HN
Robert Rivers Website Design
Digital Storytelling for Florida’s Contemporary Artist of the Year
Summary
I redesigned acclaimed artist Robert Rivers’ outdated website into a narrative-driven digital archive. The new platform honored his legacy while supporting galleries, curators, and collectors.
🤠 Role: UX/UI Designer
⏰ Timeline: 2 Weeks
📌 Client: Robert Rivers, Contemporary Artist & Professor
🧰 Tools: Figma · Photoshop · Competitive Audit
🪴 Team: Sole UX Designer
🌏 Deliverables: Branding Concepts · Animated Nameplate · Mobile & Desktop Wireframes · Visual Composites
Problem
- Old site was non-responsive, dark, and image-cramped
- Failed to represent decades of nationally recognized work
- No infrastructure for archiving or curatorial access
Solution
- Built narrative-driven architecture with thematic collections & timelines
- Integrated expressive typography and full-bleed visuals
- Designed mobile-first gallery optimized for curators and collectors
Wireframes for Mobile Layout
“When I was asked to redesign the site for my old professor, I knew the work had to honor both his legacy and the power of contemporary storytelling.”
Engagement
Site traffic and engagement increased within the first month
Artist Feature
A major arts publication embedded the new site in their artist feature
Conversion
Robert received new gallery inquiries and collector outreach via the updated contact form
Representaion
He told me: “It finally looks like me.”
Discovery Process
- Comparative analysis of contemporary artist websites to identify patterns and missed opportunities
- Studied Rivers’ artistic themes—biblical imagery, myth, war, and history—for tone and layout inspiration
- Collected press clippings, past exhibition photos, and hundreds of his artworks from his studio
- Shot original photos of his studio to add human texture to the site
Testing + a Failed Concept
My first concept leaned heavily into minimalism and whitespace. While elegant, it flattened the emotional weight of his work.
Testing feedback:
- “This feels too polished for his subject matter.”
- “It doesn’t feel like him—too much design, not enough grit.”
Scrapped and rebuilt with a focus on expressive typography, full-bleed visuals, and a tone that matched his storytelling.
Reflection & Impact
Here’s what people are saying
“This was more than a redesign — it was an act of care for an artist whose work shaped me. I designed a site that could live as long as his legacy.”
Huong Nguyen, Former Student
HN
Robert Rivers Website Design
Digital Storytelling for Florida’s Contemporary Artist of the Year
Summary
I redesigned acclaimed artist Robert Rivers’ outdated website into a narrative-driven digital archive. The new platform honored his legacy while supporting galleries, curators, and collectors.
🤠 Role: UX/UI Designer
⏰ Timeline: 2 Weeks
📌 Client: Robert Rivers, Contemporary Artist & Professor
🧰 Tools: Figma · Photoshop · Competitive Audit
🪴 Team: Sole UX Designer
🌏 Deliverables: Branding Concepts · Animated Nameplate · Mobile & Desktop Wireframes · Visual Composites
Problem
- Old site was non-responsive, dark, and image-cramped
- Failed to represent decades of nationally recognized work
- No infrastructure for archiving or curatorial access
Solution
- Built narrative-driven architecture with thematic collections & timelines
- Integrated expressive typography and full-bleed visuals
- Designed mobile-first gallery optimized for curators and collectors
Wireframes for Mobile Layout
“When I was asked to redesign the site for my old professor, I knew the work had to honor both his legacy and the power of contemporary storytelling.”
Engagement
Site traffic and engagement increased within the first month
Artist Feature
A major arts publication embedded the new site in their artist feature
Conversion
Robert received new gallery inquiries and collector outreach via the updated contact form
Representaion
He told me: “It finally looks like me.”
Discovery Process
- Comparative analysis of contemporary artist websites to identify patterns and missed opportunities
- Studied Rivers’ artistic themes—biblical imagery, myth, war, and history—for tone and layout inspiration
- Collected press clippings, past exhibition photos, and hundreds of his artworks from his studio
- Shot original photos of his studio to add human texture to the site
Testing + a Failed Concept
My first concept leaned heavily into minimalism and whitespace. While elegant, it flattened the emotional weight of his work.
Testing feedback:
- “This feels too polished for his subject matter.”
- “It doesn’t feel like him—too much design, not enough grit.”
Scrapped and rebuilt with a focus on expressive typography, full-bleed visuals, and a tone that matched his storytelling.
Reflection & Impact
Here’s what people are saying
“This was more than a redesign — it was an act of care for an artist whose work shaped me. I designed a site that could live as long as his legacy.”
Huong Nguyen, Former Student
HN
Robert Rivers Website Design
Digital Storytelling for Florida’s Contemporary Artist of the Year
Summary
I redesigned acclaimed artist Robert Rivers’ outdated website into a narrative-driven digital archive. The new platform honored his legacy while supporting galleries, curators, and collectors.
🤠 Role: UX/UI Designer
⏰ Timeline: 2 Weeks
📌 Client: Robert Rivers, Contemporary Artist & Professor
🧰 Tools: Figma · Photoshop · Competitive Audit
🪴 Team: Sole UX Designer
🌏 Deliverables: Branding Concepts · Animated Nameplate · Mobile & Desktop Wireframes · Visual Composites
Problem
- Old site was non-responsive, dark, and image-cramped
- Failed to represent decades of nationally recognized work
- No infrastructure for archiving or curatorial access
Solution
- Built narrative-driven architecture with thematic collections & timelines
- Integrated expressive typography and full-bleed visuals
- Designed mobile-first gallery optimized for curators and collectors
Wireframes for Mobile Layout
“When I was asked to redesign the site for my old professor, I knew the work had to honor both his legacy and the power of contemporary storytelling.”
Engagement
Site traffic and engagement increased within the first month
Artist Feature
A major arts publication embedded the new site in their artist feature
Conversion
Robert received new gallery inquiries and collector outreach via the updated contact form
Representaion
He told me: “It finally looks like me.”
Discovery Process
- Comparative analysis of contemporary artist websites to identify patterns and missed opportunities
- Studied Rivers’ artistic themes—biblical imagery, myth, war, and history—for tone and layout inspiration
- Collected press clippings, past exhibition photos, and hundreds of his artworks from his studio
- Shot original photos of his studio to add human texture to the site
Testing + a Failed Concept
My first concept leaned heavily into minimalism and whitespace. While elegant, it flattened the emotional weight of his work.
Testing feedback:
- “This feels too polished for his subject matter.”
- “It doesn’t feel like him—too much design, not enough grit.”
Scrapped and rebuilt with a focus on expressive typography, full-bleed visuals, and a tone that matched his storytelling.
Reflection & Impact
Here’s what people are saying
“This was more than a redesign — it was an act of care for an artist whose work shaped me. I designed a site that could live as long as his legacy.”
Huong Nguyen, Former Student