CLIENT PROJECT: Information Architecture, Sitemap, Wireframes
Project:
Plan and design Information Architecture, Sitemap, and Wireframes for the initial marketing website while considering a more robust future state as well.
Company: Early stage Saas startup, whose product offers a solution for sending and receiving product content and maintaining regulatory compliance within a growing, but highly regulated subset of the retail industry.
Project Duration: 2 weeks
My Role: Designed/planned Information Architecture, Sitemap, and Wireframes for marketing site.
Project Background: The client, a small and then brand new Saas company, provides a software solution for syncing product data and maintaining regulatory compliance within a specific subset of the retail industry. This client is not yet ready to share their identity in public documentation, so in the interest of respecting their privacy and maintaining this document’s readability, throughout this document they are referred to as “SC”.
When I began working with SC in mid-2019, they were navigating the process of deciding what their marketing website should look like, what content it should contain, and where everything should live on the site. They were feeling frustrated and needed a way to keep all stakeholders on the same page as they planned their site. They found themselves creating more confusion/disagreement the more they discussed it, and had no tools to help aid in communication.
Goal: Help facilitate clear communication around the website’s design and development by providing visual tools including information architecture, sitemaps, and mid-fidelity wireframes for the early stage website, as well as a similar tools for a later version of the website. Do so without bringing focus to branding/styling.
Results:
Sitemap/Architecture Initial Stage: The initial sitemap for SC’s website organizes and illustrates the key sections of information a potential client might look for, without creating non-MVP work for the limited resources at SC to worry about.
Initial SC Sitemap
Wireframes/Architecture Initial Stage: The initial stage wireframes, like the sitemap, is designed to support users’ ability to find the information they seek. A clean layout, including an omnipresent navigation and contact form, ensure that users always know where they are within the site, and feel encouraged to make direct contact with SC.
Sitemap/Architecture Future Stage: The future version of the sitemap for SC’s website expands on the original content, adding a Resource section to support Industry Thought Leadership goals, as well as subsections that provide deeper information on SC’s products, services, company culture, and the SC team. The Primary Sitemap is supported by sub-maps for each of the home page’s child pages.
Primary SC Sitemap
Client Feedback: The Client was extremely happy with the assets I created, and reached out to let me know the sitemap and wireframes “kickstarted all the conversations in the right direction.” Since this project, I’ve had the pleasure of work with SC again on email templates, a business card layout, and other marketing material.