Peer Solutions — Website Redesign

A website redesign focused on information architecture, accessibility, and creating a more intuitive experience for a community-driven organization centered on harm reduction, youth support, and accessible resources.

Role

The Problem

Users struggled to find relevant resources quickly. Navigation was unclear, key programs were buried, and the structure across pages felt inconsistent, making the site harder to use in moments when clarity really mattered.

• Unclear navigation and page hierarchy
• Resources difficult to locate
• Inconsistent structure across pages
• Limited accessibility support

The Solution

The redesign centered clarity, accessibility, and modular organization. Instead of treating the site like a loose collection of pages, I rebuilt it around clearer pathways and stronger information hierarchy.

• A restructured navigation system with clearer hierarchy
• A centralized Healing Hub for interactive and self-guided resources
• Improved page layouts for readability and scanning
• Consistent design patterns across all sections

Accessibility

Accessibility was a core part of the redesign rather than an afterthought. The goal was to make the site usable for as many people as possible, including users navigating with screen readers, keyboards, or different visual needs.

Design Approach

The visual design balances clarity with warmth. Layouts were simplified to reduce cognitive load while still maintaining a welcoming, community-centered feel.

Typography, spacing, and color were used intentionally to guide users through the site without overwhelming them. The aim was not just to make the website look better, but to make support feel easier to reach.

Overview

Peer Solutions is a community-driven organization focused on harm reduction, youth support, and accessible resources. Their existing website made it difficult for users to quickly find help, understand programs, and navigate available tools.

This redesign focused on restructuring the site’s information architecture, improving accessibility, and creating a more intuitive and supportive user experience.

Research & Discovery

To better understand user needs, I conducted a heuristic evaluation alongside comparative analysis of similar organizations. I also performed task-based testing with users from diverse backgrounds to understand how people searched for support and where the site was failing them.

Key Findings

• Users had trouble locating resources quickly
• People relied heavily on scanning and visual hierarchy
• Navigation structure had a major impact on confidence and speed

These findings informed a full restructuring of the site’s layout and navigation system.

Information Architecture

The sitemap was redesigned to reflect how users actually search for support. Programs, resources, and tools were reorganized into clearer, more accessible pathways so that visitors could move through the site with less confusion and less effort.

Key programs like Guts to Be Good (G2BG) were elevated to the global navigation to improve visibility and make core offerings easier to find.

Impact

The redesigned site improves how users access information and resources by making navigation clearer, content easier to scan, and key programs more visible.

• Improved resource discoverability
• More intuitive navigation
• Stronger accessibility foundation

Reflection

This project reinforced how important clarity is when designing for organizations that support people in real need. In spaces where users may be seeking urgent help, accessibility and structure are not just design preferences — they directly shape whether someone can actually find what they need.