Forest Research Climate Sub-site

Growing from strength to strength.

Clients

Forest Research

Locations

Media City UK
London

Services

User Experience
User Interface

The Situation

In the pursuit of safeguarding the UK’s woodlands and forests from the ever-increasing impacts of a changing climate, Forest Research, the forefront organisation for forestry and tree-related research in Great Britain, undertook a transformative journey to enhance their online presence. As part of this digital transformation, Forest Research recognised the need to create a dedicated sub-website, the Climate Change Hub, that would consolidate vital information and practical guidance on protecting woodlands through adaptive practices. The challenge lay in designing a separate hub that maintained a seamless connection with the main site, ensuring a cohesive organisational identity. By uniting forces, the Climate Change Hub embodies the vision of Forest Research, providing a comprehensive online platform that empowers stakeholders to navigate the challenges of climate change and collectively work towards a sustainable future for our woodlands and forests.

Problem

Forest Research, a leading organisation in forestry research, recognised the need for a dedicated section on their website to emphasise the critical importance of climate change and its impact on forests. They sought to create a separate hub that would consolidate research on climate change and provide practical guidance for individuals and organisations to contribute towards the protection and preservation of forests.

Solution

We collaborated closely with the organisation to understand their objectives and design a solution that would fulfil their vision. By implementing a strategic design approach, we ensured that the Climate Change Hub maintained a visual and functional connection with the main site while having its own unique identity. The hub seamlessly integrated the wealth of climate change research and practical guidance, offering users a centralised platform to explore and engage with valuable resources.

Results

The Climate Change Hub achieved remarkable results in terms of both aesthetics and user experience (UX). The sub-website featured an appealing and intuitive design, capturing the essence of Forest Research’s overall brand identity while presenting climate change research in a compelling and accessible manner. Users reported positive feedback on the user-friendly navigation and the ease with which they could access relevant information and resources. The visually cohesive integration with the main site created a sense of unity, reinforcing the perception that the Climate Change Hub is an integral part of the larger Forest Research organisation.

Visit The Forest Research Climate Change Hub

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Goals

Create a distinct visual identity for the Climate Change Hub while maintaining brand consistency.
Prioritise user experience by ensuring intuitive navigation and easy access to relevant climate change research and guidance.
Consolidate a comprehensive range of resources and data related to climate change’s impact on forests.
Design an aesthetically appealing interface that engages and captivates users.
Organise content in a logical and structured manner for efficient information retrieval.
Optimise the design for responsiveness across different devices and screen sizes.
Maintain a cohesive visual framework with the main Forest Research website.
Encourage users to take action through clear calls-to-action (CTAs).
Ensure accessibility by conforming to relevant guidelines and standards.
Optimise performance for fast loading and a seamless browsing experience.

Target audience

A successful user experience (UX) design for the Climate Change Hub relies on identifying and understanding its target audience.

Understanding the Importance of Identifying the Target Audience for Climate Change Hub:

1. Tailored Messaging and Content Identifying the target audience for the Climate Change Hub is essential for crafting tailored messaging and content that resonates with their specific needs and interests. By understanding their demographics, preferences, and information-seeking behaviour, Forest Research can deliver impactful and relevant content, addressing the concerns and motivations of the audience. This targeted approach ensures that the Climate Change Hub becomes a valuable resource, fostering engagement and encouraging active participation in climate change mitigation efforts.

2. User-Centric Design and Navigation The target audience’s characteristics and preferences play a crucial role in shaping the design and navigation of the Climate Change Hub. By understanding their digital behaviour and user experience expectations, Forest Research can create an intuitive and user-centric interface. Clear navigation, logical information architecture, and seamless access to key resources will enhance the audience’s browsing experience, enabling them to easily find the information and tools they need to make a positive impact on forest protection.

3. Effective Outreach and Engagement Identifying the target audience allows Forest Research to develop effective outreach and engagement strategies to maximise the hub’s impact. By understanding where and how the audience consumes information, Forest Research can optimise promotional efforts, leveraging relevant channels and platforms to reach and connect with the intended audience. This understanding also enables the implementation of interactive features, social sharing functionalities, and opportunities for community involvement, fostering a sense of ownership and encouraging ongoing engagement with the Climate Change Hub.

	Researchers	Land Owners	Government Agencies	General Public
Situation	Researchers seek a centralised platform to access comprehensive climate change research and data specific to the impacts on forests.	Landowners require practical guidance on adapting to climate change and implementing sustainable forest management practices.	Government agencies require a reliable resource to inform policy decisions and support initiatives related to climate change and forestry.	The general public seeks accessible information on the impact of climate change on forests and ways to contribute to their protection.
Challenges	Challenges include consolidating diverse research sources, ensuring data accuracy, and fostering collaboration among researchers.	Challenges involve disseminating complex information in an accessible manner, addressing varying land sizes and management capabilities, and encouraging behaviour change.	Challenges include aligning the hub’s information with policy priorities, ensuring accurate data for decision-making, and fostering collaboration between agencies.	Challenges include raising awareness, translating scientific research into actionable guidance, and engaging a diverse range of individuals with varying levels of knowledge.
Goals	The goal is to provide researchers with an easily navigable hub that consolidates and showcases relevant research, promoting collaboration and knowledge exchange.	The goal is to equip landowners with practical resources and guidance tailored to their specific needs, promoting sustainable forest management practices that mitigate climate change impacts.	The goal is to provide government agencies with a trusted hub that offers data-driven insights, supports evidence-based policymaking, and facilitates inter-agency collaboration.	The goal is to provide the general public with easily understandable information, inspiring a sense of urgency and empowering individuals to take action in protecting forests.
Objections	Researchers may have concerns about data credibility and the inclusion of their own research within the hub.	Landowners may question the relevance of the hub to their specific circumstances or the feasibility of implementing suggested practices.	Government agencies may have concerns about the hub’s alignment with their specific policies or potential conflicts with existing initiatives.	The general public may perceive climate change as a distant issue or question the effectiveness of individual actions in addressing such a vast problem.
Values	Researchers value accurate and up-to-date information, opportunities for collaboration, and a platform that enhances their impact in the field of forest research.	Landowners value expertise, practicality, and solutions that balance environmental stewardship with economic viability.	Government agencies value reliable data, policy relevance, and tools that streamline decision-making processes.	The general public values simplicity, actionable steps, and a sense of collective responsibility for protecting the environment.

Empathy maps

Researchers

We need access to comprehensive and reliable climate change research specific to forests

Conducts extensive research, publishes scholarly articles, collaborates with other researchers, and attends conferences.

How can we collaborate effectively to address the complex challenges of climate change impacts on forests?

Driven by a sense of curiosity, dedication to advancing knowledge, and a desire to make a positive impact in forest research.

Land Owners

I want practical guidance on adapting to climate change and sustainable forest management.

Manages forests, seeks information on sustainable practices, attends workshops or webinars, and seeks advice from experts.

What are the best practices I can implement to protect my forest and adapt to the changing climate?

Concerned about the future of their forests, eager to learn and implement sustainable practices, and motivated to preserve their land for future generations.

Government Agencies

We need reliable data and resources to inform policy decisions on climate change and forestry.

Analyses data, conducts research, collaborates with other agencies, attends policy meetings, and develops initiatives.

How can we align our policies and actions to address the challenges of climate change impacts on forests effectively?

A sense of responsibility towards protecting the environment, a need for evidence-based decision-making, and a desire to foster inter-agency collaboration for effective policy implementation.

General Public

I want to understand the impact of climate change on forests and how I can contribute

Reads news articles, attends environmental events, shares information on social media, and takes small actions like recycling or planting trees.

How can my individual actions make a difference in combating climate change and protecting forests?

Concerned about the environment, a desire to be part of the solution, and a sense of empowerment when taking action.

Key Takeaways

Centralised Knowledge Hub

The Climate Change Hub successfully consolidates a wealth of climate change research, practical guidance, and resources specific to protecting UK woodlands, providing users with a centralised platform for comprehensive information on climate change impacts and adaptive practices.

Seamless Integration with Main Site

The design of the Climate Change Hub achieved the goal of maintaining a cohesive visual and functional integration with the main Forest Research website, ensuring a seamless user experience while creating a distinct identity that aligns with the organisation’s overall brand.

User-Focused and Intuitive Experience

Through user-centric design principles, the hub offers an intuitive and engaging user experience, featuring clear navigation, well-organised content, and visually appealing interfaces. This approach enables users, including researchers, landowners, the general public, and government agencies, to access relevant information and resources with ease.

Empowering Action and Collaboration

The Climate Change Hub not only provides information but also encourages users to take action and foster collaboration. The inclusion of clear calls-to-action, practical guidance, and opportunities for engagement inspires individuals and organisations to contribute actively to protecting and preserving forests in the face of climate change.