Increasing digital engagement and donation revenue through a research-led UX approach
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Barnardos needed a digital platform that better connected with donors and simplified the giving process. Through stakeholder workshops, user research, and behavioural insights, we uncovered key barriers to donations and redesigned the website experience to improve empathy, transparency, and conversion.
We led a research-first UX strategy that identified donor pain points such as overwhelming statistics, lack of transparency, and friction in the donation flow. From these insights, we restructured user journeys, streamlined content, and designed conversion-led donation pathways.
The UI overhaul replaced a corporate, text-heavy look with vibrant design blocks, interactive iconography, and simplified layouts across donation and carer portals. Dense statistics were translated into engaging graphs and diagrams, while content-heavy pages were restructured for clarity and ease of use.
Results:
- 26% increase in donation revenue
- 47% uplift in regular monthly donations
- 12% reduction in bounce rate
The new Barnardos website balances storytelling with usability, creating a more human, transparent, and effective digital fundraising experience.
