Chicago Underwater Hockey Website
Details
My Role: UX Researcher/UI Designer
Tools: Figma/Figjam, Invision, Trello, Zoom, Google, Slack, Canva, Yorfman Photography
Time Frame: 4 weeks
The Challenge
Our goal was to provide a one-stop shop where users can discover the sport, find logistic information, and leverage resources to help them improve as players. Right now users are having to fend for themselves when it comes to finding information on the sport and the Chicago team.
We wanted to alleviate common pain points by redesigning and optimizing the club’s website to provide a one-stop shop with the tools, resources, and information the members need to learn how to play the sport, understand the rules and guidelines, and find the necessary equipment.
Our goal was to understand how new and prospective members find information about underwater hockey.
The Solution
We created a comprehensive website that encompasses easy-to-find information for both prospective and current players, while also ensuring that the site is visually appealing.
By having one centralized tool that makes the onboarding process easier, new members will have a more pleasant experience and feel more motivated to sign up, more confident and prepared before their first practice, and ready to relax and enjoy the health and social benefits of the sport. This will increase member retention, decrease strain on veteran players when teaching new players, and ensure the club is sustainable in the long term.
User Interviews
Our team conducted five user interviews, focusing on three groups: UWH board members, new players, and potential players.
By interviewing a wide range of individuals, we were able to identify differing user needs. Although the website’s primary purpose is for recruitment, new and current players also need resources to help them better understand the game and improve their skills.
Identifying User Needs
We developed a comprehensive survey to better understand what users look for and expect to see on a club website.
Their current website provides only three of the seven most commonly requested items. The lack of information on the Chicago UWH website likely frustrates potential players, leaving them unsatisfied.
Through user research, we identified three goals for the Chicago Underwater Hockey site:
Recruit new players
Provide new players easy-to-understand resources to help them improve their skills
Offer veteran players advanced drills and workouts to take them to the next level
Navigating the Site
Our proposed sitemap increased its content from four pages to fourteen pages, prioritizing user-requested information.
Designs and Iterations
After user testing, we realized that our homepage had strayed from the original purpose of the site—recruitment. For that reason, we made the following iterations:
Moved the “Resources” section lower since that section was targeted to current players.
Changed the “Connect with Us” section to an “Are You New Here” progress bar.
Added a schedule button to the “What the Puck” section.
Final Website Design
Future Iterations
Create an alert banner that would notify players of practice cancellations.
Continue user testing the homepage, in particular the four-step process. If this testing is successful, add “Are You New Here” progress bar to all beginner pages.
A/B split test “Resources” vs “Current Players” to identify which is easier to understand.
