UX Writing
user research + Strategy = effective content
CHALLENGE
Honor the contributions of Dana Point’s surf pioneers to the early California surf scene at an outdoor site near a pedestrian walkway to the beach. As the content designer, I needed to align the project’s goal of telling a complex story with the audience's need for quick content.
Strategy
Brevity. We know from qualitative and quantitative research that visitors prefer short content. We knew from testing at the site that users were not inclined to linger. After prototyping panel length on sample audience members, we landed on an average length of 225 words, with linked but disconnected text blocks clocking around 40.
My ROle
I was the content strategist and interpretive writer on this project, working closely with the designer and project manager.
What I would have done differently
More testing. The budget and time frame did not permit as much prototyping and revision as I would have liked, and there were no funds to conduct analysis after installation.
Results
Pretty much every surfer in Orange County, and many from elsewhere in Southern California, has visited. Non-scientific and anecdotal evidence tells us the exhibit is well-received.
