IOF25 Perth - Indian Ocean Forum
UX/UI
Research
Objective
Create a single scrolling page website for a two day conference to be held at UWA University Club Perth, Western Australia.
Research Approach & Strategy
Comparative analysis will help me understand what works well in similar contexts and refine my design strategy. This process involves evaluating and comparing existing conference websites, analysing their strengths and weaknesses, and drawing insights that inform my own design.
Define Key User Personas and Objectives
Audience
Identify the target audience for the website.
Attendees (NGO's, Academics & Scientist, Civil Society, First Nation Groups)
Speakers
Media,
Needs
Understand their needs, expectations, and pain points regarding event-related information.
Agenda
Schedule
Speakers,
Networking
Outcome
Goals
Establish specific goals for the website.
Event agenda clarity
Engaging content
Stakeholder Mapping
Conducting a Comparative Analysis
Identify Similar Websites:
Looked at other similar conferences, especially international ones like UN events, regional conferences, or similar forums in the Indian Ocean region. Also, considered successful event websites with high user satisfaction.
Review Features:
List features, content types, and design elements that are commonly used.
Strengths and Weaknesses:
Created list of strengths and weaknesses in terms of user experience, design, and functionality.
Trends and Insights:
Looked for common design trends that resonate with users, like mobile-first design, clear call-to-action buttons, or interactive features.
Our Ocean Conference (OOC)
Strengths
Global Reach: The OOC gathers political leaders, scientists, business executives, and civil society groups from all over the world to discuss ocean conservation and sustainable economic practices.
High-Profile Attendees: This conference tends to attract heads of state, ministers, environmental leaders, and business moguls, which can drive impactful policy changes and partnerships.
Action-Oriented Focus: The OOC focuses on creating actionable commitments rather than merely discussing challenges. This results in a tangible impact on marine sustainability initiatives.
Diverse Topics: The conference covers a wide range of topics, from marine pollution to sustainable fisheries and ocean-based climate solutions, giving a holistic view of ocean sustainability.
Strong Partnerships: The OOC often partners with significant international organisations, such as the United Nations, providing credibility and access to a larger network of stakeholders.
Weaknesses
Geopolitical Complexity: The participation of political leaders and governments can lead to fragmented policy commitments due to differing national priorities and interests.
Limited Focus on Economics: While the conference emphasises sustainability, there is often a gap in integrating economic frameworks that support these initiatives, such as ocean economy models and financial mechanisms.
Heavy Government Representation: The conference can sometimes be overly dominated by high-level political and governmental representatives, with fewer opportunities for grassroots or community-based organisations to contribute.
Inconsistent Follow-up: While the OOC generates many commitments, there may be inconsistencies in the follow-up and execution of those pledges, which can undermine the conference's long-term impact.
The Ocean Conference (UN Ocean Conference)
Strengths
Strong International Collaboration: As a United Nations initiative, the Ocean Conference brings together member states and UN agencies, providing a platform for coordinated international action on ocean-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
Scientific and Academic Focus: The Ocean Conference highlights the scientific aspects of ocean sustainability, with participation from researchers, universities, and scientific bodies. This helps to ground discussions in evidence-based solutions.
Inclusive Stakeholder Engagement: The event involves a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, the private sector, and civil society, which helps foster a multi-stakeholder approach to solving ocean issues.
Policy Integration: The conference aims to align ocean sustainability efforts with global policy frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change and the SDGs, facilitating a coherent policy approach to marine conservation.
Capacity Building and Partnerships: The Ocean Conference is effective at fostering partnerships between countries, businesses, and NGOs. It often features capacity-building initiatives to empower local communities in ocean-dependent regions.
Weaknesses
Overly Bureaucratic: Given its UN affiliation, the conference can be bogged down in bureaucratic processes and negotiations, which may slow down decision-making and reduce the immediate applicability of solutions.
Limited Focus on Economics: Similar to the OOC, while environmental protection is a priority, the economics of ocean sustainability—such as financing marine conservation or the ocean economy—may receive less attention.
Too Broad in Scope: While being inclusive is a strength, the wide scope of the topics discussed can make it harder to focus on specific, actionable outcomes, particularly in the areas of ocean-based economics.
Low Representation from the Private Sector: While there is private sector participation, it may not always be at the level of some other conferences, which limits the potential for economic innovations and investments in sustainable ocean-based industries.
Comparison
Factor
Our Ocean Conference (OOC)
The Ocean Conference (UN)
Primary Focus
Ocean conservation, sustainable oceans
Ocean sustainability within SDGs, including science
Stakeholder Involvement
Governments, NGOs, businesses
Governments, UN agencies, researchers
Global Impact
High-profile action-oriented outcomes
Strong emphasis on policy coordination and research
Economic Focus
Moderate
Low (stronger focus on scientific research and SDGs)
Follow-up Commitments
Strong action-oriented follow-up, but can be inconsistent
More coordinated policy approach, but can be slow in execution
Audience Reach
Political leaders, businesses, activists
UN member states, academia, NGOs, and civil society
UX Evaluation
A user experience (UX) evaluation of conferences like The Our Ocean Conference (OOC) and The Ocean Conference (UN Ocean Conference) focuses on how attendees (participants, speakers, exhibitors, etc.) engage with and benefit from the event. The evaluation covers aspects like navigation, accessibility, engagement, networking opportunities, and how effectively attendees can achieve their goals (e.g., learning, collaboration, or making commitments).
Strengths:
High Engagement with Action-Oriented Content: The OOC emphasises actionable outcomes and tangible commitments. For attendees, this focus provides a clear sense of purpose, helping them understand how they can contribute to ocean sustainability in a practical way. Participants are often empowered by the ability to be part of initiatives that lead to real change.
Exclusive Networking Opportunities: With the high-profile attendance of political leaders, business executives, and environmental advocates, OOC offers premium networking opportunities. Attendees can connect with key decision-makers and potential collaborators, providing ample chances for impactful partnerships.
Variety of Sessions and Formats: The conference typically features a mix of plenaries, breakouts, and side events, which allows for a variety of engagement styles. For example, smaller, thematic discussions provide the chance for more intimate, interactive exchanges, while larger plenaries keep the momentum focused on high-level action.
Weaknesses:
Overwhelming for First-Time Attendees: The sheer scale and prominence of the event may be intimidating for first-time attendees or smaller organisations. There might be limited orientation or guidance to help newcomers navigate the conference or make the most of available opportunities.
Limited Accessibility and Inclusion: The OOC's focus on high-level political and business figures means that there may be limited opportunities for grassroots organizations and local community groups to engage meaningfully. Smaller organizations or activists may feel marginalized or unable to influence key discussions.
Information Overload: Given the large number of concurrent sessions and side events, participants may struggle to decide where to focus their attention. This can lead to missed opportunities and feelings of disconnection from specific areas of interest.
Strengths:
Inclusive and Accessible for a Wide Audience: As a UN-led initiative, the Ocean Conference often places a strong emphasis on inclusivity and providing access to a broad array of stakeholders. Participants include governments, UN representatives, academia, NGOs, and civil society, allowing for a broad scope of engagement.
Clear Goals and Alignment with Global Agendas: The focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14) and the broader 2030 Agenda provides clarity for attendees about the overarching objectives of the conference. This can help users understand the broader context and purpose of the event, guiding their participation.
Interactive Platforms and Digital Integration: The Ocean Conference increasingly utilises digital tools and platforms for virtual attendees, enabling a hybrid experience. This is particularly valuable for individuals who cannot attend in person but still wish to engage in sessions, discussions, and activities. Such tools enhance access for global participation.
Weaknesses:
Complexity of Stakeholder Integration: While inclusivity is a strength, the diverse range of stakeholders (governments, scientific communities, private sector, civil society) can make it difficult to create a unified experience. Attendees with different priorities may struggle to find relevant sessions or networking opportunities suited to their specific needs.
Potential for Overly Formal and Bureaucratic Experience: As a UN conference, some participants may find the event to be more formal and bureaucratic in nature, with an emphasis on policy discussions rather than practical, hands-on learning or interactive problem-solving.
Limited Interaction with Local or Grassroots Communities: While the conference attracts a broad set of stakeholders, there can be a gap in engagement with local, marginalised communities who are directly impacted by ocean issues. These groups may struggle to access key sessions, participate in meaningful dialogues, or make their voices heard in high-level discussions.
Conclusion
In terms of user experience, both conferences offer unique advantages and challenges:
The Our Ocean Conference excels at delivering high-level, action-oriented content, but could improve in making the experience accessible to first-time or smaller stakeholders. The conference might also benefit from providing clearer guidance on navigating the event and fostering more inclusive interaction with grassroots and local communities.
The Ocean Conference (UN) has a strong emphasis on inclusivity and global collaboration, but the experience might feel more bureaucratic and less flexible for those seeking hands-on, practical engagement. It could improve in ensuring that all stakeholders, especially those at the grassroots level, can effectively participate and interact meaningfully in the discussions.
Usability Evaluation
Task Completion:
For each competitor, I have tested basic tasks that users might perform (e.g., finding the agenda, looking for speakers).
Performance & Speed:
Ensured that the website loads quickly, especially important for international audiences.
Accessibility:
Checked if the website is accessible to users with disabilities (WCAG guidelines).
Aesthetic Design:
Evaluated the colour schemes, fonts, imagery, and overall branding. Was the design clean and visually appealing?
User Testing
Conduct user testing with a sample of your target audience, even if it’s only on competitor sites.
Design Process
Priorities
Based on the comparative analysis, I prioritised features for the Indian Ocean Conference website, ensuring that user needs are central.
Prioritise clarity and simplicity in the homepage design. Clear CTAs like “View Agenda” should be prominent.
Ensure mobile optimisation, especially for international users who may access the site from a variety of devices.
Highlight partners early, so their visibility is on par with event content.
Incorporate interactive maps or content sections to keep the users engaged with the event layout and schedule.
Ensure accessibility, using a colour contrast checker and ensuring content works well for screen readers.
Craft a user experience that meets the specific needs of the Conference while adopting the best features from existing successful designs.
Wireframes
Hero Section
The hero section serves as the main gateway to the event, so we’ll need to keep it clean,
easy to navigate, and focused on the core objectives.
Key Elements on the Hero Section
Brand: Logo positioned in the top left corner.
Main Navigation: Including options like Home, Agenda, Speakers, Resources, Contact.
Language Toggle: Since it’s an international event, a language option can be useful.
Headline: A prominent headline announcing the Conference, short introduction or statement about the event.
Call-to-Action (CTA): A big, bold "Agenda" button.
Event Dates: Clear dates of the event.
Visuals: A background image or video.
Featured Speakers/Keynotes: A link to the speakers section.
Social: Social Media channels links/icons.
Optional: Countdown Timer (until the conference starts).
Prototype
Testing & Iterating
Tested my insights against the feedback from user testing. Iterate on the design as we moved forward with development, ensuring the website meets user expectations and is optimised for the conference's success.
Key Takeaways
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