Empowering Conservation Storytellers

The Challenge

WWF Australia’s content authors needed to communicate critical conservation information effectively. Yet, they were often hindered by complex and unintuitive content management tools, making it difficult to create engaging and timely content. This complexity slowed down their workflow, increased the risk of errors, and limited the reach of their vital message.

The Approach

The focus was on a human-centered approach to empower these storytellers. This involved:

  • Understanding the authors’ daily workflows, pain points, and technical skills through direct engagement.
  • Creating a flexible library of reusable components. Examples include; Rich Text Blocks, Image/Video Galleries, Call-to-Action Modules, Data Visualisation Components, and Donation/Sign-Up Forms.
  • Integrating accessibility best practices into every component design.

The Result

By focusing on the author’s experience, we delivered a set of tools that:

  • Streamlined content creation workflows.
  • Reduced the learning curve and potential for errors.
  • Enabled authors to create visually engaging and consistent content.
  • Enhanced the digital experience for WWF Australia’s audience.

This design-led approach empowered WWF Australia’s authors to focus on their core mission: sharing powerful stories and driving conservation efforts.


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Refreshing Geoscape’s Digital Presence

The Challenge

Geoscape, a provider of geospatial data for government and private sectors in Australia, needed a modern website that clearly communicated their value while being easy to navigate and maintain.

The Approach

We worked closely with stakeholders to define key goals and streamline the site’s structure. Through user research and testing, we refined navigation, content strategy, and design to ensure a seamless experience for diverse audiences.

The Result

The redesigned site aligns with Geoscape’s updated brand, making it easier for users to find information and understand their offerings. It’s visually engaging, intuitive to use, and built for long-term security and maintainability.

“We are proud that the website now better reflects our story, and I am personally pleased that its structure and design enable us to evolve it as we see fit.”

Dean Capobianco.
CEO, Geoscape Australia

The outcomes

211

Number of web pages in the original website

73%

Reduction in page loading times for new website

70%

Reduction in the carbon load of the new website


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Paradise, re-explored

The work of Sāmoan-Japanese artist Yuki Kihara reclaims the work of Paul Gauguin’s from a Fa’afafine (Sāmoa’s ʻthird gender’) perspective. In 2021, Kihara became the second New Zealander of Pacific descent to be invited to global Biennales.

Travel restrictions due to the pandemic meant that attendees from Aotearoa and across the globe would not have access to the international exhibition.

Therefore, our challenge question for this project was: How might we turn travel restrictions into an opportunity for making the arts more accessible?

Our answer was to collaborate with the Arts Council of New Zealand toi Aotearoa and Yuki Kihara to create an AI-supported virtual experience that opened access to the exhibition from anywhere.

The outcomes

10,000+

IRL visitors to the exhibition during the first 4 days

14,000+

Virtual visitors to the exhibition

77,000+

Page views for the web experience

168

Countries virtually attended the exhibition


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Korero Pitopito

I was always doodling when I was a kid, then took design and fine art courses in college. I always had an interest in a wide mix of creative outlets such as print, painting, illustration, motion and music.

I studied Graphic Design at university, this was before UX and UI were taught in design courses. My first role was as a Web Designer at a start-up so I had to design and build everything. I then moved to Burberry where they were starting up a UX & UI team and I learned everything I could!

Usually, it will be a mix of discussions with other designers, stakeholders, and developers to ensure that what I’m creating is on the right track. Then I’ll either be setting up user flows in Miro, Designs in Sketch/Figma, or prototyping with Axure. It all depends on which point the project is at. Ideally a few cups of tea and some chocolate biscuits help too!

It’s the people. Design is a group activity and each person here can give you a new perspective on a piece of work. There’s a huge amount of knowledge here and I’m very fortunate to be part of it.

That constant push to improve the experience for customers and clients — be it through small insights gleaned through testing or utilising new technologies. Also by pushing and breaking rules (not all of them at the same time obvs) you can get into some interesting place.

Go weird and really out there and pair it back as needed. Don’t play it safe. Embrace the weird or seemingly wild ideas and some spark of inspiration will come out.

Seeing as millions of people have been distancing themselves due to COVID-19, digital experiences have become even more important. Stores are utilising VR to sell clothing, apps such as Miro and Figma have allowed us to work and design together, and companies such as Apple and Prime are enabling people to watch videos together even though they’re apart.

Using a teams call and a Miro board meant me and another designer could knock out an entire flow and wireframes in a couple of hours even though we were in different place. Something that takes a lot longer with a chain of emails!

You will make mistakes. Sometimes huge ones, sometimes little ones. However, as long as you learn from these you will be okay and grow as a designer. Also don’t be afraid to ask your peers / stakeholders / leaders if something doesn’t make sense to you, clarity on your goals is what makes a piece of design work even better.


Other projects

Promoting Real-World Connections

Real Mode has made a significant impact, with users averaging 3.3 hours of time disconnected from their phones. Collectively, users have accumulated 12.5 years’ worth of digital-free time. Additionally, 30% of participants considered switching to 2degrees after using Real Mode, demonstrating the feature’s success in promoting both digital wellness and brand engagement.

By encouraging users to pause their digital lives, Real Mode is helping Kiwis reconnect with the real world and cherish important life moments.

The outcomes

3.3 hrs

Average time without digital distractions, per person using Real Mode

12.5 yrs

Total time spent without distractions, from everyone using Real Mode

30%

Percentage of people who considered moving to 2degrees after using Real Mode


Discussion in the media

Little Black Book:

How 2degrees Encouraged People to Switch to Real Mode

News hub:

2degrees launches ‘Real Mode’ app to help Kiwis balance online and offline lives

Stop Press:

2degrees and TBWA\NZ ask people to switch off their phones (for a bit)

IT Brief:

2degrees helps working Kiwis switch off with new app

The work:

https://thework.awardsplatform.com/gallery/JkpobOKY/yDEgraBO?search=7b94831cf5a7aebd-3


Other projects

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Countdown Delivery Saver

The first round of testing for Delivery Saver involved interviews with staff and real customers. During this phase, the project team spoke to customers who had used the delivery service in the past and asked them questions about their experience. They also spoke to staff members who were responsible for delivering groceries to customers and managing the delivery process.

Through these interviews, the project team was able to identify some common pain points that customers and staff experienced. For instance, customers mentioned that they often found delivery fees to be expensive and inconvenient, and that they would be willing to pay a subscription fee for free delivery. On the other hand, staff members mentioned that they sometimes faced challenges in managing delivery routes and schedules, and that the delivery process could be streamlined.

The project team used this feedback to make several changes to the Delivery Saver service. They decided to offer customers the option to pay for delivery on a per-order basis rather than requiring a subscription fee, which addressed the concerns of customers who preferred to shop in-store. They also worked on improving the delivery process by hiring additional staff and improving delivery scheduling.

The second round of user testing involved in-person interviews with a larger group of customers. During this phase, the project team presented customers with a prototype of the Delivery Saver service and asked for feedback. The team observed how customers interacted with the service and asked follow-up questions to understand any issues or concerns.

Overall, the Delivery Saver project was successful in providing customers with a convenient and affordable delivery option. By using a combination of interviews with staff and real customers, the project team was able to identify key pain points and make necessary changes to the service to address them. The team’s willingness to listen to feedback and make adjustments ensured that the service met the needs of its users and was ultimately successful.

The results

Customer sign up in first week
Average weekly basket size increased by
Percentage of customers who continued subscription

Other projects

Reimagining AirPortr

In 2016 I was brought into AirPortr, a company that would deliver your luggage to and from London Airports.

Straight away the main goal was to create a new visual identity in preparation for the launch of a new booking service in partnership with British Airways launching in early October. This would enable the users luggage to be placed straight onto the plane. Magic!

First off a new design system and art direction had to be established to enable a quick launch. Along with this I took a lead role in the UX of the new booking flow on the website. Having a new product added a new layer of complexity to the system. As such constant reviews were essential both on a visual side to ensure constancy throughout the site and a UX side with rapid user testing to ensure ease and simplicity.

The visual identity of the website and other digital touch points continued to be expanded by myself with feedback coming from the heads of product, development, customer service and marketing.

Once the sketches and initial user flow was completed and approved by the stake holders the first passes of the UI were created. During the process flat, click-through prototypes were built in InVision and sent to testers via usertesting.com. These were then reviewed and any feedback rolled into the designs and sent back to the testers for further review.


Adding a personality

Although the user experience was received positively in the initial rounds of user testing, the visual style was not. To combat this a series of illustrations, each based on each section of booking were created.Once the sketches and initial user flow was completed and approved by the stake holders the first passes of the UI were created. During the process flat, click-through prototypes were built in InVision and sent to testers via usertesting.com. These were then reviewed and any feedback rolled into the designs and sent back to the testers for further review.

Portr GLUE

The design system created for AirPortr was called GLUE (Global Language for User Experiences). It was for use on the public website, booking flow, any social media pieces and the internal app that the drivers and warehouse workers would use.

It was built using Sketch’s library function and a PDF handbook created with the symbols. It was then shared using Google Drive to any other designers and developers that needed access. Below is a cross-section of the handbook and not the full guidelines.


Other projects

Listen to your gut

The main target audience would be people aged 25-45 who wish approach their mental well-being in a holistic way. We are not trying to cure with food people with severe depression but help people overcome mild mental wellbeing problems.

  • Tracks & monitors mood vs food
  • Educates with tailored content
  • Inspires and motivates to have a healthier life-style

Simplified food and nutrition tracking

By using smart AI tech we can recognise foods and auto populate the users food diary before allowing them to tweak it. We also use basic groups to make the experience simpler and quicker.

After all, no wants to feel like a robot and count calories.


Other projects

Boots pharmacy app

The current boots app was looking out of date and required an update. The UI was based on GEL, the Global Experience Language that was developed in trials. These trials included a Digital rewards card and Order & Collect, a new way of collecting parcels to make it easier for store colleagues and customers.


Other projects