ETBI (Education & Training Boards of Ireland) - Web Portal

Overview

The Education & Training Boards of Ireland (ETBI) is an organization that represents and supports the 16 Education and Training Boards in Ireland. The objective of this project was to redesign and rebrand their website to improve user experience, enhance accessibility, and reflect the organization’s commitment to education and training.

Objectives

  1. Modernize Visual Identity: Refresh the branding to create a contemporary and engaging online presence.

  2. Enhance User Experience: Simplify navigation and improve content discoverability for a diverse audience.

  3. Ensure Responsive Design: Create a seamless experience on both desktop and mobile devices.

  4. Establish a Comprehensive Design System: Develop a component library and style guide for consistent design implementation.

Research & Discovery

  • Stakeholder Interviews: Conducted interviews with ETBI staff and board members to understand their goals, audience needs, and existing challenges.

  • User Research: Gathered insights from end-users, including students, educators, and administrators, to identify pain points and expectations.

  • Competitive Analysis: Analyzed other educational organizations’ websites to gather inspiration and identify best practices.

Wireframing

  • Low-Fidelity Wireframes: Created wireframes in Figma to establish the site structure and layout, focusing on user journeys and key information hierarchies.

  • Feedback Iteration: Collaborated with stakeholders to refine wireframes based on their feedback, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

Visual Design

  • High-Fidelity Mockups: Developed high-fidelity designs in Figma that reflected the new brand identity, incorporating a fresh color palette and typography that resonates with the educational sector.

  • Visual Elements: Designed custom graphics, icons, and illustrations to enhance visual appeal and improve content engagement.

Component Library & Style Guide

  • Design System Creation: Built a robust design system in Figma, including a comprehensive component library with reusable elements (buttons, forms, cards) for consistency across the site.

  • Style Guide: Developed a style guide detailing color usage, typography, spacing, and layout principles to ensure uniform application in all design elements.

Responsive Design

  • Mobile-First Approach: Designed with mobile users in mind, ensuring that the website was fully responsive and optimized for various screen sizes.

  • Usability Testing: Conducted testing with real users on both desktop and mobile devices, gathering feedback to refine the design further.

Implementation & Launch

  • Collaboration with Development Team: Worked closely with the development team to ensure the accurate implementation of the designs, facilitating a smooth transition from design to development.

  • Quality Assurance: Conducted thorough testing across multiple devices and browsers to ensure performance and functionality met high standards.

Conclusion

The redesign and rebranding of the ETBI website successfully achieved its objectives, resulting in a modern, user-friendly platform that effectively supports the organization’s mission in education and training. The comprehensive design system lays a solid foundation for ongoing enhancements and consistent visual identity across all communications, positioning ETBI as a leader in educational support in Ireland.

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