Port Of Africatown

UI/UX Designer • Project Lead

ROLE

UI/UX Designer - Project Lead

TEAM

Jordan Perryman (Solo)

Pictured above: a quick glance of the home page and dreamlab on Port Of Africatown's new website.

01. OVERVIEW

The Port of Africatown is a cultural and economic development initiative rooted in the historic Africatown community of Mobile, Alabama. It seeks to honor the area’s legacy as a symbol of resilience and freedom while building pathways for sustainable growth, entrepreneurship, and global connection. Through innovation, culture, and collaboration, the Port of Africatown envisions transforming this historic site into a vibrant hub for Black excellence and international economic exchange.

02. PROBLEM

Before the revamp, the Port of Africatown website faced several challenges that limited its impact and effectiveness. The design was outdated and failed to reflect Africatown’s rich cultural heritage or its modern vision for growth. Navigation was limited, with few interactive features or clear calls to action to engage visitors, partners, or investors. Additionally, the messaging lacked cohesion, making it difficult for users to fully grasp the community’s story, mission, and opportunities. As a result, the site struggled to capture attention or drive meaningful participation. The redesign aims to solve these issues by introducing a modern, functional, and emotionally resonant platform that clearly communicates Africatown’s legacy and its vision for global Black economic empowerment.

03. DESIGN PROCESS

The Port of Africatown project began with an in-depth discovery call and onboarding process to fully understand the organization’s mission, goals, and vision for the website. This was followed by a comprehensive audit of the existing site to identify design weaknesses, structural inefficiencies, and missed storytelling opportunities. I also conducted research into comparable cultural and community development platforms to pinpoint ways to better position Africatown as both a historic landmark and an evolving global hub.

Using these insights, I developed wireframes focused on intuitive navigation, clear messaging, and visual storytelling. Once the structure was approved, I moved into high-fidelity design — integrating Africatown’s brand elements, authentic imagery, and African-inspired textures to create a modern, soulful digital experience. Special attention was given to mobile responsiveness and accessibility to ensure the site was functional for all audiences.

After the design phase, I managed the transition to development, overseeing implementation and quality assurance to guarantee a smooth, visually cohesive, and high-performing website that accurately reflects Africatown’s cultural legacy and forward-looking vision.