Project Overview

Client: Women’s Voices Now Inc.
Product: WordPress nonprofit website with a global film library
Timeline: 2 weeks
Role: UX/UI Designer & Developer
Tools: WordPress, Ajax Search Pro, Elementor

The Problem

Women’s Voices Now hosts a powerful collection of films, but users struggled to find them.

The search experience was essentially a dead end:

• Search returned limited or unclear results

• No categories, filters, or guidance

• No way to browse by topic, region, language, or film type

This friction made the content feel inaccessible and reduced engagement with the film library.

The Solution

Create a search experience that felt intuitive, guided, and aligned with how users naturally explore content—while working within WordPress and existing plugins.

Success meant:

• Helping users quickly find relevant films

• Making the library easier to explore

• Turning search into a discovery tool, not a barrier

My Role

I led the project end-to-end, blending UX strategy with hands-on implementation:

• Audited the existing search experience

• Defined a clearer content structure

• Implemented integrated taxonomies in the backend

• Designed and styled the search UI on the frontend

The Process

Audit & Inspiration

I reviewed the existing search flow and comparable film platforms. Common patterns emerged: clear filters, strong contrast, and always-visible search entry points.

Information Architecture

I identified the most meaningful ways users would want to browse films:

• Topic / Category

• Region

• Language

• Film type

These became the foundation for the new taxonomy structure.

Build & Design

Using Ajax Search Pro, I configured the search bar to surface these taxonomies directly within the search experience. I then styled the UI to match the brand, focusing on clarity, accessibility, and ease of use.

The Solution

The final solution transformed search into a guided discovery experience:

• Integrated filters embedded directly into the search bar

• Clear visual hierarchy and accessible contrast

• Featured sections like Staff Picks to support browsing

Users can now explore films with confidence instead of guessing what to type.

Outcome

• Improved accessibility and usability of the film library

• Reduced dead-end user flows

• Encouraged deeper exploration of content

The client can now manage and extend the system independently using WordPress.

Learnings

This project reinforced how impactful small, focused UX improvements can be—especially when paired with thoughtful backend implementation. It also strengthened my ability to work efficiently within CMS constraints while still delivering meaningful user value.

Thank you for reading!