Zero Waste SA

Project Background

Lithe are currently engaged as preferred suppliers for marketing and communication services to Zero Waste SA (and the Environmental Protection Authority). One of our first directives was to undertake a redesign of ZWSA's existing website.

Challenge

The existing websites' structure, design and functionality was not providing an ideal user experience when accessing the large amount of content available. With so much quality content buried within the website, our challenge was to redesign it to make it more user friendly and navigable.

Solution

In keeping with our holistic approach to client projects, our first task was to undertake a web assets audit where we reviewed all aspects of ZWSA's online presence, including:

  • ZWSA's main website
  • ZWSA's microsites
  • ZWSA's social networking presence.

From this review process, we created an audit report that included:

  • A peer review of competitor sites for benchmarking purposes
  • A comprehensive review of all website content and recommendations
  • User experience (UX) and Information Architecture issues and recommendations
  • Search engine optimisation and page validation issues and recommendations
  • Social networking and brand engagement recommendations
  • Performance and security issues and recommendations.

As a result of this comprehensive audit, ZWSA agreed to move forward with a number of critical recommendations in relation to the existing website; specifically, the information architecture, content rewriting and management of the website.

To address the need to provide clearer cross-referencing across broad categories of information as well as surfacing information more easily in what is a very deep site, we developed an information architecture and functionality that grouped content by 'place' in the main navigation - e.g. 'work', 'home' etc, and provided an alternative grouping in the footer by recycling type such as 'compost', 'oil' etc.

We also moved the 'housekeeping' type navigation links into a secondary position within the header, and introduced a content page template that allows for the association of related FAQ questions, documents and other pages within the site which list at the bottom of the content page. This additional cross-referencing via topics ensures that users are presented with ample way-finding tools within the website.

Over the course of the project we:

  • Delivered a comprehensive web assets audit report
  • Produced an interactive and iterated prototype of the website (wireframe)
  • Integrated the design templates provided by project partner Beatwave as HTML and CSS
  • Reviewed and rewrote key content areas on the website
  • Provided and implemented social media and SEO recommendations
  • Provided training and support for the N2 CMS.

Functionality delivered included:

  • N2 content management system
  • Social network integration (Facebook, Twitter)
  • A case study sliding panel on the home pageA large image sliding panel on the home page to draw attention to key topics
  • A 'fat' footer with alternative content grouping
  • Cross referencing on internal pages through topic association
  • Drop down menu styling that exposes all levels in one panel with the ability to use images
  • Integration of the free Google site searching tool.

Results

The surfacing of content and the implementation of alternative navigation and a search tool has improved the usability of the website significantly. We're very pleased with the final result, and our client is too:

"It's exceptional. The agency and stakeholders are extremely impressed with the end result. There's no doubt it's well ahead of anything else in the DENR portfolio....The look and feel, and the tagging of topics and content has really improved usability. Our content is now far more accessible from many different directions - it's omni-navigational."

You can view the website at http://www.zerowaste.sa.gov.au/

If you're interested in working with us, you can find out more about how we work and/or contact us

Our work