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Muskoka Steamship & Discovery Centre Redesign

Muskoka Steamship & Discovery Centre (MSDC) is a not-for-profit registered charity dedicated to delivering engaging, educational, and entertaining experiences that celebrate the culture and heritage of Canada’s Muskoka District. In its website redesign project, our team aimed to improve the site's usability, content structure, and visual design to better support user needs and increase engagement with the MSDC's events, exhibits, and membership offerings.

Team Members

Tools Used

Chen Xu,

Victoria Hu,

Yang Li,

Yingying Zhu

Figma

Miro Board 

Canva

Screenshot 2025-05-26 at 8.13.11 AM.png

Visitors have difficulty navigating the MSDC website efficiently

Project Background

Our team collaborated on the redesign of the Muskoka Steamships & Discovery Centre (MSDC) website as part of the INF2192 Representing UX course. MSDC is a not-for-profit registered charity that delivers engaging, educational, and entertaining experiences to celebrate the rich culture and heritage of Canada’s Muskoka District.

 

Throughout this project, I was deeply involved across multiple stages, with key contributions highlighted below:

 

  • Conducted Competitor Analysis and Background Research. I participated in early-stage research by examining peer organizations’ websites and analyzing best practices in heritage and tourism site design. This helped the team identify gaps and opportunities for MSDC's online presence, providing strategic direction for our redesign.
     

  • Designed and Analyzed Primary Research. I co-designed our task-based study and card-sorting exercise to gather insights from potential and past visitors, focusing on needs, frustrations, and expectations. 

  • Developed Two Information Architecture(IA) Proposals. Based on research insights, I proposed two revised IA structures aimed at improving navigation and reducing cognitive load. These versions were discussed and refined by the team, and one of them was ultimately adopted and implemented in our prototype, helping users locate content more efficiently.
     

  • Redesigned the Membership Sign-Up Flow and Advised on Key Pages. I independently redesigned the membership sign-up process to make it more intuitive and actionable. This redesign was adopted by the client and implemented in their current website. Additionally, I also provided feedback and suggestions for the redesigned landing page and booking process, ensuring consistency, clarity, and alignment with user expectations. 

  • Evaluated and Iterated on the Prototype Based on Usability Testing. I was actively involved in conducting and analyzing our final usability testing sessions. Based on participant feedback, I worked with the team to iterate the prototype, addressing issues related to accessibility and interaction patterns, improving the usability and accessibility of our final design.

Now, let me walk you through my design journey, where this project highlights how thoughtful UX can transform an organization’s digital presence into a more accessible, inviting, and engaging experience:

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