Crafting a Cleaner, More User-Friendly Site

Client: Local Camano Island watercolor artist, John Ebner
Project Type: Homepage responsive redesign
Services Provided: UX research, wireframing, prototyping, accessibility audit, website build

Before redesign: The old homepage displayed significant responsiveness issues, with images and text getting cut off on desktop and mobile.

Background

The client, a talented watercolor artist based in Camano Island named John Ebner, wanted to elevate his online presence. His original homepage felt visually dated and lacked clear structure, making it challenging for visitors to explore his artwork, understand his creative process, or take meaningful action. The goal was to design a homepage that reflected his artistic style, enhanced usability and engagement, and provided a seamless experience for mobile users. Additionally, the site needed to guide visitors toward contacting the artist directly, as he preferred personal conversations about his custom work rather than selling pieces through an online store.

Challenge

  • Outdated homepage with inconsistent layout and typography

  • Lack of clear calls-to-action for commissions or purchases

  • Navigation that made it hard for visitors to explore the artwork

  • Limited technical resources: the site needed to be built using an easy-to-manage website builder so the client could update it on his own

  • No SEO plan or website copy in place, so the project required creating clear, engaging content and an intuitive structure from scratch.

Process

Wireframing and content updates

Based on insights, I created a low-fidelity wireframe focusing on:

  • Clear visual hierarchy

  • Intuitive navigation

  • Highlighting the artist’s best works

  • Streamlined calls-to-action

  • Copywriting and a simple SEO plan

Prototyping

Next, I developed a clickable prototype to test layout, interactions, and flow. Key improvements included:

  • Simplified top menu with “Work,” “About,” and “Contact” sections, and a footer with secondary navigation

  • Featured artwork to showcase recent pieces that can easily be swapped out by the client as needed

  • Prominent buttons guiding users to commissions or contact forms

  • Incorporated a video to give website visitors an inside look at the client’s studio and creative process.

Discovery & Research

I started by understanding the artist’s goals, target audience, and competitive landscape. This included:

  • Researching the artist’s existing audience

  • Reviewing other artists’ websites for best practices in online portfolios, both direct and indirect competition

  • Identifying key actions visitors should take: view gallery, commission art, or contact the artist

Build & Launch

Finally, I implemented the design using a template website builder (WordPress), ensuring:

  • Mobile responsiveness

  • Fast loading times

  • Consistent branding, colors, and typography reflecting the artist’s watercolor style

  • Client was empowered to easily update and maintain his website, ensuring long-term flexibility without needing technical support

Final

After: A clean, responsive homepage that highlights the artwork and guides visitors effortlessly through the site.