FACGC: Bringing Community to the Forefront of the Rizal Center Website
FACGC: Bringing Community to the Forefront of the Rizal Center Website
Timeline: August 2024 - May 2025
Timeline: August 2024 - May 2025
Role: UX Designer, UX Researcher
Role: UX Designer, UX Researcher
Software Used: Figma
Software Used: Figma
Team: Team of University of Michigan School of Information
Team: Team of 5 for UX Capstone, University of Michigan School of Information
Goal: Create a streamlined, accessible hub for the Rizal center to reinforce community ties and support through a complete redesign of their original website, overall reconnecting people to the space of the Rizal Center.
Goal: Create a streamlined, accessible hub for the Rizal center to reinforce community ties and support through a complete redesign of their original website, overall reconnecting people to the space of the Rizal Center.
A beloved community center. A website lost in time. Leading the redesign to reconnect culture, community, and digital accessibility.
A beloved community center. A website lost in time. Leading the redesign to reconnect culture, community, and digital accessibility.
Context
Context
The Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago (FACGC) is a vital resource for Chicago’s Filipino-American community. Their physical space, the historic Rizal Center, bustles with events, language classes, and cultural workshops. But their digital presence told a different story: outdated visuals, confusing navigation, and no mobile optimization.
From interviews to usability tests to final prototypes, I led the full redesign effort to transform FACGC’s website into a usable, welcoming, and accessible space—just like the Center itself.
The Filipino American Council of Greater Chicago (FACGC) is a vital resource for Chicago’s Filipino-American community. Their physical space, the historic Rizal Center, bustles with events, language classes, and cultural workshops. But their digital presence told a different story: outdated visuals, confusing navigation, and no mobile optimization.
From interviews to usability tests to final prototypes, I led the full redesign effort to transform FACGC’s website into a usable, welcoming, and accessible space—just like the Center itself.
The Problem
The Problem
FACGC’s old website was unintuitive and information-heavy, preventing users—especially elders and first-time visitors—from accessing key services.
FACGC’s old website was unintuitive and information-heavy, preventing users—especially elders and first-time visitors—from accessing key services.
Major issues included:
Disorganized event info and community resources
Poor mobile usability and visual clutter
Inaccessible design with no alt text, contrast standards, or keyboard navigation
Major issues included:
Disorganized event info and community resources
Poor mobile usability and visual clutter
Inaccessible design with no alt text, contrast standards, or keyboard navigation
Without a trustworthy website, the community couldn’t fully engage with all that FACGC had to offer—limiting attendance, volunteer signups, and program visibility.
Without a trustworthy website, the community couldn’t fully engage with all that FACGC had to offer—limiting attendance, volunteer signups, and program visibility.
Original Rizal Center Event Homepage - Mobile
Original Rizal Center Event Homepage - Mobile
Original Rizal Center Event Calendar Design - Desktop
Original Rizal Center Event Calendar Design - Desktop
Objectives
Objectives
User-Centered Goals:
Make it easier for users to find event and rental info quickly
Build an inclusive experience accessible to elders, Tagalog speakers, and disabled users
Reflect FACGC’s cultural heritage while looking modern and mobile-ready
User-Centered Goals:
Make it easier for users to find event and rental info quickly
Build an inclusive experience accessible to elders, Tagalog speakers, and disabled users
Reflect FACGC’s cultural heritage while looking modern and mobile-ready
Overall Measurable Project Goals:
Ensure at least 80% of participating seniors can confidently navigate the redesigned website during usability testing.
Have over 50% of users report an increased sense of connection to the Rizal Center as a result of the new design.
Overall Measurable Project Goals:
Ensure at least 80% of participating seniors can confidently navigate the redesigned website during usability testing.
Have over 50% of users report an increased sense of connection to the Rizal Center as a result of the new design.
Organizational Goals:
Increase signups for events, volunteer opportunities, and weekly classes
Attract younger Filipino-Americans to participate in programming
Organizational Goals:
Increase signups for events, volunteer opportunities, and weekly classes
Attract younger Filipino-Americans to participate in programming
Research and Insights
Research and Insights
We began with stakeholder interviews and community conversations to understand needs across generations. Additionally, we conducted a virtual survey with 61 respondents, 12 user interviews, and 8 usability tests.
We began with stakeholder interviews and community conversations to understand needs across generations. Additionally, we conducted a virtual survey with 61 respondents, 12 user interviews, and 8 usability tests.
Key Insights
Key Insights
Desire for Digital Belonging
While 76.3% of participants still prefer in-person community engagement, a striking 69.5% expressed interest in an online forum, showing a strong appetite for digital community-building tools—even among users who otherwise lean toward physical interaction.
Website Purpose & Usage
Users primarily visit the website to find current programming, but they noted that the platform feels more like an archive than a living community space. Interviewees emphasized the need for more engaging, dynamic content to better reflect the vibrancy of the Rizal Center.
Community as Shared Identity
Across interviews, users defined community as a sense of shared belonging and values. They viewed digital spaces as essential for maintaining relationships—especially for those far from cultural hubs.
Desire for Digital Belonging
While 76.3% of participants still prefer in-person community engagement, a striking 69.5% expressed interest in an online forum, showing a strong appetite for digital community-building tools—even among users who otherwise lean toward physical interaction.
Website Purpose & Usage
Users primarily visit the website to find current programming, but they noted that the platform feels more like an archive than a living community space. Interviewees emphasized the need for more engaging, dynamic content to better reflect the vibrancy of the Rizal Center.
Community as Shared Identity
Across interviews, users defined community as a sense of shared belonging and values. They viewed digital spaces as essential for maintaining relationships—especially for those far from cultural hubs.
From our insights, we brainstormed what features would help fulfil our goals and sorted them into a feasibility matrix.
From our insights, we brainstormed what features would help fulfil our goals and sorted them into a feasibility matrix.
Personas & Scenarios
Through our research, we developed 3 key personas and a storyboard.
Personas & Scenarios
Through our research, we developed 3 key personas and a storyboard.
Maria Santos
A middle-generation working mom interested in introducing her kids to their Filipino culture
Helen Santiago
A older-generation woman who is enthusiastic about digital technology
Antonio Dela Cruz
A older-generation man who isn’t familiar with digital technology and prefers not to use it
Scenario/Storyboard
Follow Daniel, a Filipino-American moving to Chicago and is looking for a community.
Design Decisions
Design Decisions
UX Structure
I redesigned the sitemap to center around top user goals:
UX Structure
I redesigned the sitemap to center around top user goals:
Increase Event Attendance
Increase Event Attendance
We added additional tags to create a quick and organized way to identify which events interest members such as including “Free” and “All Ages”.
Additionally, we implemented another feature where members can RSVP for events so the Rizal Center can prepare for the expected attendees.
We added additional tags to create a quick and organized way to identify which events interest members such as including “Free” and “All Ages”.
Additionally, we implemented another feature where members can RSVP for events so the Rizal Center can prepare for the expected attendees.
Learn about FACGC’s Mission and History
Learn about FACGC’s Mission and History
The Rizal Center has various resources for its members but they are hidden throughout its website. Our design highlights existing programs, increase visibility, and encourage more community engagement.
We also highlight FACGC’s About page so users can more easily access important historical information.
The Rizal Center has various resources for its members but they are hidden throughout its website. Our design highlights existing programs, increase visibility, and encourage more community engagement.
We also highlight FACGC’s About page so users can more easily access important historical information.
Parse Through Content Heavy Pages
Parse Through Content Heavy Pages
By utilizing pop-ups, sticky side navigation bars, and breadcrumbs, users are able to not only easily backtrack but are able to quickly scan pages for the information their looking for.
By utilizing pop-ups, sticky side navigation bars, and breadcrumbs, users are able to not only easily backtrack but are able to quickly scan pages for the information their looking for.
Responsive and Accessible Design
Responsive and Accessible Design
The final prototype was built mobile-first, with:
Strong color contrast
Pop-ups to minimize unnecessary page redirection
Bread crumbs to easily backtrack
The final prototype was built mobile-first, with:
Strong color contrast
Pop-ups to minimize unnecessary page redirection
Bread crumbs to easily backtrack
Results
Results
After finalizing our prototype, we completed 40 post-project evaluation tests, here’s what we found:
37% more users are likely to visit the website again
79% faster time on average (sec) to complete tasks
The System Usability Scale (SUS) score increased from 77 to 89 in the redesigned website, indicating that the perceived ease-of-use has been elevated to the 96th percentile of websites, making it more likely that community members will recommend it to others
40% more users reported feeling more familiar with the Rizal Center and what it offers
After finalizing our prototype, we completed 40 post-project evaluation tests, here’s what we found:
37% more users are likely to visit the website again
79% faster time on average (sec) to complete tasks
The System Usability Scale (SUS) score increased from 77 to 89 in the redesigned website, indicating that the perceived ease-of-use has been elevated to the 96th percentile of websites, making it more likely that community members will recommend it to others
40% more users reported feeling more familiar with the Rizal Center and what it offers
Takeaways
Takeaways
What I Learned:
When designing for a multigenerational community, accessibility is not optional—it’s foundational
Aligning with organizational capacity (e.g., CMS usability for non-technical staff) is just as important as user-facing design
A community-centered website succeeds when it’s just as welcoming online as in person
What I Learned:
When designing for a multigenerational community, accessibility is not optional—it’s foundational
Aligning with organizational capacity (e.g., CMS usability for non-technical staff) is just as important as user-facing design
A community-centered website succeeds when it’s just as welcoming online as in person
What I’d Do Differently:
Spend more time upfront defining an onboarding plan for maintaining the site post-launch
Conduct earlier co-design sessions with non-English-speaking elders
What I’d Do Differently:
Spend more time upfront defining an onboarding plan for maintaining the site post-launch
Conduct earlier co-design sessions with non-English-speaking elders
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Designing for FACGC wasn’t just about making a website—it was about preserving culture in a digital age. As someone who is apart of another diaspora community, helping this organization amplify its mission through design was one of the most meaningful and personal projects I’ve been apart of.
Designing for FACGC wasn’t just about making a website—it was about preserving culture in a digital age. As someone who is apart of another diaspora community, helping this organization amplify its mission through design was one of the most meaningful and personal projects I’ve been apart of.
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© 2025 Elissa Li • Designed with care
Thanks for checking out my portfolio!
Lets chat!
© 2025 Elissa Li • Designed with care
Thanks for checking out my portfolio!
Lets chat!
© 2025 Elissa Li • Designed with care