Vodafone Responsive Content
Content management design for multi-lingual, global markets.
Opportunity
Vodafone is the world’s second largest mobile telecommunications company, operating in over 20 countries with over 400 million customers worldwide. Vodafone made the first ever mobile phone call on 1 January 1985.
The style and functionality of Vodafone websites across different countries was not standardized at a global level. The responsive functionality (for viewing on different screen sizes) was limited. The visual styling across these websites also varied significantly.
A basic design had been created for Vodafone website content globally (for over 400 million potential users), however it was it not mature enough to be implemented local markets in a standardized manner. Significant detailed design improvement and user insight was needed before being implemented successfully in a real market.
The project was planning to implement the content modules into an Oracle WebCenter Sites (WCS) product (previously known a Fatwire) which could then be rolled out into production globally. This architecture presented both technical and design limitations.
The project had a great opportunity of designing responsive content modules that could be implemented globally with minimal localization.
Process
Stephen worked for Vodafone Group alongside the lead market, Vodafone Germany. He was located in both the UK and Germany, working as a UX designer and later also a UX lead. He worked with senior management to provide updates on design process and mitigate risks.
Stephen worked alongside German and Global design teams to design the next iteration of content modules. This included:
- Developing user requirements alongside German editorial team.
- Researching best practice inside and outside industry.
- Collaborating with German design team and technical team to design content models and content templates
- Researching best practice for responsive content modelling.
- Collaborating with Vodafone Global (located in the UK) and German agile teams in a sprint environment to redesign key responsive modules.
- Designing wireframes iteratively using Axure.
- Working with German and Global visual design teams to create visuals of the responsive content modules.
- Working with HTML developer to implement responsive behaviour into code.
- Collaboration across to other vertical projects (e.g. eShop, Help) to help improve design consistency.
- Leading UX design and implementation in an agile development environment with development team located in Germany and India.
- Implementing online style library featuring wireframes and visuals.
- Working with accessibility testing team to aim for AA compliant designs.
- Engaging with editorial teams to gain expert user feedback on deliverables to improve content module presentation and ease of implementation.
Above: Team brainstorming
Above: Team brainstorming
Above: Team sprint planning
Above: Team Planning
Above: Team sprint planning
Above: Team sprint planning
Above: Content models and templates sample
Above: Module overview sample
Above: Wireframe sample
Above: Taxonomy sample
Above: Wireframe sample
Above: Visual usage sample
Above: Wireframe sample
Above: Wireframe and usage sample
Above: Wireframe sample
Above: Wireframe sample
Above: Wireframe and usage sample
Above: Module usage sample
Benefit
Stephen was key in design and development Vodafone’s next generation omni-channel customer experience web & mobile journeys.
Great strides were made to improve standardisation globally and designing responsive content modules for over 400 million potential users. Localisation of design was possible and redesigned where local German market needed it and where Group approved it.
Improvements on module designs were made so that the Vodafone Global style guide and the HTML/CSS code base could be updated. This could then be rolled out to Vodafone companies over 20 countries with over 400 million customers.
Stephen implemented an online style library featuring wireframes of design patterns, modules and visuals so that designers, technical developers and business owners could all work from the same page. Some of the modules were implemented and went live on www.Vodafone.de as part of this project.
About Vodafone
Vodafone is currently one of the world's leading mobile communications providers, operating in 26 countries and in partnership with networks in over 55 more. Across the world, they have almost 444 million customers and around 19.5 million in the UK. Vodafone made the first ever mobile phone call on 1 January 1985.
Colleagues on the project
Hamish Buchanan
Solutions Architect - Hewlett Packard
Stephen is brilliant to work with, always puts in the hours and always has time for colleagues. I spent some months working with him on a project to build a replacement commerce site for Vodafone. He has a great understanding of UI design and in depth knowledge of the latest best practices. He’s skilled at understanding requirements and designing solutions for them.
Ian Pearce
Tech Lead - Hewlett Packard
I worked with Stephen for six months on a project based in Germany. We had a strong team ethic on that project and Stephen contributed to that both professionally and as someone you could chat with at the end of a long day. His cheery disposition and thorough approach to delivery meant that his was a face you were always glad to see. I’d happily work with Stephen again.
Rajesh Pancholi
UI Design Contractor
Stephen was my main contact at Vodafone. His structured approach and direction helped me immerse myself into the world of Vodafone. He operated within a sizeable team of internal and external agency resources with multiple skill sets and a collection of stakeholders to ensure their satisfaction. He’s very dependable and always seemed to have time to discuss any issues that may have arisen, he excels in responsive customer experience design and delivery. I would certainly recommend Stephen to any future employee and look forward to working with him again.
Katherine Moonan
Accessibility Lead
Stephen is fantastic to work with. He understands accessibility requirements and will work to ensure designs are as accessible as possible.
Dirk Beushausen
Visual Designer
Stephen Isaac is an excellent UX-Expert with an extensive knowledge about designing modules for the web.