The Stanza Living website project unexpectedly landed on my plate, and the timeline was quite tight due to the client's urgent need for a website redesign. Remarkably, there was no prior UX discovery phase as they already had a functioning website, and the Stanza Living team specifically requested a visual overhaul. Taking on a project like this, where our creative expertise was the primary focus, was both challenging and intriguing.

To begin, they provided us with basic, low-fidelity wireframes of the landing page, giving us a rough sense of the direction they wished to pursue. In order to gain deeper insight into their requirements and motivations, we arranged a Q&A session with the Stanza team.

My colleague, a junior designer on my team, and I kicked off the project by gathering inspiration from various online sources to create a moodboard. We started with multiple variations of the landing page, and once the landing page was completed, the rest of the project flowed more smoothly.

After successfully revamping the three most critical pages—the landing page, the property listing page, and the property details page—I gradually delegated some of the responsibilities to my team members. This transition provided them with valuable opportunities to assume greater roles in the project. As I needed to shift my focus to other projects in our pipeline, I ultimately handed over the Stanza project to my capable teammate.

Although it was a relatively small project, Stanza Living proved to be highly engaging as it put my creative abilities to the test and allowed me to stay sharp in the realm of visual design.

The Stanza Living team initially shared basic, low-fidelity wireframes of the homepage with us. These wireframes offered a preliminary glimpse of the general direction they intended to take for the website's redesign. However, to truly understand their needs, objectives, and motivations behind this redesign, we felt it was imperative to delve deeper into their vision.

To achieve this deeper understanding, we organized a Q&A session with the Stanza team. This session allowed us to engage in a comprehensive dialogue with them, during which they expressed their specific emphasis on certain key pages of the website. In particular, they highlighted the landing page, the property listing page, and the property details page. These pages, they emphasized, played a pivotal role in driving revenue and were expected to receive the most user traffic.

By paying close attention to their priorities and gaining valuable insights during the Q&A session, we were better equipped to tailor our design efforts to align with Stanza Living's overarching goals and user expectations. This collaborative approach ensured that our redesign efforts were not only visually appealing but also strategically aimed at maximizing the website's effectiveness in attracting and serving its audience.

At the outset of the project, my colleague, who is a junior designer on my team, and I took the initiative to kickstart the creative process. We understood the importance of setting the right visual tone for the Stanza Living website redesign. To achieve this, we embarked on a journey of inspiration.

Our first step involved scouring the internet for inspiration from a diverse range of sources. We cast a wide net, exploring various design trends, innovative layouts, and creative elements used in websites across different industries. This extensive research allowed us to gather a rich collection of ideas and concepts.

Additionally, our efforts were bolstered by the style guide provided by the Stanza team. This style guide served as a valuable resource, offering us a foundational understanding of the brand's identity, preferred aesthetics, and design principles. It provided a framework upon which we could build and experiment with different color combinations, ensuring that our creative endeavors remained aligned with the established brand guidelines.

Incorporating inspiration from our research and the guidance provided by the style guide, we were well-prepared to embark on the design phase of the project. This combination of external inspiration and internal brand guidance allowed us to infuse the website's visual elements with a fresh and appealing look while maintaining the coherence and identity of Stanza Living's brand.

With abundant resources at our disposal, we approached the design phase with enthusiasm and determination, focusing initially on the homepage hero section banner. Our goal was to create a captivating and user-friendly experience.

We developed two distinct variations of the homepage hero section to ensure a strong first impression for users. Our primary concept centered on making the landing page user-friendly by offering intuitive options for property types and locations. Additionally, we included three eye-catching category banners to engage users and guide them to valuable content.

These categories were carefully chosen based on their relevance to Stanza Living's objectives, drawing attention and directing users effectively.

Once we settled on a design language and refined the hero section, we added visually engaging graphics throughout the homepage. These elements not only enhanced the aesthetics but also facilitated user navigation.

After successfully revamping the most crucial pages - the landing page, property listing page, and property details page - I gradually delegated responsibilities to my capable team members. This transition allowed them to gain valuable experience and take on more significant roles in the project.

With a strong foundation in place and my team ready to continue, I shifted my focus to other projects. This ensured the Stanza Living project progressed in capable hands while I leveraged my expertise in different areas.