Reflection

Challenges I Faced:

• Designing for multiple generations at once
  We had to balance the needs of seniors with low digital literacy, middle-aged professionals short on time, and younger users familiar with modern UI patterns. Their expectations, devices, and mental models were very different.

• Translating emotional needs into usable features
  Users described feeling disconnected, unwelcome, or confused—but not in UX terms. It took work to translate those feelings into design decisions like newsletter placement, event labeling, and homepage tone.

• Letting go of ideas that weren’t feasible
  We explored ambitious features like a community bulletin board and forum system. But without clear moderation plans, we had to scale back and find simpler ways to support engagement.

• Navigating stakeholder expectations and constraints
  Our client team had a strong cultural vision but limited technical resources. Every decision had to consider future sustainability, even if it meant dialing back on more complex UI components.

What I Learned:

• Accessibility isn’t a just checklist
  From calendar pop-ups to text size and button placement, every decision was an opportunity to make the site easier to use for someone who might otherwise be excluded.

• Simple features can create real impact
  A well-placed event card or a resource banner on the homepage can make the difference between someone closing the tab—or deciding to show up in person.

• Community-centered design requires humility
  I had to slow down, ask better questions, and not assume what users needed. The best takeaways often come from letting these community members serve as the expert in their own experiences, and my team's function is to be the facilitators. I learned how to let the community lead and build tools around their lived realities, not just best practices.