product.
Burlington Buzz, a local newsletter for a historic community.
duration.
5 weeks
(May/June 2022)
team.
Gabrielle H.
role.
UI Designer, UX Writer
tool.
Figma
problem:
The predominate means of communication for this small town is their local website. However, the website's design provides a poor user experience for an aging population (avg. homeowner is 60+) and much to be desired for the the more tech savvy population.
goal:
Create a resource that will help the inform and be accessible for the entire community.
directive:
design solution must be scalable.
background.
I had several conversations with stakeholders in the community that were leading this initiative. These included conversations with the city council president, members of the local political party, members of the community.
Those conversations revealed that even though there are flyers regularly distributed for events, banners hung at the main intersections, on buildings, and lawn signs that act - in addition to the website - as notices, there was still a lingering feeling that community progress and good news weren't visible enough to the general community.
design considerations.
Timeline (5 weeks)
Budget
Accessibility (entire community)
Delivery-method and redistribution in other spaces
ideation.
Some early discussions, with stakeholders once a design direction was established, was for it to be one page flyer-esque format. However, after giving the content a review, and additional conversation were had around scale, I thought it best to go with a 11' x 17', folded double-sided design.
solution.
solution.
Traditional highlights.
A town-focused newsletter that fits right into the historical roots of this community. Printing in black and white, not only meets budgetary needs for scale, but it also provides a since of nostalgia. Easily convertible to .PNG or PDF format allows for distribution through multiple channels, including the town website but also on social media platforms. This layout also leaves room for reconfiguration of elements.
takeaways.
What I learned:
I learned that sometimes a simple design solution is needed. As designers, we are often inspired by many concepts and ideas, but not all projects - nor clients, want something complex. There are times when classic design solutions will do.