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CHALLENGE: design branding, landing page and streaming interface for for DPS's annual Global Conference with the goal of attracting the best speakers and encouraging registrations from a high-quality audience, including alumni.
GOAL: establish a visually engaging brand and a seamless online experience that not only disseminates information effectively but also serves as a rallying point for DPS alumni.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Digital Product School emphasised their wish to this conference to become not only a space to share knowledge and experience, but also a get together meeting for as many of their alumni as possible.
OVERVIEW
The Digital Product School (DPS) approached me to design the branding, landing page, and streaming interface for their annual DPS Global Conference. The challenge was to create visually appealing branding and a sleek landing page that would attract top-tier speakers and attendees, while also fostering a sense of community among DPS alumni. The conference aimed to be a platform for knowledge sharing, networking, and community-building.
THE TEAM
I partnered up with the Department of Marketing of DPS to gather content and plan the conference together. As the only designer on this project, I prepared all required visual assets, and builded the landing page using a no code solution from Webflow.
MY PROCESS
RESEARCH
I engaged in comprehensive research, which included interviews with field experts and Digital Product School alumni. Insights showed that DPS alumni often ignored communication from the official website.
DEFINE
IDEATE
In the Ideate phase, the goal was to go beyond conventional event landing pages and streaming interfaces. Given the unique demands of the DPS Global Conference, especially its emphasis on re-engaging with alumni, it was imperative to explore various routes before narrowing down the choices. Here are some more details on the ideation process.
Drawing from my research and DPS's objectives, I brainstormed innovative ideas to differentiate the conference. I wanted to create an identity that resonated with the tech-savvy audience and fostered a sense of belonging.
After considering the feasibility, impact, and alignment with the project goals, we decided on a multi-faceted approach. The final concept included a visually stunning landing page with an intuitive streaming interface, live chat features for real-time engagement, and an interactive agenda to allow attendees to plan their day effectively.
By integrating multiple elements from our ideation phase, the aim was to create a rich, interactive, and rewarding experience for both speakers and attendees, while also serving as a magnet for DPS alumni engagement.
The next step was to take these chosen ideas into the Prototype phase to develop them further and test their viability.
PROTOTYPE
After narrowing down the concepts in the Ideate phase, the next step was to bring those ideas into a tangible form through prototyping. Here's an in-depth look at this critical stage.
I took inspiration from the Digital Product School's existing style guide, specifically focusing on the colors representing the different tracks of the school: AI (Artificial Intelligence), IxD (Interaction Design), SE (Software Engineering), and PM (Product Management). Instead of sticking to the standard palette, I chose to give these colors a more vivid and vibrant treatment.
The idea was to create an immediate visual connection for DPS alumni when they encounter the landing page, especially when linked within the standard email digests that often get ignored.
I took inspiration from the Digital Product School's existing style guide, specifically focusing on the colors representing the different tracks of the school: AI (Artificial Intelligence), IxD (Interaction Design), SE (Software Engineering), and PM (Product Management). Instead of sticking to the standard palette, I chose to give these colors a more vivid and vibrant treatment.
The idea was to create an immediate visual connection for DPS alumni when they encounter the landing page, especially when linked within the standard email digests that often get ignored.
For the DPS Global Conference, I designed a neon logo that would immediately capture attention while aligning with the modern, tech-forward brand identity of DPS. The neon theme was further extended into other elements of the design, adding a cohesive and lively feel to the entire user experience.
HERO SECTION
The 'Hero Section' is typically the first thing users see and therefore crucial for first impressions. Alongside the neon logo, I added a vobbling 3D element to make this section stand out and provide depth to the layout.
While the vibrant colors and dynamic elements were designed to capture attention, balancing them with a clean and organized UI was equally important. The layout was designed to facilitate effortless navigation and quick access to important information, such as the speaker lineup, agenda, and registration CTAs.
BALANCE ACHIEVED
The challenge was to strike the perfect balance between an eye-catching design and a user-friendly interface. The vibrant colors and dynamic visual elements were aimed at re-engaging alumni, while the clean UI ensured that the landing page and streaming interface remained functional and easy to navigate. Feedback from initial user tests confirmed that this balance was achieved successfully.
With a comprehensive prototype in hand, the next step was to move into the Testing phase to refine and validate the design choices further.
IMPLEMENTATION
One of the major advantages for DPS was that I could personally handle the development phase, thus eliminating the need for them to hire an additional developer or allocate work hours from their existing team. This not only streamlined the development process but also ensured that the design vision was fully realized without compromise.
TECHNOLOGIES
For this project, I chose a hybrid approach, combining Webflow's no-code platform with custom code to deliver a top-notch user experience while optimizing resource usage.
The fact that I could single-handedly manage both the design and development aspects of the project brought about several benefits for DPS:
1. Cost-Efficiency: They did not have to allocate additional resources for hiring a developer.
2. Time-Saving: Avoided the lag that typically occurs when transitioning from a design team to a development team, making the project timeline more efficient.
3. Quality Assurance: Since the same person was overseeing both design and development, there was a seamless translation of design elements into functional features, maintaining the integrity of the original design vision.
RESULTS
The Digital Product School was particularly pleased with the dramatic increase in alumni engagement and applauded the branding and landing page for aligning perfectly with their vision for the annual conference.
Interested in bringing your conference, product or event to life? Contact me to kickstart your project!
