Overview

My team members and I were tasked with creating a website that presents a complex topic to the user in an accessible way, presenting data and story in a visual manner. We chose the topic of phishing in Canada and focused on creating a website that educates the user on common types, steps to report an incident, and ways to stay safe online.

The Problem

Information about phishing is spread across multiple sources, is densely written, and poorly organized. It is typically a visually cluttered experience and doesn't leave a lasting impact which negatively impacts those seeking out said information, making details easy to forget long term.

Our goal is to create an experience that is accessible, organized, and leaves an impact through novel visual and interaction design for the category.

Understanding the Audience

User personas were developed from narratives in the 2022 Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre's report. Our target audience encompasses both young adults who are social media savvy and aging adults who are more susceptible to online fraud.

Development of the web experience included low-fidelity wireframes, higher fidelity wireframes, and a general user flow for the site experience.

Final Solution

Our solution creates a narrative of the phisher, the lures they use, and the fish they catch (or the fish that can avoid them). The website introduces the user to various types of scams with a carousel of lures that represent common tactics. It also provides 3 profiles on the secondary page with tailored content for each audience.

Insights

User feedback states the design is simple and accessible, with large buttons that are easy for users with limited mobility to click. The text size is clear and easy to read, ensuring no strain for users of any age. The navigation bar is straightforward, clearly labeling key sections so users can quickly find the information they need if they’ve fallen for a phishing attack and want to know the next steps.

An elevation to the project would include modified navigation with more obvious indicators of what page the user is on, in addition to further pages that deep dive into other sectors impacted by fraud attacks (like businesses).

What I Learned

My second delve into the world of Figma included a better understanding of auto-layout, but it's a skill still in development. I would love to expand this project into other channels to better reach other audiences impacted by phishing as well; it effects a wide range of people and different presentations of information will do better than others with each group.