Creative website Redesign for Easy Acess
We partnered with This Is Life: Chicago—a nonprofit dedicated to empowering underrepresented communities through performance arts—to redesign their website for improved accessibility, content management, and storytelling. The result? A bold, responsive platform built to grow with their mission.
Client
This is Life: Chicago
Date
July 2023
Services
UX/UI Design, Accessibility Improvements, Brand Refresh, Web Design & Development
Introduction
This Is Life: Chicago is a nonprofit organization founded by a mother and son duo to uplift underserved youth in Chicago through performance and self-expression. With their impact expanding rapidly, they needed a website that could communicate their mission clearly, showcase events and media appearances, and allow for easy updates by the internal team.
Challenge
The original website lacked flexibility, was difficult to update, and didn’t reflect the organization’s growth or presence in media. With multiple user types visiting the site—participants, parents, sponsors, and event organizers—it was crucial to create a structure that served each audience while remaining easy to manage.
Approach
Preparing for Design
We began with stakeholder interviews to understand the mission and technical frustrations. Through this process, we mapped out key goals and content priorities, giving the team more control over events, showcases, and media highlights.
Considering the Audiences
From parents looking for information, to sponsors evaluating impact, to Natalie managing site updates—we mapped each user journey and restructured content to address each need intuitively.
Modernizing the Brand
To match the organization’s growth, we refined the brand’s digital identity—updating the logo lockup, improving contrast for accessibility, and standardizing fonts and colors for consistency across pages.
Redesigning with Purpose
We created a fresh homepage experience, featured storytelling moments, and made it easier to promote TV appearances and news articles. A prominent CTA was added to drive action—whether that’s attending an event or donating to the cause.
Results
Stronger Storytelling
The new site better reflects This Is Life’s mission through bold visuals, improved layout, and streamlined messaging.
Improved Accessibility
Contrast and layout improvements now meet accessibility standards—making it easier to navigate for all visitors.
Easier Admin Access
Natalie now has full access to update content, eliminating technical roadblocks and making the site sustainable long-term.
Conclusion
With a focus on clarity, storytelling, and ease of use, MoonRise helped transform This Is Life’s digital home into a powerful reflection of their impact. The new platform enables the team to expand their reach, connect with supporters, and scale their message across Chicago and beyond.
