A communication redesign

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A communication redesign
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Introductions

• Lauren Parker Ashley Kuhnmuench
• Professional Writing majors gt College of A L
• Digital and Technical Communication
• Solving problems and communicating effectively
• across different audiences and contexts through
• digital and print media.

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The Project

• Develop communication tools that
• Raise awareness of Solar Circle
• Educate the public
• Increase funding
• Result Website and brochure redesign

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Introductions

• Solar Circle
• Non-profit organization
• Purpose Establish solar cooking in Tanzania
  (East Africa)
• Based in Okemos, MI
• Judy Martin, President

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Tanzania

• Located on the East Coast of Africa
• Bordered by
• Kenya
• Uganda
• Rwanda
• And many others

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Tanzania

• Comparable in size to Nigeria
• ½ the size of Alaska
• Struck by drought the latter part of 21st century
• Severely reduced available electricity
• Handicapped countrys economic condition

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Life in Tanzania

• Cooking and purifying water occur over wood
  burning fires
• Overt physical labor
• Finding, cutting and hauling wood
• Deforestation
• Overexploiting resources, loss in vegetation,
  etc.
• Health Concerns
• Respiratory problems caused by smoke

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Solar Ovens

• Provide a solution to all of these concerns
• Uses free energy of the sun
• No more need for wood, deforestation, etc.
• Eliminates health concerns
• No smoke is emitted
• Makes life easier
• Food is cooked faster, easier and even tastes
  better!
• MSU students working to design an even more
  effective and efficient solar oven

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Original Communication Tools
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Original Communication Tools
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Original Communication Tools
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Areas Requiring Improvement

• Color usage
• Information hierarchy and organization
• Lack of headings to direct attention
• Placement of important information
• Design
• Main goal not reflective in old designs
• Content

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User Consideration

• All decisions based on the web users experience
  usability
• Goals
• Attract the users attention
• Engage the user through use of text, images and
  clean design
• Motivate the user to help our cause

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Redesigned Communication Tools
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Redesigned Communication Tools
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Redesigned Communication Tools
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Color

• Old color scheme
• Drab, dull colors
• Non memorable
• Didnt convey spirit of organization
• No significant contrast to highlight important
  aspects
• Considered flag color scheme
• Not welcoming
• Doesnt elicit desired response from web users

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Color

• New color scheme
• Attention grabbing
• Reflective of the sun and bright spirit of the
  organization
• Color Psychology of Oranges
• Stimulate emotions
• Demand attention
• Invokes images of the sun, feelings of warmth,
  balance and enthusiasm

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Images

• Old site didnt incorporate many images
• New site
• Photo Gallery a new feature that includes five
  albums (10 photos in each)
• Making Solar Ovens
• Using Solar Ovens
• Making Progress
• Village Life
• Tanzanian Faces
• Image Banners

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Images

• Benefits of effective images
• Tells a story
• Connects the user to the message
• Memorable
• Tugs at the heartstrings
• Illustrate and enhance the message
• Gives potential donor an idea of what theyre
  contributing to

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Content

• More descriptive
• We told the story of people in Tanzania and the
  organization
• Added new content about how the ovens are made
  and how they work
• Detailed the work of Solar Circles members and
  partners
• Specified the results of monetary contributions

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Information Organization

• Put most important information first
• Inverted Pyramid Principle
• Users typically initially skim a page until they
  find what theyre interested in
• Most descriptive information comes after main
  points
• Headings and subheadings
• Allow readers to skim/scan for what theyre
  looking for

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Site Navigation

• Integral part of layout and design process
• Categorization of information for ease of use
• Rollover images highlight possible destinations
  and indicate location within site
• Two locations for maximum use and accessibility

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Meeting Our Goals

• Raise Awareness
• Made site and brochure more memorable
• People will spread the word, tell friends
• Brochure is now more attractive
• People are more likely to pick it up, read it
• Educate the Public
• Both the site and brochure are more usable
• Richer content is included in both
• Increase Funding
• How You Can Help located in two locations on
  site
• Is detailed in its own page in both site and
  brochure
• Lists specific results of monetary contributions

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Before
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After
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Before
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After
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Before
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After
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Special Thanks

• To Judy Martin for all her help, time and
  contributions
• Dr. Brian Thompson Prof. Danielle DeVoss for
  their guidance
• Jackie Rondo for her printing assistance
• www.solar-circle.org