Northwest Canine Coaching LLC
I was approached by my client Bailey to provide an overhaul to her current website. She wanted something that was updated in feel and pushed owners to book an evaluation. She is a fun and passionate trainer, and felt her personality should shine through her site.
Design System
Throughout the process I referred to the design system that the client had provided which included logos, colors, and typography. It helped me to understand the feeling the client was going for.
Navigation and Footer
The navigation was one of the first things that was changed. I added the logo and moved the company title. With the logo including dogs in addition to the website name, it became very clear what the purpose of the website was.
I also removed the search bar functionality. The search bar is usually used for websites that have a large amount of content. The goal of the site was to give the users enough information to want to book an evaluation. Removing the search bar also gave us an opportunity to replace it with a call to action to book an evaluation.
This makes the process of booking an evaluation easier and more accessible.
However, due to how the hosting site is set up, the button was being cut off on smaller devices. Because this is high priority to my client as well as a main action we want a user to take, we removed it from the header.
I had experimented with the idea of putting it in the footer instead but doing so made it feel too hidden. As the site was not large and there were two locations that a user could book an evaluation, I felt this was an acceptable compromise.
If the client would want to test this further, I would put the button in both the header and footer, as well as leave it at the current locations. I would then look at which button location was interacted with more to determine which locations to keep.
Improving Information Architecture
Before starting on design I familiarized myself with the organization of content. I had taken note of where duplicates of information were located and where some pieces of content would be better showcased on a different tab.
I had organized the information into a couple of different categories
Information about the company
Information about the trainer
Services that were able to be booked, and services that were not
The information about the company was showcased on the Home Screen. This provided users with the important information that they would like to have before booking an evaluation.
Information regarding the trainer was put on a separate page which gave users the ability to attach a face to the company and to see who they would be working with. This also provided a dedicated space for the trainer to showcase their accomplishments and to back up their experience.
My client had multiple different options for training, most coming in packages that varied in price and time. It was proving difficult to organize those services effectively.
Ultimately I had decided to group the services that had set prices together and have them be able to be booked online. The other services that varied were moved to the home page. The prices and time were showcased to provide more clarity to a user.
Additionally, testimonials were added to the home page to provide a sense of trust and insight for users who are looking to book Bailey for training sessions.
Branding and Design
After organizing content I focused on providing a cohesive feel to the website. Using the design system Bailey had provided I had gone through and updated the colors and font with a focus on the services that were provided. This gave the website a lighter, airy, and fun feel that showcased Bailey’s passion while adding organization that reflected her professionalism and experience.
“Kay with Harper Hound Designs is one of a kind! I just started my small dog training business and thought I could go through website design by myself…well sometimes asking for help is just what you need to do! I am so incredibly glad that I reached out for help on my website. Kay was so professional, kind and welcoming! I was shocked at how quickly everything was completed and how easy the process was. I will be sending all of my fellow dog trainers to Harper Hound Designs for any web design needs. My website is stunning and I am so proud to show it off, thank you so much Kay!”
— Bailey Palmer, Northwest Canine Coaching LLC