Reaching Constituents and Newcomers More Effectively Online
INTERNSHIP
WORDPRESS
Context
Internship
Role
UX Designer
Tools
Wordpress
Duration
May - Aug 2025
THE PROBLEM
Genesis uses many disconnected communication tools to communicate with constituents.
Genesis Church Petoskey is a non-denominational church in northern Michigan that has grown rapidly in recent years, now welcoming around seven hundred attendees each week, not to mention its three other locations.
The church offers a wide range of events, groups, and activities designed to help members grow in their faith and build community. However, many attendees expressed frustration about not knowing where to find information about these opportunities.
While Genesis has a website, it’s not seen as a reliable source of information. Content is often outdated or difficult to find, leading users to look elsewhere for updates.
THE SOLUTION
A streamlined website that simplifies content management and improves communication across the broader church community.
Landing Page
I redesigned the landing page to better guide users toward the most frequently accessed pages. This was achieved by improving the visual hierarchy, transforming key links into clear buttons and header elements, and refining the overall layout to make navigation more intuitive.
Hierarchy
I reorganized the website’s header to better meet user needs, as this area caused significant confusion during testing. I renamed category titles for greater clarity and restructured the content to create a more intuitive and streamlined navigation experience.
The Process
01 RESEARCH
Understanding the Problem Space
To better understand the problem, I began my design process with research. I started with a literature review on church websites, focusing on how they can effectively serve both existing members and newcomers.
Next, I conducted a comparative analysis of other church websites, both local and global, to identify common structures, design patterns, and features used to engage diverse audiences.
Building on these findings, I moved into primary research through interviews. These conversations explored how Genesis constituents perceived the church’s communication systems overall, then focused more specifically on the website. I interviewed participants with varying levels of involvement to capture a range of perspectives.
Key Insights
I discovered that most constituents rarely used the website because they viewed it as unreliable and outdated. As a result, they lacked a single, trusted source of information and instead had to rely on multiple platforms to stay informed.
02 DESIGN
Integrating Findings into the Platform
The research findings guided me into the analysis and design phase. I began by developing a new information hierarchy centered on the terms and topics users most often searched for, informed by interviews with both constituents and staff members.
From there, I created mid-fidelity mockups in Figma to visualize the updated structure and layout. After receiving approval from the Genesis staff, I implemented the designs in WordPress.
As part of this process, I updated the navigation menu to reflect the new hierarchy and reorganized key sections to align with the user insights gathered during research. I also updated the fonts and colors to better align with the branding of the organization.
03 IMPACT
A Platform that Prioritizes the People
The updates I was able to make to the Genesis Church website have already made a significant impact. Congregants can now easily find the information they need, improving overall usability and reducing frustration when directed to the site.
Newcomers are also better supported, with clear access to essential details about Genesis, such as service times, locations, and community opportunities, helping them feel more confident and welcomed.
Beyond usability, this project has begun shifting the congregation’s perception of the website itself. By improving reliability, organization, and ease of use, we’re encouraging people to view the site as a trustworthy, central source for church communication.