Redesigning MusicLink Foundation: a platform that links students with volunteer music teachers
Role
Visual Designer
Duration
6 weeks
Tools
Figma, Photoshop
Team
Me
Overview
MusicLink Foundation is a nonprofit organization that connects low-income students with volunteer music teachers and resources. As part of my graphic design course, I completed a rebrand for MusicLink Foundation. I extended upon the project by redesigning the website to create a clearer, more accessible, and more engaging experience for students, parents, educators, and business partners.
dISCOVERY & BRAND Audit
Getting to know MusicLink Foundation
I began the project by conducting a content audit. It was important to understand MusicLink's overall mission, who their target audience is and establish the exact needs based on areas of weakness in their current identity and information architecture of the site.
Personas
Narrowing down the target audience
After understanding more about MusicLink's mission I defined user groups to help drive design decisions. I discovered that the primary target audience was students, parents, and volunteer music teachers.
Visual Design
Designing a modern and approachable visual identity
I focused on musical forms, warm lighting, and spotlight photography that would highlight the talent within the MusicLink community. This would give it a professional yet approachable style that would appeal to both young students and elder volunteer music teachers seeking to make a meaningful impact.
Final website
Each screen was designed with the information optomized so the target users could access key information easily
Homepage
About
Get Involved
Find a teacher
Enroll a student
Donate
I reduced cognitive load by:
Grouping content by audience (e.g., Students, Parents, Educators)
Prioritized high-value actions with clear calls to action: “Enroll a student” “Donate now”
06 — Reflection
What I learned
1. Conduct UX audits and synthesize insights
I learned how to conduct a proper site audit by focusing on information architecture by identifying where each button took me, how difficult it was to find key information depending on who the user is: a student, teacher, volunteer, or business partner). I also analzed the stylistic choices, colors, typography, photo-style, etc.)
Create clear visual systems aligned to user goals
The overall redesign helped to modernize MusicLink Foundation, which in turn would help appeal to more students who are just starting to play an instrument and in need of discounted lessons.