As a first step, I conducted a heuristic evaluation of the existing website using Jakob Nielsen’s 10 usability heuristics as a framework. I systematically reviewed the interface and documented more than 100 individual issues.

The problems ranged from unclear navigation and inconsistent labeling to missing system feedback, broken links, and a lack of mobile responsiveness. Interactive elements were often not recognizable, and essential features such as search, filtering, or clear calls to action were absent.

The evaluation showed that the weaknesses were structural rather than purely visual, indicating the need for a redesign rather than small adjustments.

To gain broader insight into parents’ perspectives, I conducted an online survey focusing on expectations, information needs, and recurring pain points when visiting a childcare provider’s website.

Five parents participated. Despite the small sample size, the responses revealed consistent difficulties in locating essential information such as available spots, contact options, and registration details.

To evaluate the usability of the existing website, I conducted moderated user tests via Zoom. Participants were asked to complete three typical tasks:

The sessions confirmed that the problems were structural rather than purely visual. Participants frequently got lost between sections and struggled to understand key terms such as attachment or the overall registration flow. Contact details for specific facilities were difficult to locate, and the layout was perceived as overwhelming. The embedded map in the Kita Finder caused additional orientation issues.

Headlines were often misinterpreted as buttons, links were not recognized as interactive elements, and news content was difficult to distinguish from essential information. Many users expressed frustration about the lack of guidance and incomplete content. There was a clear demand for stronger visual support, including photos of facilities, route planning options, and a simpler way to get in touch, such as a contact form.

I decided to focus the paper prototype and subsequent testing on one of the central flows identified during research: finding a suitable childcare spot.

The sessions revealed additional friction points and opportunity areas within the revised user flow, allowing refinements before moving into digital prototyping.

Developing the design system required balancing usability standards with the provider’s existing corporate identity. Instead of creating a new visual language, I extended the existing color palette with additional shades to achieve sufficient contrast and accessibility while maintaining visual coherence.

The result is a structured foundation that strengthens usability without distancing the project from the brand’s established identity.

The first interactive prototype was tested remotely via Zoom using a shared Figma file. The sessions helped identify usability issues and refine key interactions early in the process.

Participants were given specific tasks to complete and were asked:

This round of testing also revealed new insights and remaining pain points, for example:

As the primary entry point, the hero section communicates what defines the organization at a glance. The central quote reflects the provider’s core values, while the imagery reinforces their understanding of children as curious and learning through experience.

The visual language follows the established corporate design to ensure recognition and consistency. At the same time, the section provides orientation through a clear overview of the main navigation areas.

In response to the organization’s goal of attracting new staff, an additional call to action was integrated beneath the quote, addressing potential applicants who identify with the provider’s educational approach.

The main content area introduces the organization, its team of educators, and its pedagogical values. It provides a structured overview that helps parents understand the provider’s approach to early childhood education.

To provide orientation and reassurance, a testimonial section highlights experiences from families who already attend at one of the provider’s facilities.

The page concludes with a structured footer containing legal information, contact details, and a newsletter subscription option.

In response to stakeholder feedback, the hero visual features the interior of a daycare center to convey atmosphere and provide an immediate sense of place.

Research showed that parents require quick access to information about available childcare spots. This need is given clear visual priority. A prominent call to action supports the registration process, complemented by three centrally placed cards outlining availability by age group.

The heuristic evaluation revealed the need for a clear overview of all daycare centers. During user testing of the first iteration, it turned out that the redesigned version still lacked sufficient at a glance information about facilitys.

In the second iteration, essential contact details were integrated directly into the overview cards to improve comparability and reduce navigation steps. Survey responses further showed that parents wanted deeper insight into individual facilities, both for staying informed about their current daycare and for comparing different locations and pedagogical concepts.

User testing of the existing website showed that none of the participants were able to understand or effectively use the Kita Finder. The feature lacked a search function, location reference, metadata, and interactive elements beyond basic zoom controls.

The redesign addresses these issues by introducing a search bar that allows users to look for facilities in their immediate area. Since proximity is a key factor in choosing childcare, this significantly improves relevance and usability. Facilities are now clickable and provide essential information at a glance.

The finder is directly connected to the content below. Once a daycare center is selected, a detailed view appears on the same page, presenting information such as its educational concept, onboarding process, and team.

This section presents the detailed view of a selected daycare center. All relevant information about the specific facility, like updates on events and organizational matters are accessible in one structured overview.

To simplify the application process, a contact form is placed at the bottom of the page, allowing parents to directly initiate a childcare request.

The following video illustrates the entire process of searching for a facility and accessing its key information.

This project was developed during the second semester of my studies, with minor UI refinements added later for personal development. It marked my first comprehensive application of UX methods such as heuristic evaluation, online user testing, paper prototyping, and user interviews.

If I approached the project today, I would refine parts of the visual system, including typography, spacing, and button consistency. Balancing the provider’s expectations with my own design perspective, especially within the existing color system, was a key challenge. Staying within the established corporate identity strengthened the project and reinforced the importance of aligning design decisions with stakeholder requirements.

In retrospect, I would formulate survey questions more neutrally and document user testing sessions in a more structured manner. The methodological insights gained here directly informed later projects and improved the precision of my research approach.

Although the redesign was not implemented due to internal organizational processes, the project remains valuable for the clarity of its process and the depth of its research foundation.