Stamford Pride History Project header with fountain pen and pencil connected by colorful sparkles, symbolizing LGBTQIA+ storytelling and creative expression

Role: Web Designer, UX Strategist, Content Organizer, Video Producer, Animator, Associate Creative Director, Associate Project Manager
Tools: WordPress, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Workspace
Collaborators: Stamford Pride leadership, Ferguson Library staff, freelance video editor, graphic designer, audio engineer, LGBTQIA+ musician

Stamford Pride History Project logo featuring a fountain pen, colorful sparkles, and a pencil, symbolizing storytelling and LGBTQIA+ community history in Stamford, Connecticut

Overview

Stamford Pride's LGBTQIA+ History Project was a month-long campaign during October’s LGBTQIA+ History Month. The project spotlighted influential community members from Stamford, CT, through digital and physical channels—including a new section of the Stamford Pride website, daily social media content, and an in-person exhibit and event at the Ferguson Library. I volunteered to build the online experience and later stepped in to help create the final celebration video and assisted in overall campaign management.

Goals

  • Design and develop a dedicated section on the existing StamfordPride.com site to house stories, video interviews, and article archives.

  • Encourage ongoing community contributions by guiding users to submit their own stories.

  • Create a cohesive visual system that bridged social media promotion, the website, and the Ferguson Library exhibit.

  • Provide a functional mobile experience, allowing users to navigate stories easily.

  • Support final celebration efforts, including a multimedia presentation that could be shown at the event.

Challenges & Design Solutions

  • Challenge: Limited WordPress prior experience

    I took the opportunity to learn WordPress on the fly—balancing the need to adapt quickly while still honoring UX principles of usability, accessibility, and performance.

  • Challenge: Navigating a wide range of content types

    With assets ranging from PDFs to audio and video interviews, I developed a consistent framework to organize and display each profile. This ensured a cohesive user experience while honoring the richness of each story.

  • Challenge: Maintain existing brand identity

    Working with the campaign's vector logo and visual direction, I expanded the branding to ensure a consistent experience, reinforcing the identity of the campaign wherever users engaged.

  • Challenge: Create a seamless experience for mobile users

    I designed a custom sticky “More Stories” flyout menu for mobile, allowing users to stay immersed in one profile while easily accessing others. This kept the experience navigable and intuitive without losing the story focus.

Mobile view of Stamford Pride History Project webpage featuring a sticky 'More Stories' navigation button and a colorful logo with a pen, sparkles, and pencil

  • Challenge: Gap in video production close to event date

    With no video in progress and the event approaching, I led the creation of a highlight video. This included:

    • Shaped equitable narrative arc

    • Securing a voiceover with the project lead

    • Coordinating with a freelance editor and LGBTQIA+ musician

    • Gathering and clearing usage rights

2024 Stamford Pride LGBTQIA+ History Project highlight reel.

Impact

  • Website section launched on time, fully integrated with existing Stamford Pride branding

  • Enabled story submissions from the community through a guided call to action

  • Helped drive traffic from social platforms to the web experience

  • The final celebration was a hit, with 70+ community members attending

  • The video presentation was completed on time, highlighting the year’s work and encouraging future involvement

  • The campaign raised funds to support Stamford Pride’s ongoing mission

Reflection

This project was a true exercise in flexibility, collaboration, and using design to create lasting community connections. I embraced new tools, found creative ways to display complex media, and helped Stamford Pride build a digital archive that will serve future generations.

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