DWYL Studio
My Role | Duration | Software Used |
|---|---|---|
UX Design | 4 Months | Miro |
UI Design | Figma/
Creative Suite | |
AI Integration | Pen and Paper |
Overview
DWYL is a London-based design studio whose website was failing to attract new clients and was difficult to update. Despite the studio’s strong portfolio and client list, the site wasn’t delivering results — users found it slow, confusing, and uninspiring.
The goal was to understand why the site underperformed, identify usability and technical issues, and design a new experience that showcased DWYL’s work effectively while reflecting its design credibility.
Research and Analysis
Research and Analysis activities:
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Heuristic evaluation of the site
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Competitive benchmarking of leading design studios
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Stakeholder and user interviews (recruiters)
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Performance analysis (bounce rate, loading speed, responsiveness)
Key findings:
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Poor mobile experience: The site wasn’t optimised for mobile or tablet.
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Outdated technology: Some site components failed on modern browsers.
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Ineffective gallery: Small thumbnails and limited zoom options made the studio’s work look unimportant.
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Unclear identity: Users couldn’t quickly tell who DWYL worked for or what they offered.
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Maintenance issues: A developer-built CMS made updates slow and complicated.
Problem Statement
DWYL’s design credibility wasn’t being communicated — their site failed to reflect the quality of their work.
Solution
A new site was designed and built to address the core pain points, balancing aesthetics with usability and performance.
Key improvements:
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Creating focal points to structure visual hierarchy
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Large, high-quality imagery placed the studio’s work at the centre of the experience.
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Streamlined gallery: Introduced a carousel image gallery with clear navigation via thumbnails and menus.
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Responsive design: Fully optimised for mobile and tablet viewing.
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Content audit: Added a “Clients” section featuring logos (Google, Meta, Amplify, Imagination, etc.) to communicate credibility and reach.
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Efficient CMS: Rebuilt the site on Wix to ensure easy updates, reliability, and speed.
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Tech integration: Support for full-screen images, animation, and embedded video for richer project storytelling.
The redesign prioritised clarity, speed, and hierarchy with visual impact — showing DWYL’s design strength from the first click.
Outcome
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DWYL’s site now works seamlessly across devices and browsers.
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Client feedback has been extremely positive, with users praising how clearly the work is presented.
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The studio reports a significant increase in client inquiries and collaborations since launch.
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The new CMS enables the client to update content easily and frequently, keeping the site current.
Studio feedback:
“The site feels like us and clients love it — they can actually see our work now and 9 out 10 times we share it with someone, we always get a call back.”
Next Steps
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Add accessibility features such as alt text and clear text hierarchy (H1, H2 structure).
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Conduct usability testing with first-time visitors to test navigation and site comprehension.
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Explore AI-driven content tagging for future scalability.
Link to site: www.dowhatyoulike.co.uk