Woonsocket Historical Society
Explore, learn, and preserve the history of Woonsocket.
The Woonsocket Historical Society has been dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing its city’s history and heritage. However, their old website did not reflect the depth or significance of their work, using minimal information and unused brand identity to make user visits accessible or engaging. The society tasked me and three other designers to revamp their website to entice younger users who are new to Woonsocket or are interested in the town’s history.
The Journey
Our team rebuilt the society’s website from the ground up. We drew inspiration from other historical organizations, museums, and civic institutions to give the site a vintage and archival aesthetic users would be familiar with. We also kept the society’s identity intact while utilizing its assets when most applicable to elevate the site’s depth and interactivity.
The Protagonist
To start, I considered my personal experience with ATMs and my reluctance to use independent kiosks compared to those from official banks. I allowed this to guide the rest of my user research and underline what I hoped to solve with my vision for an ATM kiosk. Abraham Lincoln came to represent that vision because he is a historically reputable figure, and his placement on the penny reflects the brand’s equitable, building-block tone of voice. With this, I incorporated copper into the color palette and the kiosk’s overall aesthetic. This then provided the brand an overall aesthetic that stands apart from other banks and ATMs and alleviates the unease people often have when using them.
Next, I wireframed the user experience, keenly considering who would use an ATM and how people use them. With this in mind, I created two separate paths, one for returning customers and another for new customers, and built their menus around what I and others use an ATM for. Once the wireframes were streamlined, I produced high-fidelity mockups with the interactivity and direction required for a seamless kiosk experience.
The Lesson
The final website is a culmination of collaboration, communication, and design. Each team member identified their strengths and refined the site to make sure it was ready to be published and accessed by prospective users interested in accessing and preserving history.