Whatchya lookin’ for?
Whatchya lookin’ for?
NENA (Nokomis East Neighborhood Association) is a nonprofit dedicated to serving several neighborhoods in Southeast Minneapolis. They work to strengthen community connections, support neighborhood improvement, and encourage civic engagement.
NENA needed a vibrant, user-friendly website that reflected their mission and made it easier for residents to access resources, get involved, and stay up to date with local initiatives. Their previous site was outdated, stuffy, and lacked clear structure, which made it difficult for users to navigate and take action.
We approached this project holistically—grounded in audience research and strategic planning—to help NENA build stronger digital relationships with their community. Based on their brand questionnaire, it was important to them to have an exciting, engaging brand that would bring life to the organization. We picked simple fonts that would stand strong as we created an exciting and bright color scheme with wavy patterns and fun icons and graphics. The new site structure emphasized clarity, streamlined pathways to key information, and a refreshed visual identity that felt both trustworthy and welcoming.
This phase of the project began with understanding how residents interacted with the site and what they needed most. This informed a reorganized information architecture and content strategy that made the site easier to explore—whether someone was looking for events, neighborhood programs, or ways to get involved.
The design direction focused on accessibility, mobile responsiveness, and community warmth. We introduced clearer navigation, improved readability, and a refreshed visual language that aligned with NENA’s identity. Visual updates included a refined logo and a vibrant yet approachable design system that gave the site a consistent and professional feel.
The end result is a site that better reflects who NENA is and makes it easier for community members to engage with the organization and one another.
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