Amanda Sahaida's Artistry

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Redesigning a nonprofit ecosystem to make support easier to find for both people and pets.

2026 Updates / System Transformation

2024 → 2025 → 2026

From Confusion → Clarity & Compassion

Over multiple iterations, the Street Dog Coalition experience evolved from fragmented navigation and unclear service pathways into a clearer, action-oriented ecosystem that helps people and pets access support more easily.

Key Challenges

Content and navigation were shaped around internal organization—not user understanding

Critical actions were deprioritized within dense, fragmented content
Program categories lacked clear hierarchy and meaning
Trust was weakened by unclear framing of services and mission

Insight: While the surface issues appeared visual, this was primarily a systems and clarity problem—but solving it required aligning both structure and interface.

Original Design Process (2024–2025)

Research, strategy, and design decisions from the original team sprint that informed later design exploration.

Full Video Walkthrough

Project Overview

Scope

Goals

Roles

Tools

Constraints

The initial three-week sprint with my team shaped the foundation of the Street Dog Coalition redesign. Afterward, I continued independently, addressing unresolved challenges from the sprint and iterating the design through 2025.

My focus was clarifying the mission, elevating key calls-to-action, and restructuring navigation to better distinguish between programs for people and pets. Through multiple iterations, I refined both mobile and desktop designs to create a clearer, more trustworthy user experience that aligned with the nonprofit’s goals.

Methodology

Redesigning a nonprofit ecosystem to make support easier to find for both people and pets.

2026 Updates / System Transformation

2024 → 2025 → 2026

From Confusion → Clarity & Compassion

Key Challenges

Content and navigation were shaped around internal organization—not user understanding

Critical actions were deprioritized within dense, fragmented content
Program categories lacked clear hierarchy and meaning
Trust was weakened by unclear framing of services and mission

Content and navigation were shaped around internal organization—not user understanding

Critical actions were deprioritized within dense, fragmented content
Program categories lacked clear hierarchy and meaning
Trust was weakened by unclear framing of services and mission

Insight: While the surface issues appeared visual, this was primarily a systems and clarity problem—but solving it required aligning both structure and interface.

Original Design Process (2024–2025)

Research, strategy, and design decisions from the original team sprint that informed later design exploration.

Project Overview

My focus was clarifying the mission, elevating key calls-to-action, and restructuring navigation to better distinguish between programs for people and pets. Through multiple iterations, I refined both mobile and desktop designs to create a clearer, more trustworthy user experience that aligned with the nonprofit’s goals.

Scope

Goals

Roles

Tools

Constraints

Full Video Walkthrough

Methodology

RESEARCH

User Insights

Programs & Objectives: Users found the nonprofit’s mission and program details unclear, with objectives and site formatting leaving them confused.

Donations & Volunteering: Participants were more motivated by clear CTAs, social engagement, and impact-driven stories that showed how donations help.

Programs & Objectives: Users found the nonprofit’s mission and program details unclear, with objectives and site formatting leaving them confused.

Donations & Volunteering: Participants were more motivated by clear CTAs, social engagement, and impact-driven stories that showed how donations help.

Programs & Objectives: Users found the nonprofit’s mission and program details unclear, with objectives and site formatting leaving them confused.

Donations & Volunteering: Participants were more motivated by clear CTAs, social engagement, and impact-driven stories that showed how donations help.

Stakeholder Research

What we found out

Clients: homeless individuals, volunteers, donors

Outreach: churches & social work groups
Focus: clinics, events, and programs for both people and pets

Clients: homeless individuals, volunteers, donors

Outreach: churches & social work groups
Focus: clinics, events, and programs for both people and pets

Clients: homeless individuals, volunteers, donors

Outreach: churches & social work groups
Focus: clinics, events, and programs for both people and pets

NOTE: Stakeholder response took over a week, creating early delays

DEFINE

SWOT

Redesign Opportunities:

Place Donate & Volunteer buttons prominently

Highlight distinction between pet care vs. human care
Simplify program categories
Use color contrast for accessibility & hierarchy

Place Donate & Volunteer buttons prominently

Highlight distinction between pet care vs. human care
Simplify program categories
Use color contrast for accessibility & hierarchy

Place Donate & Volunteer buttons prominently

Highlight distinction between pet care vs. human care
Simplify program categories
Use color contrast for accessibility & hierarchy

Competitor's Analysis

Value Proposition

Color Accessibility

The redesign improved accessibility by fixing SDC’s failing color contrast on the “Donate” button and repositioning it for visibility and action.

2024 – Existing State

Small screenshot crop of the original button

Contrast ratio callout
❌ Failed WCAG

Small screenshot crop of the original button

Contrast ratio callout
❌ Failed WCAG

Small screenshot crop of the original button

Contrast ratio callout
❌ Failed WCAG

2025 – Redesign

Small screenshot crop of redesigned button

Contrast ratio callout
✅ Passed WCAG

Small screenshot crop of redesigned button

Contrast ratio callout
✅ Passed WCAG

Small screenshot crop of redesigned button

Contrast ratio callout
✅ Passed WCAG

IDEATE

Sitemap

SDC's 2024 Desktop Sitemap

2024 Team Sitemap Redesign

Clarified Programs
Added Clinics Calendar
Added Resources for older users

Clarified Programs
Added Clinics Calendar
Added Resources for older users

Clarified Programs
Added Clinics Calendar
Added Resources for older users

2024 Mobile Menu - SDC vs Redesign

Improved mobile menu

SDC

Redesign

SDC's 2025 Desktop Sitemap Redesign

2025 Independent Sitemap Redesign

2025 Secondary Desktop Menu Concept

Added secondary menu for quick subcategories

Combined Clinics & Programs (but kept Clinics primary for clarity)
Used dropdowns inspired by USDA NRCS for organizing complex info

I Added secondary menu for quick subcategories

Combined Clinics & Programs (but kept Clinics primary for clarity)
Used dropdowns inspired by USDA NRCS for organizing complex info

Added secondary menu for quick subcategories

Combined Clinics & Programs (but kept Clinics primary for clarity)
Used dropdowns inspired by USDA NRCS for organizing complex info.

2025 Mobile Menu - SDC vs Redesign

Improved mobile menu

SDC

Redesign

New Initiative Concept

The Starving Artist Initiative

Inspired by SDC’s onsite artist series, I introduced the Starving Artist Initiative: a monthly spotlight where pet parents can share their art. An Explore micro-modal delivers context without leaving the homepage, and Support this Artist opens a scrollable donation overlay. Artwork can be listed online for auction or prints, with proceeds shared between SDC and the featured artist—giving community members experiencing homelessness visibility, dignity, and a modest income opportunity.

Order Form

Is on the homepage card with an explore micro-modal for program context and a scrollable donation form opened by ‘Support this Artist’; artwork can be listed for auction or prints with shared proceeds

Micro-Modal: Compact popup introducing the Starving Artist Initiative with a Learn More button and dismiss control

Mobile Donation Overlay: Scrollable donation overlay with fields, amount selection, consent, and Submit Donation.

PROTOTYPE & TEST

Lo-Fi Exploration (2024)

Programs Page

SDC's Design Desktop

SDC's Design

SDC's Programs Page (2024): Accordion menus expanded to reveal long blocks of text but no supporting imagery. In hindsight, the bucket categories were also unclear, which added to user confusion.

Mid-Fi Redesigns Mobile

Clinic Discovery Redesign

Homepage 2024

The updated clinic carousel is larger, enabling users to scroll through events and view details without having to leave the homepage for each individual event. Additionally, I would include a "See Event Calendar" option for users to browse through as well.

Programs IA Rethink

I began a Programs page during the UX/UI Bootcamp but paused after spotting labeling and hierarchy issues on SDC’s site (e.g., “Core Programs” included Operation Ukraine—a time-bound crisis response—while key people-care services appeared under Pilot Programs).

2025 Homepage Redesign Process

I initially started a Programs page during the UX/UI Bootcamp, but I paused it after noticing labeling and hierarchy issues on SDC’s site (e.g., “Core Programs” included Operation Ukraine—a time-bound crisis response—while primary people-care services appeared under Pilot Programs).

Back to the Drawing Board

Lo-fi wireframes created during independent redesign iterations (mobile focus).

Insights that Sparked the 2025 Redesign

While the 2024 redesign produced functional prototypes across several pages, the project lacked cohesion and a clear articulation of mission. This realization set the stage for my independent 2025 homepage redesign.

2025 independent pass. Following the 2024 redesign and testing, I revisited the project independently to resolve alignment gaps in the team version. The earlier work over-indexed on UI details (e.g., CTA placement) and under-defined SDC’s mission and objectives. So, when I went back to the drawing board, I focused on a new homepage redesign to make the mission explicit and the goals clear. As noted in the Programs IA rethink, the Programs area still needed structural changes, so I clarified terminology, recategorized content, and introduced a secondary menu (see sitemap) to support a more coherent architecture and future growth.

Sketches

Mobile & Desktop

Lo-fi wireframes created during independent redesign iterations (desktop & navigation focus).

Introducing a Secondary Navigation

Because SDC’s site holds so much content, I introduced a secondary navigation to complement the homepage overview. This clarified pathways, reduced confusion, and surfaced essential information — an approach I also validated in my USDA redesign.”

Hi-Fi Redesign

SDC - '24 & '25

My Redesign - '25

Hi-Fi Demo

Vet Care

Medical Care

Vet Care

Medical Care

Hi-fi demo (2025) — clarified SDC’s dual mission for people and pets, refined content to organizational goals, improved accessibility, and strengthened engagement through a clear, trust-building hierarchy.

Feedback Integration

User Testing / Feedback Method: Iterations reviewed by peers, mentors, and nonprofit stakeholders.

Positive Feedback: Clearer mission statement and reorganized navigation improved trust and usability.
Constructive Feedback: Program terminology and carousel layouts were initially unclear; CTA buttons needed stronger accessibility.
Design Response: Refined program language, updated button colors/contrast, and introduced simplified navigation with a secondary desktop menu.

User Testing / Feedback Method: Iterations reviewed by peers, mentors, and nonprofit stakeholders.

Positive Feedback: Clearer mission statement and reorganized navigation improved trust and usability.
Constructive Feedback: Program terminology and carousel layouts were initially unclear; CTA buttons needed stronger accessibility.
Design Response: Refined program language, updated button colors/contrast, and introduced simplified navigation with a secondary desktop menu.

User Testing / Feedback Method: Iterations reviewed by peers, mentors, and nonprofit stakeholders.

Positive Feedback: Clearer mission statement and reorganized navigation improved trust and usability.
Constructive Feedback: Program terminology and carousel layouts were initially unclear; CTA buttons needed stronger accessibility.
Design Response: Refined program language, updated button colors/contrast, and introduced simplified navigation with a secondary desktop menu.

OUTCOMES & IMPACT

Project Outcomes (2025)

The redesign of SDC, spanning both the 2024 collaborative round and my 2025 independent iteration, demonstrates how user-centered design improves clarity, usability, and engagement:

SDC's '25 Event Flyer

2025 community event flyer — applying the clarified brand and mission focus across public outreach.

Objectives Clarified

Final mobile redesign — separating veterinary and human services to make objectives clear and navigation accessible.

SDC's '25 Event Flyer

2025 community event flyer — applying the clarified brand and mission focus across public outreach.

Objectives Clarified

Final mobile redesign — separating veterinary and human services to make objectives clear and navigation accessible.

Clarified the organization's dual mission through improved information architecture

Simplified navigation and content organization to better align with user expectations
Improved accessibility through clearer language, hierarchy, and pathways to action
Created a stronger foundation for trust, engagement, and service discoverability

Clarified the organization's dual mission through improved information architecture

Simplified navigation and content organization to better align with user expectations
Improved accessibility through clearer language, hierarchy, and pathways to action
Created a stronger foundation for trust, engagement, and service discoverability

Clarified the organization's dual mission through improved information architecture

Simplified navigation and content organization to better align with user expectations
Improved accessibility through clearer language, hierarchy, and pathways to action
Created a stronger foundation for trust, engagement, and service discoverability

Reflection

Revisiting this project independently revealed that improving usability required more than visual refinement. While the original team research established an important foundation, meaningful improvement came from restructuring content, refining labels, and aligning navigation with user mental models.

Clarity is not a visual outcome—it is a structural decision. Effective design begins by organizing information in ways that reflect how people think, navigate, and take action.

The initial collaborative phase surfaced key usability challenges and organizational constraints, while the independent redesign allowed me to apply those insights through a more focused information architecture and navigation strategy. Together, those phases reinforced the value of combining research, iteration, and systems thinking to create more intuitive user experiences.

Clarity is not a visual outcome—it is a structural decision. Effective design begins by organizing information in ways that reflect how people think, navigate, and take action.

Future Exploration