Redesigning the Conseil départemental de l'Accès au Droit (CDAD) website

Tags:
  • Design
  • Development
  • Performance
  • Astro
  • CSS
  • JavaScript

Introduction

The Conseil départemental de l’Accès au Droit (CDAD) needed a significant digital overhaul. Their original WordPress site was outdated, and the user experience was hindered by an unresponsive design, challenging navigation, and low performance on Google Lighthouse metrics. Montagne Noire Web Studio was selected to undertake a full redesign and redevelopment, transforming the CDAD’s digital presence to be modern, accessible, and user-friendly.

Challenges

  • Responsiveness: The old website lacked a mobile-friendly structure, making it difficult for users on smaller screens to access information.
  • User Experience: Navigation was a pain point, especially with an interactive homepage map that was complex and impractical on mobile devices.
  • Outdated Design: The previous design appeared cluttered and unappealing, lacking in white space and optimized layout.
  • Technical Performance: The site scored poorly on Google Lighthouse, negatively impacting SEO and loading times.

Our Approach

After a fruitfuil first free audit and the paperwork signed, it was time for us to go the first stage of project management.

  • Organizing detailed discussions with the client to understand their objectives and to establish clear goals for the project
  • Conducting a thorough audit of the old website, noting all of the technial and User Experience pain points in order to outline areas of opportunities
  • Developing a project plan that then served as the roadmap to delivering all of the objectives set out, including deadlines for deliverables, weekly calls, trackers etc.

Results

The redesigned CDAD website now delivers a seamless user experience that meets modern web standards. Here are some of the measurable impacts:

  • Technology Revamp: We waved goodbye to Wordpress, and said hello to custom code. By writing the code ourselves, we made sure that the website does not use resource-hungry, unsecure plugins.
  • Responsive Design: The website is now fully responsive, delivering a consistent experience across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
  • Enhanced User Experience: Navigation is now intuitive, with an emphasis on clarity and ease of use.
  • Performance Gains: After the overhaul, the site scored significantly higher on Google Lighthouse, positively impacting load times and SEO.
  • Improved Accessibility: The site is now accessible to a broader audience, meeting WCAG standards and ensuring a smoother experience for all users. This includes adjustments for screen readers, contrast improvements, keyboard navigation and simplified interactive elements.
  • Interface Redesign: We focused on creating a visually appealing design. By increasing white space and improving legibility, we enhanced the browsing experience for users across all devices. We also used a streamlined color scheme that reflects CDAD’s identity.

The CDAD website revamp by Montagne Noire Web Studio demonstrates the power of a thoughtful redesign, backed by a focus on usability, performance, and accessibility. By addressing the site’s core issues, we delivered a modern, optimized solution that will serve the CDAD’s visitors in their search for legal advice.