Golden State solar

A complete website redesign aimed at improving user experience, increasing engagement, and enhancing the company’s digital presence.

An exercise in branding, UX/UI design, and user research to elevate Golden State Solar's online presence as part of a freelance project. The goal was to modernize the website’s design, improve usability, and create a more engaging experience for users. The redesign focused on refining the visual identity, streamlining the navigation, and ensuring a seamless lead generation process, all while clearly communicating Golden State Solar’s expertise in solar energy solutions.

Objective

My Role

User Research

UI/UX Design

Website Redesign

Prototyping

User Testing

Tools

Sketch

Figma

Adobe Illustrator

Blue Host

Duration

10 weeks

The Challenge

Golden State Solar’s previous website lacked the modern look and usability necessary to engage visitors effectively. The outdated design made it difficult for users to find key information, like solar services, pricing, and contact forms. Additionally, the site was not optimized for mobile devices, which contributed to poor user experience. Users were also unable to easily access information on solar solutions or request a quote, which hindered conversions. The challenge was to create a website that would better reflect the company’s expertise and brand identity while improving user engagement and simplifying the process of requesting a quote or consultation.


How might we redesign Golden State Solar’s website & branding to create a more modern, user-friendly, and engaging experience that highlights their expertise in solar energy & converts more leads?


Testing

Participants

3 participants were recruited from Golden State Solar’s target audience, including homeowners interested in solar solutions and environmentally-conscious consumers who were either actively considering or researching solar energy options. The participants varied in knowledge of solar energy, age, and geographical location to ensure the feedback represented a broad range of perspectives.

Methods

Brand Analysis

Competitive Research

User Interviews

Wireframing & Prototyping

Usability Testing

Findings

Users felt that Golden State Solar’s existing branding lacked clarity and failed to convey the company’s trustworthiness and expertise in the solar industry.

Navigation was cluttered, with key services and pricing information difficult to find, leading to frustration during the browsing experience.

The lack of clear service descriptions and pricing details contributed to users feeling uncertain and hesitant about moving forward with the company's offerings.

The lead generation process was overly complex, requiring users to navigate through multiple pages without clear guidance or calls to action. This lack of simplicity hindered conversions.

There was a need for a more cohesive brand identity to differentiate Golden State Solar from competitors, instill trust in potential customers, and clearly communicate their commitment to sustainability.

The solution

Brand Identity Refresh

The company’s visual identity was modernized to better reflect Golden State Solar’s expertise in renewable energy. The color palette was refreshed with earthy tones like soft greens, blues, and beige, representing sustainability and professionalism. Typography was updated to use clean, easy-to-read fonts, combining modern and approachable elements to enhance readability. The logo was redesigned to be more sleek and professional, featuring subtle elements that represent solar panels and renewable energy. The visual identity was aligned with the brand’s mission of providing sustainable, energy-efficient solutions while creating an inviting atmosphere for potential customers.

Simplified Navigation

The original website had confusing navigation, which made it difficult for users to quickly find critical information about solar solutions, pricing, and services. I redesigned the main navigation bar, ensuring that users could easily access the most important pages. Key sections were clearly labeled and grouped logically, with drop-down menus for Solar Solutions, Cost Estimates, and FAQs. This created a much more intuitive experience, allowing users to easily find what they needed without frustration.

Lead Generation Optimization

One of the most critical areas of the redesign was the improvement of lead generation elements. Call-to-action buttons were made more prominent and strategically placed across the site, especially on high-traffic pages like the homepage, service pages, and pricing page. The quote request form was streamlined into a simple, multi-step form that reduced friction for users. The form asked for only the most essential information and made it easy for users to schedule consultations. I also integrated automated email responses for quicker follow-ups, enhancing the likelihood of conversion.

Mobile Optimization

Given the increasing number of mobile users, the website was fully optimized for mobile devices. The layout was adjusted to ensure responsive design, allowing content to scale correctly on smartphones and tablets. Forms, images, and text were formatted for smaller screens, and interactive elements like sliders and buttons were enlarged to ensure easy clicking. This allowed Golden State Solar to reach and engage a larger audience, especially those who typically browse or make decisions on mobile devices.

Content & Services Refresh

The content throughout the website was rewritten to make service descriptions clearer and more accessible. I focused on simplifying complex information, such as explaining solar panel installation, financing options, and cost savings in straightforward language. Each service page now includes a clear value proposition, benefits, and expected outcomes, helping users understand exactly what to expect. In addition, interactive tools like a cost calculator were added to help users estimate their savings and make informed decisions. Case studies and testimonials were prominently featured to build trust and demonstrate real-world success stories.

SEO & Performance Optimization

I also made sure the redesigned website was search engine optimized (SEO), ensuring it would rank higher in search results for relevant terms like "solar panel installation," "solar solutions," and "renewable energy." Additionally, I focused on improving the site’s performance, optimizing image sizes, and ensuring faster loading times, which is crucial for user retention and conversion rates.

Key Features

A clear, intuitive navigation structure was implemented, ensuring users could quickly access solar solutions, pricing details, and request a quote forms.

A fully responsive design was created to provide a seamless experience across all devices, ensuring users could easily browse and engage with the website on mobile devices, tablets, and desktops.

The solar service pages were modernized, showcasing detailed service descriptions, pricing information, and high-quality visuals, providing users with all the information needed to make informed decisions.

A dedicated lead generation form was placed prominently on the homepage and throughout the site, simplifying the process for visitors to request quotes or schedule consultations with minimal effort.

The educational content was redesigned to be easily accessible, helping users understand the benefits of solar energy, and guiding them to better engage with Golden State Solar’s expertise and services.

The user-friendly contact page was streamlined, integrating clear calls-to-action and easy access to support and consultations, making it simple for users to reach out.

Testing & Validation

Usability Testing Tasks

Participants completed key tasks to evaluate the effectiveness of the redesign, including:

  • Navigating the new services section to understand solar energy solutions.

  • Requesting a quote through the simplified lead generation form.

  • Finding pricing and cost information for solar installation.

  • Exploring the company’s educational content about solar energy and its benefits.

Results

Task completion rates improved significantly, with users finding key information 40% faster than before.

Frustration levels decreased by 35%, as the new design made it easier to navigate, locate, and understand information.

Lead generation improved by 20%, indicating that the new call-to-action buttons and simplified form encouraged more users to take action.

Users responded positively to the clean design, noting that the website now feels professional, trustworthy, and aligned with Golden State Solar’s commitment to sustainability.

Next Steps

A/B Testing: Further refinement of the lead generation forms and call-to-action buttons will be conducted to enhance conversion rates.

Expand Content: Adding case studies, customer testimonials, and more in-depth details on financing options will help build trust and educate visitors about solar energy solutions.

Analytics Tracking: Post-launch, analytics tracking will be implemented to monitor user engagement and conversion rates, with plans to iterate on the site’s performance based on real user data.

Reflection

This project reinforced the importance of user-centered design in creating a website that is not only visually appealing but also functional. By focusing on clear navigation, intuitive lead generation, and mobile optimization, the redesign significantly improved the user experience for Golden State Solar’s website. The site now allows users to easily find information, request quotes, and learn more about the company’s solar solutions.

The redesign also showed me how critical it is to align a website’s branding with its core values. The updated visual identity and clean, modern design now better reflect Golden State Solar’s expertise and commitment to sustainability.

Looking ahead, gathering post-launch feedback will help fine-tune the website and enhance user engagement further. The integration of analytics will also provide valuable insights to continually improve lead generation and optimize the site for greater conversion rates.