Project Overview
To enhance the usability and clarity of the photo submission and award browsing experience.
Project Background
I joined the Berlin Photo Awards project as a UX/UI consultant after the initial version of the website had already been developed. While the structure was live, it lacked clarity and usability from a user experience standpoint.
Initial Problem
The landing page gave the impression of a static photo gallery, and users couldn’t easily understand that the site was hosting an active award competition. This ambiguity reduced trust and made user engagement—especially among first-time visitors—more difficult.
User Focus
In a working session with the product owner, we identified several user groups. I focused primarily on the participant journey, aiming to streamline the process for photographers submitting their work.
Benchmarking & Research
I benchmarked several international photo award platforms and shared best practices with the product owner and developer. Recommendations were documented in Google Docs and shared visually through FigJam to support asynchronous collaboration.
FigJam-Recommendations-Part 2
UX Issues Observed
- Unclear navigation and layout hierarchy
- Confusing component groupings
- Lack of interaction cues or feedback
- Low information clarity in call-to-actions
These issues made the submission process less intuitive and risked discouraging participation.
Constraints
- Remote collaboration only
- No access to end-users for live testing
- Communication and documentation in English for developer convenience
- Short timeline and evolving scope
Credits & Links
Credit Unseen Imaging GmbH
Link to the Berlin Photo Awards site: https://www.berlinphotoawards.com