Granville Island Website Redesign

Overview

The Granville Island website redesign focuses on improving navigation, usability, and visual hierarchy to better serve both first-time visitors and returning locals. The goal was to create a more intuitive and engaging digital experience that reflects the vibrant, community-focused nature of Granville Island while making it easier for users to discover events, plan visits, and explore the island's offerings.

Problem

The existing Granville Island website suffered from several usability issues that hindered the user experience:

• •Cluttered navigation: Too many menu items made it difficult for users to find what they were looking for quickly.
• •Poor visual hierarchy: Important information was buried or not prominently displayed, leading to user frustration.
• •Outdated design: The visual design felt dated and didn't reflect the vibrant, modern character of Granville Island.
• •Limited mobile optimization: The mobile experience was subpar, making it difficult for on-the-go visitors to access information.

Research

To understand user needs and pain points, I conducted comprehensive research including:

• •User interviews: Spoke with 8 visitors (mix of tourists and locals) to understand their goals and frustrations when using the website.
• •Competitive analysis: Analyzed similar destination websites to identify best practices and opportunities for differentiation.
• •Heuristic evaluation: Identified usability issues using Nielsen's 10 Usability Heuristics.
• •Analytics review: Examined existing site analytics to understand user behavior patterns and drop-off points.

Key findings revealed that users wanted quick access to event information, clear directions and parking details, and a more visually engaging experience that captured the island's unique atmosphere.

Strategy

Based on research insights, I developed a strategic approach focused on three key pillars:

• •Simplified navigation: Reduced menu items from 12 to 5 main categories (Discover, Plan Your Visit, Food & Dining, Events & News, About) with clear subcategories.
• •Content prioritization: Implemented a card-based layout to highlight key content areas and improve scannability.
• •Visual refresh: Introduced a modern, vibrant design system using pastel tones and blurred bubble dividers to create a welcoming, contemporary aesthetic.
• •Mobile-first approach: Designed with mobile users as the primary audience, ensuring seamless experiences across all devices.

Final Design

The redesign focuses on a minimal navigation bar, curated homepage highlights, and improved hierarchy using pastel tones and blurred bubble dividers. Key features include:

• •Hero section: Large, engaging imagery showcasing the Public Market with clear operating hours and key information overlays.
• •Event discovery: Prominent "Upcoming & Current Events" section with visual cards for easy browsing.
• •Improved typography: Clear hierarchy with modern, clean fonts that enhance readability.
• •Consistent design system: Pastel color palette and blurred bubble backgrounds create a cohesive, welcoming aesthetic throughout the site.

Outcome

The redesigned website successfully addressed the key usability issues identified in research. User testing with 6 participants showed a 45% improvement in task completion rates and a 38% reduction in time to find key information. Participants praised the clean, modern design and intuitive navigation, noting that the site now better reflects the vibrant character of Granville Island. The mobile experience received particularly positive feedback, with users appreciating the ease of accessing information on-the-go.