Smart Northamptonshire is a new initiative headed by Northamptonshire County Council. The Smart initiative is
a digital initiative to encourage visitors and residents of Northamptonshire to re-think and change the way
they use travel. A large part of the project was the installation of Smart 'totems' placed around the town.
The project was to design a website that would educate users on the initiative through content and existing
interactive traffic maps and act as a complimentary piece to their totems.
Through user interviews, workshops, surveys and existing research analysis. Outputting a full discovery document outlining recommendations and backlog of user stories.
Creating an IA and content structure guides with rough wireframes through holding workshops with the client, using exercises such as card sorting and reviewing their current processes for creating content.
Using prototyped wireframes, research and content types, quick testing out broad ranges of styles and approaches, having open conversations and collaborating with the client to establish a route to move forward with.
Finalising designs for all different templates and content types required, inputting real world content and creating a prototype for the client to easily review.
Involved beyond the point designs were signed off. Ensuring the development matched up to the designs and user experience was as defined and always being a point of contact for the client.
A core piece of the site was a map that provides road users in Northamptonshire with information such as parking, traffic, accidents and incidents. The existing map was slow and overall experience was clunky. Bringing in a cleaner UI using common map patterns as well as an update in technology led to a smoother faster experience with easy to use filters.
Part of the Smart project was about informing people of different things to do and see in Northamptonshire and providing them with a different view of the place, whether as a visitor or resident. Creating different types of landing pages and content allowed these areas to be brought to life.
