Why does a world renowned author have a site that looks like a blog from 2005? How can it be more representative of her and her work?
Suzanne Collins
Part of UX Research team, sole Designer
7 months
A multi-method usability evaluation of Suzanne Collins’s official website revealed major issues in navigation, structure, and engagement. Using surveys (n=20), pre/post-test questionnaires (n=10), and task-based usability testing, we identified consistent pain points and created design recommendations.
Despite Suzanne Collins’s success as the author of The Hunger Games and other works, her official website does not meet user expectations (see below).
Project Goal: Modernize the site so it reflects Collins’s success, improves usability, and supports both casual fans and serious readers.
Pre-test users felt comfortable navigating websites(n=10, average 7.6/10) and noted that some of the most frustrating by cluttered layouts. Qualitative findings reinforced these issues were found in Suzanne Collins' site—users often got lost, disliked wordy pages, struggled to distinguish clickable vs non-clickable elements, and voiced complaint at a lack of purchasing options.
With clear usability issues identified, I began experimenting with possible design directions.
To refine the design direction, I focused on visual style and branding.
The existing site fails to meet user needs or reflect Collins’s brand. By addressing structure, design, and engagement, the redesign: