EDC.org — Designing for Global Impact
Education Development Center (EDC) develops sustainable solutions for some of the world’s most pressing challenges in education, health, and workforce development. Their work is grounded in evidence, empathy, and experience.
My goal was to design a web experience that felt open and calm—encouraging users to move through the space naturally, discovering impactful content without feeling overwhelmed. I used a neutral color palette, purposeful white space, and playful interactive elements to bring EDC’s story to life.
Because EDC serves a global audience, we conducted research on connectivity patterns and created a low-bandwidth version of the site to support regions with slower internet speeds. Many of EDC’s users rely on phones or mobile bandwidth, so accessibility, clarity, and quick access to information were top priorities.
At its core, the objective was to help users quickly find the content or action they needed—then return to their lives empowered with information. EDC continues to achieve remarkable milestones around the world, and I’m proud to have played a role in helping them share that work with a wider audience.. If you would like to learn about some of my design methods and details around process, please contact me.
The Challenge
The legacy EDC website didn’t reflect the scope or sophistication of the organization’s work. The structure lacked clarity, important calls-to-action were buried, and pages weren’t optimized for users in low-bandwidth environments—many of whom accessed the site on mobile devices in regions with slower internet speeds. Navigation was inconsistent, content was siloed, and the experience felt heavy, particularly for users who were looking to quickly access information and move on with their work.
From a management perspective, EDC also needed a solution that could be maintained across teams with varying levels of technical knowledge, while still offering flexibility for growth and content evolution.
The Solution
We began with research into global usage patterns, accessibility standards, and mobile-first performance—particularly with a focus on low-bandwidth optimization. I collaborated with stakeholders to identify key user journeys and conducted audits to uncover friction in the current architecture.
From there, I designed a layout that felt open and human: using neutral colors, clean type hierarchy, and generous white space to guide attention and reduce cognitive load. Interactive elements were subtle and purposeful, helping reinforce EDC’s story without distracting from it.
I introduced a simplified information architecture and modular layout system that made it easier for internal teams to manage content while maintaining visual and structural consistency. UX best practices—including mobile responsiveness, clear hierarchy, optimized CTAs, and accessibility compliance—were baked in from the start. I also helped oversee project timelines, cross-team coordination, and QA to ensure alignment throughout design and development phases.
The Results
The redesigned EDC.org now reflects the organization’s mission and values with clarity and confidence. Users can access information more efficiently—whether they’re in low-bandwidth regions, on mobile devices, or simply skimming for key insights. The mobile-first, globally aware design ensures that EDC’s resources remain accessible and actionable, no matter where the user is in the world.
Internally, the site is now built on a scalable content system, allowing teams with varying technical abilities to update and manage content with ease. The simplified architecture and improved visual hierarchy make content creation and navigation more intuitive, both for staff and for site visitors.
While formal analytics were handled post-launch by the internal team, we expected to see positive movement in key areas:
Increased user engagement, reflected in longer session durations and more pages per visit
Greater accessibility for users in low-bandwidth regions, especially via the lightweight site version
A rise in mobile sessions and improved performance across devices
Faster page load times—critical for global audiences
Higher conversions on key calls-to-action like newsletter sign-ups or resource downloads
Overall, the experience balances emotional resonance with practical utility—giving EDC a digital foundation that supports its global mission while remaining deeply rooted in the communities it serves.
