National Institute for Play: Website Redesign
Redesigned the National Institute for Play website to strike a balance between professionalism and playfulness. This project followed the design thinking process and included user testing and responsive web design, resulting in a validated MVP.
Client:
National Institute for Play
Year:
Spring 2025
Problem:
The mental health crisis—especially among youth and adults affected by excessive screen time—continues to escalate. Our team set out to explore how design could support mental wellness through play. Research revealed a gap in engaging digital tools that encourage adult playfulness, a key factor in reducing stress, isolation, and burnout. In this context, the National Institute for Play, an organization dedicated to promoting play for wellness, had a digital presence that could better reflect its mission by improving consistency, accessibility, and emotional connection.
Approach:
Led a team through the design thinking process as project leader.
Used the 5 Whys technique to narrow our focus to screen time and play.
Conducted secondary research on digital well-being and adult mental health.
Gathered user insights via interviews, surveys, and field observations.
Used divergent and convergent thinking to generate potential solutions.
Redesigned the NIFP website with a focus on:
Visual and tonal consistency
Clear communication of NIFP’s mission
A responsive design foundation for cross-platform use
Collaborated on an initial app concept to house a Playfulness Trait quiz—developed by researchers at Oregon State University’s HEAL Laboratory—and personalized play activities and resources.
Currently continuing to work (in collaboration with NIFP and my professor) on refining the app experience to align with the new brand and user needs.
Outcome:
Delivered a responsive, redesigned MVP website that communicates the value of play for wellness.
Positioned NIFP for stronger digital engagement across platforms.
Began an ongoing app redesign to elevate the user experience and ensure alignment with both the brand and the project’s original mental health goals.
This project highlights my ability to lead collaborative design efforts, conduct user-centered research, and create cohesive digital experiences that balance professionalism with playfulness—all while advancing meaningful solutions to support mental wellness.
