Redesign of NASA’s Homepage: A Personal UX/UI Project for Job Interview
For a job interview a few years ago, I was tasked with redesigning NASA's website. With limited time—just one night to complete the project—I focused on addressing several key issues I identified with the current site. While the website offers a wealth of information, I found the homepage to be cluttered and overwhelming, with an unnecessarily large menu that distracted from the core content. My goal was to simplify the design, streamline the user interface, and create a more engaging experience for visitors. Since then, I have been thinking of redoing it again now with more experience... But keep scrolling for more details on my process.

The image below is the old website. NASA has since updated their website and I was pleasantly surprised to see that they went with a design that is very similar to mine.

Identifying Key Areas for Improvement:
Upon reviewing the current NASA homepage, I identified several key sections that were either underutilized or not immediately visible to users. After conducting my own research (and without direct user data), I hypothesized that the most frequently accessed sections were the "News/Updates," the "Photo of the Day," and the live "NASA TV" broadcasts from the ISS. These became the focal points of my redesign.
Design Concept:
To bring a fresh look to the site, I dove into NASA’s historical branding for inspiration. I discovered the "NASA 1976 Graphics Standards Manual" and decided to incorporate the iconic 1970s logo and typeface pairing into the design to evoke a sense of nostalgia while maintaining a modern aesthetic.
With the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing approaching, I chose a lunar-themed background and color palette to align with the occasion. The design is flexible, allowing for future updates with different imagery or colors as needed. All visuals were sourced directly from NASA’s official media, ensuring authenticity and consistency with the brand.
Key Design Changes:
Simplified Navigation: I moved the overly large homepage menu to a more compact slide-out panel, freeing up space for the main content.
Focused Content: By prioritizing the non-data driven "most popular" sections of the site—such as "News," "Photo of the Day," and "NASA TV"—I created a more intuitive and user-centric homepage experience.
Branding Refresh: The use of the vintage NASA logo and typeface adds a unique, historical touch that reflects the organization's legacy while modernizing its digital presence.
This project not only allowed me to explore the application of historical design elements in a modern context, but also challenged me to work efficiently under tight deadlines. The experience helped me further develop my skills in UX/UI design, web accessibility, and adapting design concepts quickly for real-world challenges.