Designing a Scalable, User-Friendly Portal for the Natural Hazards Commission
The NHC were in need of an online portal of resources designed to support engineers in creating buildings that go beyond ‘code minimum’ standards.
The portal was to act as a knowledge repository, for all documents and guidelines that were scattered across the web. This was a collaborative project and was delivered in a staged approach. There was an immediate need for a temporary site soon after briefing. My role as part of the crew at Wonderlab, was to pick up where our team left off and design the UX and UI (user experience and interface) for the final full site.
My contributions to this project were performed during my contract with Wonderlab.
My role?
My role was to translate the brand toolkit developed by the team at Wonderlab into a polished, user-friendly website design, prepare the design for development and ensure the final product was in-line with the clients desired outcome. I focused on crafting a seamless UI and UX, ensuring intuitive navigation and future-proofing the site to perform effectively both now and as it evolves over time.
So, let’s take a peek shall we?
The Goal?
NHC engaged us to create a simple logo device and brand toolkit to enhance the credibility of Design Resilience NZ. The goal? To develop a reliable, user-friendly online portal that streamlines the search process for engineers and practitioners aiming to exceed code minimum standards. The website needed to serve as a centralised hub for recognised non-regulatory design resources, providing clarity and accessibility. It consolidates existing materials that were scattered across the web and provides the opportunity to request new resources to address sector-specific challenges.
The process?
The project required a staged delivery, starting with a temporary site to meet the immediate needs of an upcoming conference shortly after briefing. While the brand and interim site were rapidly developed, work continued on the fully polished brand and content-managed portal.
Wonderlab’s expertise in brand creation, web UX/UI design, and development was critical for the end-to-end execution of the portal. This included collaborating with NHC on the brand identity, UI/UX implementation, technical design, CMS specifications, and the final development of a fully functioning platform.
The Outcome!
A very happy client! We designed a publicly accessible, open-source platform that empowers designers and practitioners to confidently exceed "code minimum" requirements – consolidating existing resources and providing the opportunity to commission new materials that address specific challenges in the sector. It is a clean, responsive, and user-friendly site designed for ease of discovery. With filters, tags, and a robust search system that works seamlessly now, AND scales effortlessly as resources grow. The design future-proofs the platform –clearly distinguishing superseded documents while allowing new resource submissions & ensuring a smooth and intuitive experience for all users.
Over the DIY look? Let’s level up together!
You’ve poured your heart into your business, and your DIY branding has served its purpose—amazing work! But now it’s time to let a pro step in, so you can focus on what you do best: running your business. No more late nights tweaking your logo or wrestling with designs that don’t quite fit the vibe. Let me take the creative reins and turn your vision into something polished, professional, and uniquely you.