I was brought on to redesign the professional website of Dr. Navaneethan Siva, a research scientist who is in the process of changing their area of study.
To begin I spoke with Dr. Siva to determine what the intended use for his website was and who was most likely to visit it. He told me it was meant to act as a resume and would be most likely seen by recruiters, hiring managers, department heads, and other researchers.
I then did an assessment of his current website to see where improvements could be made. Did the site appear professional and in line with what would be expected of someone with his level of seniority? Were details outlining his previous work highlighted and easy to parse? Were his preferred methods of contact made clear. Close attention was paid to information hierarchy. The website has a specific purpose, therefor all design choices should be made to support it.
As the intended user would be from within his industry, some jargon and specific iconography would be acceptable, however a focus on clear language would still be important.
During my initial assessment, it became clear that the website needed to be paired down and given a more consistent appearance. There was no set color palette, little negative space, and a heavy emphasis on text as embellishment.
Original Color Palette
Original Banner
I used a combination of colors from Dr. Siva’s logo and original website to create a consistent color palette. The palette consists of blues and grays which would work well for a formal scientific design. I also included a single contrast color should greater emphasis be needed in future design updates.
Updated Color Palette
Updated Banner
I then pulled and rebuilt the images used throughout the original website, giving them a cleaner look, and keeping with the new color palette. The client also asked that I create an additional image for his main page representing the concept of Reporting.
Original Carousel Graphics
Updated Carousel Graphics
Finally, I updated Dr. Siva’s resume using information provided to me by the client and arranged for him to have a current headshot taken. The new website is now live and acting as a current representation of the client’s career.
The client’s existing website was created and hosted through Squarespace which they wished to keep. All changes were made directly through their account to allow them to make adjustments in the future.
I’m absolutely blown away by the work Julia did on my website, she had a fantastic ability to understand my vision and bring it to life. My old site was out of date and she transformed it into a great online portfolio that truly reflects my brand. She has a keen eye for pallets that really made my site pop and knew just where I should trim the fat. I’m thrilled with the results and look forward to seeing the impact it has. I highly recommend her design services!
Navaneethan Siva, PhD