Overview
The Harambee House is a nonprofit organization focused on Black support, enrichment, and empowerment through community programs and initiatives.
The organization required a modern website that could increase awareness of its mission, support fundraising efforts, and provide a central platform for communicating with the community.
The project involved designing and developing a website that reflects the organization's values while making it easy for visitors to learn about programs and support the organization.
The Problem
Prior to this project, the organization did not have an effective website.
A previous prototype developed by another designer did not align with the organization's expectations, and the team wanted a more modern and engaging platform that better reflected their mission.
Without a functioning website, the organization faced challenges in:
- raising awareness of their initiatives
- communicating their mission to the public
- accepting donations online
- presenting programs and activities in a structured way
My Role
I collaborated with The Trini Creative Studios, who handled consultation, hosting, and overall design direction for the project.
My responsibilities focused on the design and development of the website, including:
- UX planning and site structure
- UI design and layout implementation
- WordPress development
- building program and information pages
- implementing donation and contact functionality
This collaborative approach allowed the organization to launch a professional digital presence while aligning with the broader creative direction of the project.
Approach
The design focused on creating a modern, community-oriented platform that clearly communicates the organization's purpose.
Key priorities included:
- simple and intuitive navigation
- clear presentation of the organization's mission
- easy access to donation opportunities
- a visual style that reflects the organization's identity
The layout was designed to ensure visitors can quickly understand the organization's goals and find ways to engage with its initiatives.
Key Features
The website includes several features that support community engagement:
- structured program and information pages
- donation functionality
- contact forms for inquiries
- blog and update sections for organizational announcements
- responsive design for mobile users
These features allow the organization to communicate its work effectively while encouraging visitor participation and support.
Challenges
One of the primary challenges involved translating technical concepts and website structure into terms that were easily understandable for the client.
Additionally, much of the website content was provided after development had already begun, which required adapting the structure as new information became available.
This required flexibility in the development process to ensure the final platform still maintained a clear and organized layout.
Outcome
The completed website provided The Harambee House with its first fully functional digital platform.
Key outcomes included:
- improved visibility for the organization's initiatives
- increased donations through the website
- a professional online presence aligned with the organization's mission
- strong satisfaction from the client with the final result
The website now serves as a central hub for communicating the organization's work and encouraging community engagement.
