Creating a website that informs, not overwhelms
For any organization—regardless of its size or function—a website is essential. It's more than just a digital business card; it’s a portal that connects users to everything they need to know. From basic information and services to community events and contact details, a website can make or break how people interact with a brand, a business, or in this case, a town. Despite this, many municipal websites are outdated, cluttered, and difficult to navigate—ultimately failing the very residents they aim to serve.
Municipal websites, in particular, serve as critical resources for local communities. They provide access to government services, permit applications, community updates, and vital information on public safety and education. However, when poorly designed, these sites become barriers rather than bridges—leaving users frustrated, confused, and sometimes unable to complete basic tasks.
Take Newtown, Connecticut's website, for example. At first glance, there are several issues related to design, accessibility, and overall usability. But the most glaring problem, in my opinion, is the site’s organization.
A site map showing the current architecture of Newtown, CT’s website.
The site map I created (shown above) illustrates the current structure of Newtown’s website. Honestly, it’s overwhelming. When faced with this much information—spread across multiple, sometimes redundant navigation menus—how is anyone supposed to find what they’re looking for?
Not only is there a massive amount of content, but there’s also repetition across different areas of the navigation. Many pages bury essential details deep within subpages, making them difficult to locate. While some degree of content layering is expected—especially for a town site with a lot of information—it’s still crucial to prioritize usability and streamline how everything is presented.
The first major fix needed here is restructuring the website’s navigation. My goal is to consolidate the multiple navigation systems currently in place into a single, intuitive structure. From there, I aim to surface the most critical information—like services for residents and businesses—right up front. Less frequently accessed content can then be organized within subpages, available but not overwhelming.
For example, the current top-level pages do not prioritize residents. By combining and reorganizing sections, we can create a dedicated “Residents” tab that makes it easy for people to find town-specific resources. The same goes for local businesses—currently, the “Business” tab only leads to a landing page with scattered links. These can be moved into a more useful submenu that directly serves business owners.
Other key areas like public safety and education should also be more prominent. Through thoughtful condensing and restructuring, these sections can become significantly more accessible and user-friendly.
Finally, adding an "About" page helps balance the site by including contextual information about the town without placing it front and center, where it clutters more urgent content.
A proposed redesign for Newtown, CT’s website architecture.
Above is my proposed site map for the redesigned Newtown website. It places the needs of residents and businesses first, reduces clutter, and presents a cleaner, more efficient navigation system. The result? A website that’s not just functional—but truly helpful.
A full breakdown of the current and proposed site plans is available through the button below.
Hi! My name is Peyton McKenzie.
I am a professional graphic designer, photographer and content creator.
I encourage you to explore my portfolio to get a better idea of the work I create. If you are interested in working with me or have inquiries of any kind, don’t hesitate to reach out over email.
