Organization Description: [Please share any context around your organization and how this project coincides with wider Organizational goals]

Project Overview:

This project focuses on improving the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) of [Employer]’s existing digital platform—such as a website, landing page, or service portal. Learners will conduct a UX audit, develop new layout concepts, and produce mobile-friendly, accessible designs that support greater engagement from donors, volunteers, or clients.

Project Duration: 6 Weeks

Project Hours: 150

Project Hours Per Learner: 30

Project Scope & Expectations:

Learners will engage in:

• Reviewing the organization’s current website or platform to identify UX/UI gaps and usability issues. 
• Conducting lightweight user research and translate findings into actionable design improvements. 
• Creating updated wireframes and mockups using Canva, Figma, or Adobe XD. 
• They will optimize mobile responsiveness and verify accessibility (ADA/WCAG compliance).
• Learners will deliver a final design system and developer-ready handoff package.

Project Timeline & Deliverables:

Week 1: Project Kickoff & UX Audit (~2 hours per learner)

• Employer and learner introductions
• Review of existing digital platform and primary user flows
• Define key user personas and use cases
• Conduct a basic UX and accessibility audit using free tools

Week 2: Wireframes & Visual Concepting (~4 hours per learner)

• Create low-fidelity wireframes and layout sketches for proposed improvements
• Propose updated page structure and navigation flow

Deliverable: Low-Fidelity Wireframes (submitted via PDF, Figma, or Canva) Wireframe sketches and user flow diagrams (shared via design tool or PDF export)

Week 3: High-Fidelity Design Mockups (~6 hours per learner)

• Build visual mockups for core pages using Canva, Figma, or Adobe XD
• Apply the organization’s branding, color schemes, and design standards
• High-fidelity interactive prototype (shared via Figma, Adobe XD, or PDF export)

Week 4: Feedback Loop & Design Revisions (~6 hours per learner)

• Present mockups to employer stakeholders for feedback 
• Iterate based on employer input and document design decisions
• Usability testing report (shared via PDF or slide deck)

Week 5: Accessibility & Mobile Design Enhancements (~6 hours per learner)

• Adjust designs to ensure full mobile responsiveness 
• Perform ADA/WCAG accessibility checks using tools like WAVE or Stark
• Final UX prototype (shared via Figma or Adobe XD link)

Week 6: Final Handoff & Design Guide (~6 hours per learner)

• Finalize design files and provide developer-ready documentation (e.g., spacing, fonts, color usage) 
• Present final project outcomes to the employer
• Final UX report, presentation deck, and design handoff files (shared via PDF and/or Figma developer-ready link)

Final Deliverables:

• UX Audit & Research Summary 
• Low- and High-Fidelity Wireframes and Mockups
• Accessibility Review Checklist 
• Final Design System & Handoff Package
• Summary Presentation Deck

Working Expectations:

Learners are expected to receive practical real world job experience in exchange for completion of tangible deliverables of a successfully completed project. Employers are expected to provide mentorship, guidance, and clear expectations to students and regular communication with the AscentUP team.