged 30-65, incorporating their feedback to refine the designs.
IV.
Design
In the design phase, I consolidated and edited all the copy and content for the site, ensuring clarity and consistency. Using the design system I created to expand branding goals, I developed a high-fidelity mockup with a user-friendly interface in Figma, complete with menu items and pages, to guide the development process.
This mockup provided a detailed visual representation of the new website, allowing for a smooth transition from design to development while ensuring that all elements, including the user interface, aligned with the overall vision and goals of Congregation Beth El.
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V.
Prototype I
Prototype II
Evaluate
In the evaluation phase, I conducted usability testing on the mockup and gathered valuable feedback from users. Based on their insights, I adjusted features and the layout of the designs to enhance functionality and user experience.
These adjustments ensured that the final design was intuitive, engaging, and met the needs of Congregation Beth El's diverse user base. By iterating on the feedback, I refined the interface to better align with the community's expectations and preferences, resulting in a more effective and user-friendly website.
Ta-Da!
The Finished Product
Here is the finished product: the new and improved CBE website! I developed the site using Webflow, seamlessly integrating its member data and registration with ShulCloud to create a stunning end-to-end experience.
This upgrade captures CBE's essence as a community—inclusive, warm, and traditionally innovative. Since launching the new site, CBE has seen its membership grow from 557 families to 603, enhancing its mission to serve the Jewish community of San Diego.
