From Information Overload to a Simplified User Experience

Tools

Balsamiq, WIX

Timeline

Sep. 2025 - Nov. 2025

Team

Solo

Voll Gård is an urban farm and community activity center in Trondheim, Norway. The project focused on simplifying a content-heavy website and improving how visitors find information, navigate services, and get in touch.

The Problem

The staff responsible for inquiries struggled to stay organized, as communication was spread across four different email accounts. Many inquiries were repetitive information already available on the website, but was difficult for users to find.

The Solution

A completely new website with better-structured content and integrated automated booking systems that helped simplify the communication between the staff and visitors.

Understanding the Problem

I wanted to understand how users experienced the existing website and which information they struggled to find. Through a survey with 18 participants, I uncovered the following usability issues:

Opening hours, prices and activity information weren't where users expected them
Participants struggled to understand where different types of information were located.

Evaluating the Existing Solution

To further understand where the existing website created friction, I conducted a heuristic evaluation to identify usability issues that could make tasks unclear or difficult to complete. The evaluation highlighted key challenges related to clarity, feedback, consistency, error prevention, and accessibility.

Restructuring the Information Architechture

To resolve the issues around navigation information architechture, I reorganized the website around the information visitors were most likely to look for. Activities, animals, urban farming and booking were given clear top-level destinations, reducing the need to search through unrelated content to find practical information.

Shaping the New Experience

With the information architecture in place, I explored different layouts and content hierarchies through wireframes, focusing on creating a clear flow that helped users quickly understand the available services and find what they needed with minimal effort.

Bringing the Brand to Life

To complement the improved user experience, I developed a visual direction that reflects Voll Gård’s warm, earthy, and rural identity. Natural colors, typography, imagery, and graphic elements work together to create a welcoming and cohesive expression that feels connected to the farm.

Before and After

Building on the insights from the research and wireframing, the final redesign includes clearer key information, prominent CTAs, and automated booking forms, making it easier for visitors to find what they need and take action.

What I've Learned

The website experience affects internal workflows too - improving the visitor experience can simultaneously make everyday work easier for employees.

Users need clear paths to action, especially when a website offers many different activities and services.

Designing for multiple user groups requires careful prioritization when visitors have different goals, from checking opening hours to booking activities or learning about the animals.

Creating thoughtful digital experiences with clarity, structure, and meaning.

Creating thoughtful digital experiences with clarity, structure, and meaning.