Islamic Center of Rochester (ICR)

Enhancing Community Engagement: A Case Study on Modernizing the ICR Mosque Website Interface

ICR mosque app mockup
Role
UX Researcher, Designer, and Collaborator
Duration
6 months
Tools
Figma, Photoshop, pen and paper
Research & Synthesis
Conducted brainstorming sessions with stakeholders and existing users. Conducted user customer interviews, and competitive analysis to identify the user needs and define the core problem.
Ideation & Delivery
Technology selection, project management, content strategy to build a solution, rapid prototyping, usability testing.

Problem


The existing Islamic Center website interface suffers from outdated design, causing confusion and falling short of community members’ needs. Its reliance on paper forms leads to disorganized information, pixelated images, and difficult access to data. This antiquated system hinders effective communication and engagement within the community.

Target Audience:


Local Muslim community within the Greater Rochester area, visitors from other areas, and people of all faiths and backgrounds interested to connect with the mosque and the community.

Research

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Contextual Inquiries

Our initial approach involved conducting contextual inquiries to establish a foundational understanding of how users interact with the existing site.

Card Sorting

We conducted card sorting exercises to better understand the site’s information architecture.

Competitive Analysis

Subsequently, We performed market research and competitive analysis by examining five comparable Islamic center websites to assess their community engagement strategies.

Interviews

After conducting interviews with stakeholders and existing users of the ICR website, we gained valuable insights into the needs of our target users.

Pain Points

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Time

Complex user interface with inconsistent design elements and interactions and poor accessibility.

Process

Confusing navigation, lengthy forms, broken links, and confusing call-to-action buttons.

Information

Outdated information, inability to find specific details about programs or announcements.

Actionable Insights from User Research

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Intuitive Navigation: Users require a clear and well-organized navigation system to effortlessly find the information they need, reducing frustration and wasted time.

Prominent Donation Option: A strategically placed and easily identifiable donation button will encourage users to support the mosque financially.

Streamlined Gym Rental Process: A user-friendly sign-up form should simplify the gym rental process, making it easier for the community to access these facilities.

Initial Design Concepts


I did a quick ideation exercise to come up with ideas for how to address gaps identified in the research. My focus was on intuitive navigation, a clear donate button, and a flow for gym rental.
Paper Wireframes
The card sorting exercise yielded valuable insights into user navigation preferences. This allowed us to develop an intuitive sitemap that facilitates easy information access.
Navigation has been improved for a clear and user-friendly and logical flow for easy information access

Donate Button Added


A prominent 'Donate' button was added to streamline the donation process and make supporting the mosque easier than ever.

Digital Transformation or Gym Rental.

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Renting the gym used to be a multi-step hassle. Filling out an online form didn't tell you if the gym was even available, and payment required a separate money transfer to ICR. Submitting the form then involved emailing it or making a trip to ICR. To streamline this process, we've undergone a complete digital transformation! Now, you can check gym availability online in real time and book the space with secure payment, all in one go. This eliminates the guesswork and unnecessary steps, making it easier than ever to reserve the gym for your needs.

Mobile Mockups

Desktop Mockups

Conclusion


This ICR website redesign prioritizes user experience and simplifies community engagement. By addressing user needs and streamlining essential functions, the new interface empowers members to connect and engage more easily. Intuitive navigation, effortless access to information, and user-friendly features like online gym booking and donation page all contribute to a more connected and interactive community.

Next Steps

  1. Conduct research on how successful the app is in reaching the goal to provide community engagement.
  2. Add more personalized features for the users of all ages, children, youth and women activities and registration processes.
  3. Provide a forum where people can discuss various topics related to the mosque, Islam, or simply connect with other members.