Design limitations when hosting on Discourse
Since the Dev forum is hosted on Discourse, we faced several limitations in terms of what could be implemented on the platform. To address this, I started with a comprehensive site audit and analysis, identifying key templates, components, elements. This helped prioritise which areas to focus on first, ensuring an efficient roll-out process.
Workday / Discourse Forum landing page
We really wanted to make the forum feel more 'Workday' plus create a sense of fun and engagement. Below, the home page before and after with the new designs and bespoke 'Workday' styled illustration I created especially for the forum
Page template designs and alternatives
I also created basic page templates that the Dev team could reference to make updates easily and efficiently with no design resource - yet still maintain design consistency long-term
Bespoke illustration
I created / adapted all the bespoke illustration in the WorkDay style throughout the forum to add vibrancy and engagement
Project Summary
The forum is hosted on Discourse, so there were many limitations around working within this platform. I worked hand-in-hand with the Dev team to understand what we could do
• I proposed an audit of the existing Discourse Forum to kick-off
• Identifying key templates / components was a priority and strategy to enable a fast/ efficient 'trickle-through' of design changes via CSS deployment
• Defining a simplified typographic hierarchy helped sign-post categories and sections much more clearly
• Establishing a more logical site structure via navigation changes and redesigned layout templates helped find information more easily
• Adapting Discourse components/ elements to reflect the Workday brand look+feel was important for the upcoming Devcon conference
• Creating bespoke illustration to help brand engagement and make the forum feel more 'Workday'
• In under a month from start to finish we had the site live for Workday's Devcon.
• A super happy team was the ultimate result
• In under a month from start to finish we had the site live for Workday's Devcon.
• A super happy team was the ultimate result
