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Case Study- JAPR

Project Overview

The Journal for African Policy Reviews (JAPR) is a digital platform dedicated to publishing policy research and academic literature across Africa. I was tasked with redesigning the existing website, which suffered from poor usability, visual clutter, and a confusing submission process. My goal was to transform the platform into a clean, intuitive, and trustworthy space for scholars to submit, browse, and engage with research content.

As the lead UI/UX designer, I reimagined the entire user experience—streamlining workflows, improving accessibility, and introducing a design system that reflects the professionalism and credibility of the journal.

Problem Statement

The original JAPR website presented several challenges:

  • Disorganized layout and inconsistent visual hierarchy.

  • Complex submission forms with poor guidance and validation.

  • Lack of mobile responsiveness and accessibility features

  • A visual style that didn’t reflect the journal’s academic credibility.

These issues created friction for users—especially first-time contributors—and undermined the platform’s potential as a trusted hub for African policy research.

Ideation and Process

To guide the redesign, I conducted a comparative analysis of academic platforms such as JSTOR, SSRN, and African Journals Online. I also reviewed:

  • User feedback from scholars and contributors.

  • Common pain points in academic publishing workflows.

  • Accessibility standards for research platforms.

  • Visual trends in scholarly design (minimalism, typographic clarity, structured layouts).

Key insights:

  • Users prioritize clarity and structure over visual complexity.

  • Submission forms must be intuitive and error-tolerant.

  • Readability and trust indicators (e.g., citations, author bios) enhance credibility.

  • Mobile responsiveness is essential for accessibility.

Ideation and Process

I began with user journey mapping to understand how contributors and readers interact with the platform. From there:

  • Created wireframes for key flows: submission, browsing, reading, and account management

  • Developed a modular layout system to accommodate various content types (articles, reviews, references)

  • Iterated on design components based on usability heuristics and academic conventions.

I also explored typographic pairings and color palettes that would evoke professionalism while remaining visually approachable.

Design Execution and final Outcome.

Using Figma, I designed a clean, responsive interface with:

  • A structured homepage featuring featured articles and categories.

  • Simplified submission forms with clear guidance and validation.

  • Readable article layouts with citation support and author metadata.

  • A neutral color palette and serif/sans-serif typography for academic tone.

The final design was implemented in collaboration with developers and stakeholders, ensuring alignment with publishing standards and backend functionality.