A Fast Track to Success
Rapid Redesign: <6 Months with a new Design System
SOS Kinderdörfer Weltweit, the biggest stakeholder of the SOS Children’s Villages International family, decided to align its digital presence with the organization’s new branding. Due to their sheer size, they have a set of their own software portfolio so we had to extend the existing cluster to cater for a lot more.
WHAT: UX/UI Design · Front-end Architecture · Data Unification · Accessibility & GDPR Compliance
INDUSTRY: Non-profit, Humanitariam Aid
WHEN: 02/2019 – 11/2019
WHO: SOS Kinderdörfer weltweit + Cluster ( 40 countries )
a decision postponed for many years
The Before
Facing the challenge of an outdated digital platform, SOS Kinderdörfer Weltweit struggled with inefficiencies in content management and user interaction. The existing design lacked cohesion, hindering the organization’s ability to effectively communicate its mission and engage with users.
Additional new objectives:
- Crowdfunding Platform
- Gift Cards Shop
- Data synchronisation and pilot for global CRM unification
- Sponsorship App ( *NDA Protected )Â
- WGAC Accessibility and GDPR/CCPA Compliance
- Global SEO Strategy
- Various Speed Improvements
FEBRUARY 1, 2019Â –Â OCTOBER 31, 2019
The Transformation
Over a period of <6 months, I collaborated and managed closely with the SOS Kinderdörfer Weltweit team, a local Design Agency (Studio Good – Berlin) and a team of 3 Full-stack Developers team to execute the initiative.
Leveraging the power of token-based design we completed the task on time enabling streamlined workflows, optimized user experiences, and revitalized the organization’s digital presence.
We used an immersed development model since we had to synchronize multiple teams and specific information from – fundraising/marketing, communication, brand, internal & external communication in addition to the development team.
Challenges
1. Size
Managing a large-scale enterprise system posed challenges in terms of organization and implementation, requiring meticulous planning and execution.
2. Time
With a tight timeline before the crucial fundraising season, there was immense pressure to deliver the redesign efficiently without compromising quality.
3. Accessibility
Ensuring the new design was accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, while maintaining optimal usability presented a significant challenge.
3. Financial RIsk
SOS Kinderdörfer Weltweit is by far the biggest fundraising entity within the federation. Fundraising campaigns such as Black Friday, Giving Tuesday over to Christmas gives nonprofits roughly half of their yearly goals. Simple calculation gives us €40M at stake for the project.
Our Approach
1. Template Extension & Localization
We customized and extended the existing SOS digital platform by tailoring components for local campaigns, donation flows, content, and integrations—without fragmenting the global design system.
2. Data & CRM Integration
We consolidated previously siloed data sources, creating a streamlined connection between the CMS and SOS-Kinderdörfer’s national CRM platform. This allowed for real-time donor tracking, campaign performance monitoring, and personalized content delivery.
3. Compliance Readiness
The website was audited and updated to align with GDPR requirements. We also conducted an accessibility audit and resolved critical WCAG 2.1 Level AA issues, ensuring inclusive user experiences.
4. Performance Optimization
Through front-end optimization techniques (image compression, lazy loading, modular code splitting), we improved PageSpeed Insights scores by up to 40%, resulting in faster loading times and better SEO rankings.
4. Pilot global SEO Strategy
Through front-end optimization techniques (image compression, lazy loading, modular code splitting), we improved PageSpeed Insights scores by up to 40%, resulting in faster loading times and better SEO rankings.
Crowdfunding / p2p fundraising
Start your own fundraising campaign for children in need.
- Marketing tools
- Materials to download
- Personalized information sheet
- Streaming option
- Birthday
- Marathon
- Emergency
- Weddings
- Sporadic Campaign
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and much more to help children in need.
Cards, Calendars, Invitations
Design cards personally and individually.
Choose a template, paint a beautiful picture, create a funny photo or write a few personal words.
*In some countries post printing is available – Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Denmark, etc..
- Postcards
- Greeting cards
- Wedding cards
- Birthday cards
and much more to help children in need.
CRM Efficiency and Knowledge Sharing
Unified donor data exchange structure
I led a key initiative in collaboration with Joint Systems and their FrNow application, built on Microsoft Dynamics. Our goal was to streamline operations across multiple CRM systems and facilitate better knowledge sharing within the organization.
Through a series of cross-functional workshops and technical deep dives, we successfully developed a common data structure that aligned with both organizational requirements and the technical specifications of FrNow. This standardized framework significantly improved our efficiency when setting up and maintaining CRM systems across different national associations.
Moreover, the unified structure fostered greater interoperability between platforms, enabling more consistent reporting, easier integration of donor and beneficiary data, and smoother collaboration between departments.
- MS Dynamics CRM
- Salesforce
- Emarsys
- Kentico Marketing Suite
Features and Enhancements:
The After
The results of the transformation were profound. SOS Kinderdörfer Weltweit’s digital platform emerged with a cohesive, modern design that resonated with users and effectively communicated the organization’s mission.
Content management became more intuitive, empowering staff to deliver timely, impactful messages to their global audience.
- 65 components
- 7 page types
- 20+ page Templates
- 100+ compositions
Let’s create something great together.
