Mana Studio is a company that supports Made in France brands in their social media communication. Its mission is to help businesses increase visibility, attract new audiences, and build long-term engagement through tailored strategies adapted to their specific needs.
The services offered include Instagram audits, customized social media strategies, training, and community management. Each collaboration is based on practical, concrete solutions, aligned with the realities and constraints of each business.
The objective of this project was to design a website that would reinforce Mana Studio’s online presence and showcasing its services. Until then, the company was only active on social media and lacked a dedicated platform to present its offer, build brand awareness, and establish its brand identity. The goal was to create a clear, intuitive, and visually appealing website designed to attract new clients while reinforcing Mana Studio’s expertise and credibility.
My Role
UX/UI Designer, Web Designer, Digital Project Manager
Tools Used
Figma, FigJam, Illustrator, Canva, Excel, WordPress
Timeline
2023 – 2024
Duration
10 weeks
My Role
UX/UI Designer, Web Designer, Digital Project Manager
Tools Used
Figma, FigJam, Illustrator, Canva, Excel, WordPress
Timeline
2023 – 2024
Duration
10 weeks
Challenges & Solution
The main challenge of this project was enabling Mana Studio to stand out and expand its target audience. Initially focused on artisanal creators, the company aimed to reach a broader Made in France audience while strengthening its credibility. Without a website, Mana Studio relied solely on social media, which limited both its visibility and the level of trust potential new clients could place in the brand.
Designing a clear and professional website became essential to assert the brand’s identity, showcase its expertise, and support its growth by attracting a wider audience.
Project Process
1. Research & Ideation
To initiate the project, I began by analyzing Mana Studio’s identity, audience, and specific needs. Then designed and distributed a questionnaire aimed at Made in France business owners to better understand their main pain points, business goals, communication channels, and the vocabulary they commonly use—insights that would later inform both design decisions and UX writing.
The analysis of the responses helped define key features and guided the overall UX/UI strategy.
User persona to better understand our target audience
Offer definition based on client needs
A survey conducted among our target audience (16 Made in France businesses) revealed very specific needs. The respondents expressed a desire to improve visibility, strengthen brand image, better address their audiences, and stand out in a highly competitive market. Several also highlighted difficulties in increasing engagement rates and a lack of knowledge regarding best practices or the use of certain digital tools.
These insights fed into the entire UX/UI strategy, shaping content architecture, messaging, UX writing, and the overall positioning of the website to clearly address user expectations.
The research phase then evolved into a structured ideation process. Through competitive analysis, best practice research, and UX trend exploration, I identified effective patterns in usability and interaction design. This phase also involved brainstorming sessions to explore creative concepts and prioritize features, with the objective of creating a consistent, intuitive experience aligned with Mana Studio’s brand identity.
2. Wireframes & UI Design
Based on the collected insights, I started with hand-drawn sketches to explore page layouts and user flows. These concepts were then turned into wireframes in Figma, covering all website pages and including responsive versions for mobile, tablet, and desktop. I worked iteratively to ensure that the structure and navigation met both business and user needs.
Wireframes and UI mockups with layout variations, designed in Figma
3. Visual Identity
I contributed to discussions around the visual identity by sharing ideas and feedback on colors, typography, and visual elements, in collaboration with Mana Studio and an external graphic designer. I also integrated all textual and visual content across the pages, ensuring visual consistency and intuitive navigation.
Color palette used for the website
Design system components
UI mockup showcasing colors, typography, and design system components
4. WordPress Development & Integration
I set up WordPress locally and selected a modular theme suited to the project. I created the pages, header, and footer, organized the site architecture and redirects, and integrated all required features. Particular attention was given to responsiveness and ease of use across devices.
5. Testing & Bug Fixing
Before launch, I thoroughly checked page consistency, links, redirects, and functionality. Necessary adjustments were made, and the final version was validated with Mana Studio to ensure overall quality.
6. Launch & Deployment
Finally, I migrated the website from the local environment to the live server and ensured that all content was properly integrated and fully functional across all pages.
“I hired Ahlam as a work-study student. Her professionalism, skills, and adaptability made it possible to create a tailor-made website in less than three months, fully meeting my expectations. Her ability to listen and her kindness also made our collaboration extremely pleasant.”