Merging four sites into one platform.
A full redesign of Simmons & Simmons' web estate, consolidating four separate sites into a single, scalable platform for the global law firm.
A refreshed online presence.
Simmons & Simmons, the world-renowned law firm, approached Jellyfish to completely refresh their branding and overall presence online.
I was brought on board to lead the team's user experience efforts on the project (right after some initial user research had been done) and stayed on until early usability testing stages.
Scope of work
- Content audit
- Information architecture
- Tree testing
- Templating system
- Interactive wireframing
- Usability testing
- UX leadership
Agency
Delivered at Jellyfish. The biggest challenge: reshaping an online estate split across four core websites with very different purposes.
Web Estate & Content Audit
Simmons' online presence was split across four sites: the main firm site, Elexica (a large knowledge base with subscription tools for law professionals), a graduates site, and a site for the firm's art collection.
I laid out separate sitemaps for each of the existing websites to start a proper content audit. In close collaboration with the client, we identified which sections, pages and content types would transfer to the new platform, and which would be deprecated.
Simmons & Simmons' existing web estate, four separate sites to merge into one
Information Architecture
After a series of workshops and iterations, we landed on a strong base for the new platform's sitemap.
To make sure the new organisation was clear, I prepared and moderated tree testing sessions of both the current and proposed sitemaps, with a group of 10 key partners. The exercise delivered an overall 15% improvement in content findability.
Final signed-off sitemap for the new Simmons & Simmons platform
Templates & Components
The new information architecture had to sit on top of a strong, scalable template system, built from a mix of modular and bespoke components.
After validating business requirements with the client, I mapped out the full list of components and templates needed to bring the architecture to life. Because many sections surfaced bespoke content and functionality, I ended up designing 26 highly-detailed templates in total.
Full list of templates and components, 26 templates in total
Interactive Wireframing
With the list of templates and components signed off, I moved on to the wireframing phase, creating a set of 12 responsive and interactive wireframes based on the core templates, some with multiple variations.
The remaining templates would be wireframed later, as slight variations of the core templates combined with bespoke components designed separately.
A set of 12 responsive and interactive wireframes
Usability Testing
To validate the core wireframes, I put together a usability testing guide for moderated remote sessions, with specific questions for both introductory and exit interviews, plus 8 functional and navigational tasks for each tester to complete.
8 Simmons employees and partners took part. I moderated each session remotely, with other Jellyfish UX team members supporting with note-taking. The rich insights gathered from these sessions drove a set of experience enhancements before the site was designed and built.
Art Direction & Visual Design
Once the experience was validated through usability testing, the project moved into visual design. Below, a selection of final screens from the delivered platform.
