Meridian Water - INV
099

THE POWER OF IDEAS...

Meridian Water

Redefining a digital platform for the Meridian Water regeneration project

CLIENT

  • Enfield Council

SERVICES

  • Community Engagement
  • Strategy
  • UX Design
  • Visual Design
  • Web Development

INDUSTRY

  • Public Sector
  • Urban Regeneration

DATE

  • August 2020

Meridian Water is a 25-year regeneration project which will create affordable homes, helping to ease the London housing crisis, providing homes and new jobs for the local people of Enfield. Meridian Water is a 25-year regeneration project which will create affordable homes, helping to ease the London housing crisis, providing homes and new jobs for the local people of Enfield.

The Problem

The Meridian Water project needed to significantly boost local community engagement and raise awareness about its transformative impact. The challenge was to effectively communicate the project's potential to both residents and potential investors, highlighting its benefits for the Edmonton area and the broader commercial opportunities it offered. Additionally, there was a need to demonstrate the project's commitment to youth initiatives and its long-term impact on future generations.

The Solution

We developed a clear strategy to develop a digital platform that highlighted Meridian Water’s benefits, focusing on its impact on Edmonton, its business potential, and youth initiatives. Our approach effectively engaged the community and attracted investors, prior to design and development ensuring the project's success.

Discovering Patterns

We engaged with local residents through a series of interviews to gather diverse perspectives on their needs and concerns. By speaking with people across various ages, ethnicities, genders, and income levels, we aimed to capture a broad spectrum of insights.

The locals were enthusiastic about the project but expressed concerns about feeling excluded. The youth were particularly interested in opportunities available to them and were concerned about issues like youth crime, fly-tipping, and staying updated on the project’s progress. They also wanted to know more about new developments in the area, seeking spaces where they could enjoy leisure time with family and friends.

The Design

Drawing from our research, we designed and developed a website that genuinely aligns with community needs, transforming insights into a compelling and impactful digital experience.

Design System

We crafted a comprehensive design system for the Meridian Water project, including fonts, color combinations, buttons, and icons. Our approach utilized pre-designed blocks—such as Banners, Footers, and Contact sections—to streamline website creation. This allowed for effortless integration of buttons, icons, photos, and menu options, ensuring a cohesive and efficient web design process.

Driving Community & Stakeholder Engagement Through Design

Our research highlighted the need for a central hub to keep everyone—from the community to potential investors—informed and engaged. By integrating focused design features, we created a platform that ensures all visitors to the digital platform can stay updated on project progress and developments within the area.

Understanding and keeping up with the project

To enhance engagement, we designed key pages such as the newsletter, vision and objectives, and news pages. We meticulously crafted a site map to prioritize these pages, ensuring everyone can easily track the project's progress. This structure ensures seamless access to relevant updates for both the community and stakeholders, providing regular updates, clear project goals, and the latest news about developments in the area.

Project Profile

To streamline monitoring and keep stakeholders informed, we introduced project profiles. These profiles house all developments within the Meridian Water project, from new film studios to various estates.

We also created project profile cards throughout the site that link to these detailed profiles, keeping users engaged and providing easy access to specific project updates. This feature ensures comprehensive visibility into the progress and status of each development.

Interactive Map

We designed and developed an interactive map to offer an engaging, visual overview of the Meridian Water project. This dynamic tool also features project profile cards that link directly to detailed project pages, allowing users to easily explore and track developments. The map enhances user experience by providing a seamless way to stay informed and connected with the project's progress.

Results

60%
Increase in return site visitors

3
Awards won by the project

For the Meridian Water project, we were tasked with delivering a high-performing digital solution on a tight deadline while meeting the needs of both the board of directors and the community. Despite these pressures, our research-driven approach ensured the website aligned with community needs, leading to a 40% increase in returning site visitors, demonstrating strong user engagement.

The project's success was further recognised when it received the award for Best Local Authority and was shortlisted for Innovation in Housing. These accolades underscored the impact of our approach and our ability to deliver innovative, results-driven solutions under tight deadlines.