Strengthening Communities Through Design
Adobe CC
Web Design
UX Design
Duration
Role
Tools
Project type
Team
8 Weeks
4 Designers
2 Copywriters
2 Marketing
Internship
Squarespace
Overview
When the State of Black Design made the leap from a virtual gathering to its first in-person event, the challenge was clear: how do we design an experience that feels both seamless and memorable for hundreds of attendees? My role was to create attendee-centered materials—badges, maps, signage, and digital updates—that not only guided people through the event but also reinforced the conference’s identity and sense of community.
IDEATION
We then began prototyping conference materials.
Name tags
Conference name badges were designed to foster personal connections and community. To guide the design, our team conducted a competitive analysis of existing badges and identified essential elements—branding, attendee name, pronouns, and role (student, professional, etc.). We also explored optional features such as contact information, maps, and schedules, refining the final content based on organizer feedback.
Low & Mid fidelity name badges
Maps
Accessible maps were critical for helping attendees navigate the conference. Using base maps and room data, our team simplified the layouts to emphasize only what attendees needed—session rooms, bathrooms, and staircases—while removing unnecessary details.
To refine the design, we created prototypes that tested legibility, clarity, and scalability across different formats (print, digital, and signage). This iterative process ensured the maps were easy to read at a glance, consistent with the conference brand, and adaptable to various use cases throughout the event.
Low Fidelity Maps
SOBD Website
The conference website served as the central hub for all event information, including sponsor recognition, speaker profiles, and detailed schedules. Our goal was to design a platform that was both engaging and easy to navigate, ensuring attendees could quickly access the details they needed before and during the event. By highlighting sponsors and showcasing speakers, the site also reinforced community partnerships and elevated the conference’s professional presence.
Speaker PAge on website
organization
Before diving in, we separated into different groups.
To manage the many moving parts of the State of Black Design Conference, our team was divided into specialized groups, each focused on a key area of production.
Within the Visual Design team, I took on both design and research responsibilities. I implemented website updates, did user testing on all of our designs, and developed physical conference materials that supported the attendee experience.
Stakeholders
Attendees
The primary audience for the conference included professionals, educators, students, and sponsor representatives. This group was at the center of the team’s decisions, as they relied on our materials to fully engage with the event.
Speakers
These individuals were industry leaders contributing through talks, panels, and workshops. They served as community pillars—sharing knowledge, fostering dialogue, and shaping the event’s impact.
Event Organizers
Organizers were the long-standing contributors behind the State of Black Design conference. They provided essential details about programming and logistics.
5E Model
We mapped the conference journey with the 5E Model
The 5E Model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—served as a guiding framework for shaping the conference experience. By aligning design decisions with each phase, we ensured that attendees were not only drawn in by engaging materials, but also supported as they navigated the event, deepened their understanding through sessions, and reflected on key takeaways. This model provided a clear structure for designing both digital and physical touchpoints, keeping the attendee journey at the center of every decision.
final designs
The badge design makes personal connections effortless.
User testing showed that attendees valued clarity and readability above all else. The final badge design highlights essential information—name, pronouns, and role—while maintaining a clean layout that makes personal connections effortless.
Final Badge Design
The maps provide clear navigation for attendees
Through iterative testing, we identified which details attendees needed most for wayfinding. The final maps focused on session rooms, bathrooms, and staircases, removing unnecessary clutter to create accessible, easy-to-read navigation tools.
Final Map design
The website brings together sponsors, speakers, and event details in one place.
Testing revealed that attendees looked first for schedules, speakers, and registration information. The final website brought these elements forward in a streamlined layout, making it simple for users to find event details before and during the conference.
Final Website Design
INsights
After the event, we looked at the success of our designs.
To measure the effectiveness of our designs, we tracked both qualitative feedback and observable outcomes during the conference:
Badge Usability – Attendees consistently used name badges to introduce themselves, and feedback confirmed that pronoun and role visibility made networking more inclusive.
Map Effectiveness – Fewer directional questions were asked at the registration desk, showing that the maps and wayfinding materials successfully reduced confusion.
Website Engagement – Site analytics showed strong traffic to speaker bios and schedules in the weeks leading up to the event, indicating that attendees could easily access the information they needed.
Overall Satisfaction – Post-conference surveys highlighted the clarity of materials as a strength, with attendees noting that the designs made it easier to move through the event and connect with others.
Together, these KPIs demonstrated that the visual design system enhanced both the usability and the overall experience of the conference.
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Recommendations
While the conference materials were effective, opportunities emerged for future improvement
Enhanced Accessibility – Offer alternative badge formats (larger type, high-contrast versions) and digital map options for screen readers.
Interactive Features – Develop a mobile-friendly digital schedule with real-time updates, reminders, and session wayfinding.
Expanded Networking Tools – Include optional QR codes on badges to make it easier for attendees to share professional information.
Post-Conference Resources – Create a digital archive of speaker materials and recordings to extend the conference’s impact.
By incorporating these recommendations, future conferences could further strengthen attendee engagement, accessibility, and community-building.