Carver Center Case Study

Carver Center is a high school, located in Towson, MD. It is renowned for its prestigious and rigorous magnet programs and fostering creativity and excellence among students. As a proud alumna of Carver Center, this project was especially meaningful to me. My redesign of the Carver Center website injects bold, creative energy to reflect the school’s vibrant community and unique culture. By enhancing usability, improving branding consistency, and showcasing the school’s identity, this redesign embodies the spirit of Carver Center.

Role and Responsibilities

I served as the sole designer for this project, taking on the following responsibilities:

Analyzing the existing website to identify usability issues, broken links and confusing navigation.
Developing a bold and cohesive visual identity for the website.
Designing and implementing improved navigation and interactive elements.

The Painpoints

Poor Navigation

The original site had a confusing layout, making it difficult for users to find essential information like program descriptions, event schedules, and contact details.
Broken links and disorganized menus led to user frustration.

Lack of Visual Identity

The existing website failed to reflect the school’s vibrant culture and creative focus.
Inconsistent use of colors, typography, and imagery diminished the school’s brand presence.

Information Overload

Important content was buried under layers of unstructured information.
Prospective students and parents found it challenging to locate details about magnet programs and application processes.

“Important content was buried under layers of unstructured information.“

The Solution

Enhance User Experience
Improve navigation and ensure all links function correctly.

Reflect School Identity
Use design elements that convey Carver Center’s creativity and school spirit.

Consistent Branding
Create a cohesive visual identity across the site.

Site Map

The existing Carver Center website had several issues, including broken links, inconsistent branding, and confusing page structures.

Simpler navigation to help users find key information quickly.
Reflect the school’s vibrant and creative culture.
Better organization and presentation of information for prospective and current students.

Wireframes

Next, I created low-fidelity wireframes for key web pages including home, about, addmissions, academics, families, and news and events.

Visual Design

Color Palette and Typography

The bold color palette and typography were inspired by Carver’s vibrant school spirit and culture of creativity. The primary colors used in the redesign are dynamic and engaging, complemented by strong, modern typography.

Animation

Sketchy animations are used in section headers throughout the website. These animations bring the typography in and out of focus, engaging the user while embodying the school’s creative tone.