Problem

Without a dedicated website, Small Shop Studios was missing a critical tool for showcasing their portfolio, explaining their services, and generating leads. This hindered their ability to: build trust and credibility with potential clients, clearly communicate their offerings, and simplify client inquiries and lead generation.

Outcome

I designed a responsive website that highlighted their portfolio, clearly communicated their services, and streamlined the contact process, making it easy for clients to connect and take the next step.

Small Shop Studios

A web design agency dedicated to helping small businesses make a big online impact with professional, high-quality websites.

Role

UX/UI Designer, Brand Designer

Team

Solo Project

Timeline

3 Weeks

Understanding the problem space

Small businesses often struggle to connect with design agencies that are approachable and clear about their offerings. Without a strong online presence, Small Shop Studios was missing opportunities to build trust and attract leads.

Looking for opportunities

I analyzed competitors in the web design space. My goal was to create a clean, approachable design with intuitive navigation and clear CTAs.

Research findings

Through user interviews and testing, I identified key challenges for Small Shop Studios’ target audience.

Meet the user

Our user is a small business owner who values professional, high-quality web design but feels overwhelmed by overly complex websites or unclear offerings. They need a simple, straightforward experience to explore services and reach out confidently.

What I learned

Small businesses need websites that are not only visually appealing but also functional and easy to navigate.

Turning ideas into plans

I focused on creating clear navigation, bold CTAs, and engaging visuals. Wireframes were crafted to ensure a seamless, approachable experience for users.

Key findings

To ensure the website met user needs, I conducted usability testing with five participants. The tests focused on key areas like navigation, content clarity, and the contact process. Feedback from these sessions highlighted areas for improvement and guided the next round of design revisions.

1 - Homepage Content

Participants felt the homepage lacked enough CTAs and descriptive content to guide their next steps.

2 - Navigation Clarity

Some users found it challenging to locate detailed service information through the homepage anchor links.

Revisions

1 - Guidance & Clarity

Added more CTAs to improve the flow and provide better guidance

2 - Navigation Clarity

Created a dedicated services page with more comprehensive information about offerings.

Portfolio Showcase

Developed a dedicated portfolio section to highlight past projects.

Streamlined Contact Process

Designed a user-friendly contact form with clear CTAs and an intuitive "Intro Call Scheduling" feature.

Final thoughts & takeaways

1 - Clear Navigation Builds Trust

Simplifying the navigation made it easier for users to find what they needed, boosting their confidence in Small Shop Studios.

2 - Balance Simplicity & Visuals

Users valued the clean, professional look combined with engaging visuals to keep the experience dynamic but not overwhelming.

3 - Iterate for Impact

Early designs needed refinement, and user feedback was critical to making the final product both functional and visually compelling.