Website boosting credibility in Ukraine
How I helped business unit to showcase local engineering expertise and strengthened trust with prospective partners
DOMAIN
B2B IeS
TIMELINE
2024
MY ROLE
UX/UI Designer, Fullstack Developer
TEAM
+2
PROBLEM
The Credibility Gap: Redesign to Showcase Local Expertise
The Ukrainian unit lacked its own online voice. The parent site failed to showcase local expertise, leaving partners without proof during tenders. The request was to code an existing design, but my audit showed serious flaws in accessibility, structure, and quality. A full redesign was essential to establish trust and visibility.
PROBLEM
The Credibility Gap: Redesign to Showcase Local Expertise
The Ukrainian unit lacked its own online voice. The parent site failed to showcase local expertise, leaving partners without proof during tenders. The request was to code an existing design, but my audit showed serious flaws in accessibility, structure, and quality. A full redesign was essential to establish trust and visibility.
PROBLEM
The Credibility Gap: Redesign to Showcase Local Expertise
The Ukrainian unit lacked its own online voice. The parent site failed to showcase local expertise, leaving partners without proof during tenders. The request was to code an existing design, but my audit showed serious flaws in accessibility, structure, and quality. A full redesign was essential to establish trust and visibility.
1
The site had to showcase local projects clearly
Potential clients needed a transparent way to see proof of completed projects in Ukraine, the #1 pain point uncovered in stakeholder interviews
1
The site had to showcase local projects clearly
Potential clients needed a transparent way to see proof of completed projects in Ukraine, the #1 pain point uncovered in stakeholder interviews
2
The design had to meet accessibility standards
Existing layouts had poor color contrast, inconsistent typography, and structural issues, all of which risked undermining trust
2
The design had to meet accessibility standards
Existing layouts had poor color contrast, inconsistent typography, and structural issues, all of which risked undermining trust
3
The site needed to fit the parent brand
While highlighting local expertise, it also needed to reinforce the link to the global organization for added credibility
3
The site needed to fit the parent brand
While highlighting local expertise, it also needed to reinforce the link to the global organization for added credibility
4
The content had to be easily manageable
Managers required a CMS that allowed them to update project information independently and quickly to stay competitive in tenders
4
The content had to be easily manageable
Managers required a CMS that allowed them to update project information independently and quickly to stay competitive in tenders
INITIAL ASK
Redefining the Starting Point
The initial request was to implement an existing design, but it was outdated, poorly structured, and lacked accessibility. I recommended a full redesign aligned with the parent company’s brand before beginning development to ensure the site effectively showcased local expertise.
INITIAL ASK
Redefining the Starting Point
The initial request was to implement an existing design, but it was outdated, poorly structured, and lacked accessibility. I recommended a full redesign aligned with the parent company’s brand before beginning development to ensure the site effectively showcased local expertise.
INITIAL ASK
Redefining the Starting Point
The initial request was to implement an existing design, but it was outdated, poorly structured, and lacked accessibility. I recommended a full redesign aligned with the parent company’s brand before beginning development to ensure the site effectively showcased local expertise.
Extremely tight timeline
Extremely tight timeline
Extremely tight timeline
Limited access to end users
Limited access to end users
Limited access to end users
Late-arriving stakeholders with major change requests
Late-arriving stakeholders with major change requests
Late-arriving stakeholders with major change requests
Focused on essentials first and delivered in phases
Focused on essentials first and delivered in phases
Focused on essentials first and delivered in phases
Used manager insights and internal testing to validate designs
Used manager insights and internal testing to validate designs
Used manager insights and internal testing to validate designs
Applied minor edits and protected core design
Applied minor edits and protected core design
Applied minor edits and protected core design
RESEARCH & DISCOVERY
Uncovering Insights, Setting Direction
Before starting the redesign, I carried out a focused research phase to understand both the shortcomings of the old site and the needs of key stakeholders.
RESEARCH & DISCOVERY
Uncovering Insights, Setting Direction
Before starting the redesign, I carried out a focused research phase to understand both the shortcomings of the old site and the needs of key stakeholders.
RESEARCH & DISCOVERY
Uncovering Insights, Setting Direction
Before starting the redesign, I carried out a focused research phase to understand both the shortcomings of the old site and the needs of key stakeholders.
Audit of Existing Designs
Audit of Existing Designs
Identified major accessibility and usability flaws: poor contrast, small fonts, oversized headers, and weak compliance
Identified major accessibility and usability flaws: poor contrast, small fonts, oversized headers, and weak compliance
Stakeholder Conversations
Asked what to keep, change, and why. Clarified content management as a must-have for tender managers.
User Personas Defined
Government Institutions → Needed visibility into completed local projects. Tender Managers → Needed editable, always up-to-date content.
Research Constraints
Direct access to C-suite was limited, so I relied on managers’ insights as proxies
DESIGN
Shaping the Experience
This phase focused on translating research insights into a clear, usable structure and refined visual language to balance accessibility with the parent company’s branding
DESIGN
Shaping the Experience
This phase focused on translating research insights into a clear, usable structure and refined visual language to balance accessibility with the parent company’s branding
DESIGN
Shaping the Experience
This phase focused on translating research insights into a clear, usable structure and refined visual language to balance accessibility with the parent company’s branding
Created redesign in Figma first
Created redesign in Figma first
Created redesign in Figma first
Rebuilt visuals by extracting consistent patterns from the main group site to create an informal design toolkit
Rebuilt visuals by extracting consistent patterns from the main group site to create an informal design toolkit
Rebuilt visuals by extracting consistent patterns from the main group site to create an informal design toolkit
Applied heuristics and accessibility guidelines (contrast fixes, structural improvements)
Applied heuristics and accessibility guidelines (contrast fixes, structural improvements)
Applied heuristics and accessibility guidelines (contrast fixes, structural improvements)
Validated with stakeholders before moving to development
Validated with stakeholders before moving to development
Validated with stakeholders before moving to development
DEVELOPMENT
Engineering the Solution
During this phase the focus shifted to building a responsive website on a custom WordPress theme. This approach ensured managers could easily update tender-related content while keeping the site fast, secure, and adaptable
DEVELOPMENT
Engineering the Solution
During this phase the focus shifted to building a responsive website on a custom WordPress theme. This approach ensured managers could easily update tender-related content while keeping the site fast, secure, and adaptable
DEVELOPMENT
Engineering the Solution
During this phase the focus shifted to building a responsive website on a custom WordPress theme. This approach ensured managers could easily update tender-related content while keeping the site fast, secure, and adaptable
Challenge
New stakeholders joined late in the process
Requested major layout changes after approval
My Approach
Communicated upfront rules: no big changes post-approval.
Accepted only minor tweaks with reasoning.
Re-clarified process for structural revisions.
OUTCOMES
Designing for Trust and Visibility
The redesigned website achieved its main objective: giving the Ukrainian business unit its own professional voice and credibility in the market. By addressing critical usability, accessibility, and branding gaps, the new site not only strengthened trust with partners but also enabled managers to manage content efficiently. Key results included:
OUTCOMES
Designing for Trust and Visibility
The redesigned website achieved its main objective: giving the Ukrainian business unit its own professional voice and credibility in the market. By addressing critical usability, accessibility, and branding gaps, the new site not only strengthened trust with partners but also enabled managers to manage content efficiently. Key results included:
OUTCOMES
Designing for Trust and Visibility
The redesigned website achieved its main objective: giving the Ukrainian business unit its own professional voice and credibility in the market. By addressing critical usability, accessibility, and branding gaps, the new site not only strengthened trust with partners but also enabled managers to manage content efficiently. Key results included:
1
Successful Launch
Website went live with a modern, accessible design
1
Successful Launch
Website went live with a modern, accessible design
1
Successful Launch
Website went live with a modern, accessible design
2
Positive Client Feedback
Partners praised the professional look and clarity
2
Positive Client Feedback
Partners praised the professional look and clarity
2
Positive Client Feedback
Partners praised the professional look and clarity
3
Tangible Business Impact
Increase in tender applications linked to the site
3
Tangible Business Impact
Increase in tender applications linked to the site
3
Tangible Business Impact
Increase in tender applications linked to the site
4
Pain Points Resolved
Local expertise, projects, and past clients clearly showcased
4
Pain Points Resolved
Local expertise, projects, and past clients clearly showcased
4
Pain Points Resolved
Local expertise, projects, and past clients clearly showcased
5
Operational Efficiency
Managers gained the ability to update content independently
5
Operational Efficiency
Managers gained the ability to update content independently
5
Operational Efficiency
Managers gained the ability to update content independently
KEY IMPROVEMENTS
Modernizing the Experience: Fixing What Held the Site Back
The old design suffered from weak contrast, oversized headers, and inconsistent branding. The redesign focused on accessibility, clarity, and easier content management to better support both users and managers
KEY IMPROVEMENTS
Modernizing the Experience: Fixing What Held the Site Back
The old design suffered from weak contrast, oversized headers, and inconsistent branding. The redesign focused on accessibility, clarity, and easier content management to better support both users and managers
KEY IMPROVEMENTS
Modernizing the Experience: Fixing What Held the Site Back
The old design suffered from weak contrast, oversized headers, and inconsistent branding. The redesign focused on accessibility, clarity, and easier content management to better support both users and managers
Accessibility: Better readability and contrast
Accessibility: Better readability and contrast
The previous site had poor color contrast and hard-to-read fonts; the redesign ensured compliance with accessibility standards for legibility and inclusivity
The previous site had poor color contrast and hard-to-read fonts; the redesign ensured compliance with accessibility standards for legibility and inclusivity
Structure: Modern, scannable layouts
Structure: Modern, scannable layouts
Oversized headers and cluttered layouts were replaced with clean hierarchies, making content easy to scan and understand
Oversized headers and cluttered layouts were replaced with clean hierarchies, making content easy to scan and understand
Branding: Consistent group identity
Branding: Consistent group identity
Applied the parent company’s guidelines to create a unified look that reinforced credibility while showcasing the local unit’s uniqueness
Applied the parent company’s guidelines to create a unified look that reinforced credibility while showcasing the local unit’s uniqueness
DESIGN SYSTEM
Building Scalable, Consistent UI Through a Design System
To make the Egis Ertle UI consistent, maintainable, and easy to scale, I created a lightweight design system after the initial redesign. The system defines tokens (colors, type, spacing), core components (buttons, forms, cards, header), and basic usage patterns to speed up development and reduce visual debt
DESIGN SYSTEM
Building Scalable, Consistent UI Through a Design System
To make the Egis Ertle UI consistent, maintainable, and easy to scale, I created a lightweight design system after the initial redesign. The system defines tokens (colors, type, spacing), core components (buttons, forms, cards, header), and basic usage patterns to speed up development and reduce visual debt
DESIGN SYSTEM
Building Scalable, Consistent UI Through a Design System
To make the Egis Ertle UI consistent, maintainable, and easy to scale, I created a lightweight design system after the initial redesign. The system defines tokens (colors, type, spacing), core components (buttons, forms, cards, header), and basic usage patterns to speed up development and reduce visual debt
Key Learnings and Reflections
1
Scope clarity is crucial
Setting boundaries before development avoids scope creep
1
Scope clarity is crucial
Setting boundaries before development avoids scope creep
1
Scope clarity is crucial
Setting boundaries before development avoids scope creep
2
Stakeholder communication
Substitutes for user interviews when end-users are unreachable
2
Stakeholder communication
Substitutes for user interviews when end-users are unreachable
2
Stakeholder communication
Substitutes for user interviews when end-users are unreachable
3
Design before development
Saves rework—even in short timelines
3
Design before development
Saves rework—even in short timelines
3
Design before development
Saves rework—even in short timelines
4
Time pressure creates risk
Rushing can deliver, but more time would have allowed deeper research and stronger outcomes
4
Time pressure creates risk
Rushing can deliver, but more time would have allowed deeper research and stronger outcomes
4
Time pressure creates risk
Rushing can deliver, but more time would have allowed deeper research and stronger outcomes
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