Meridian is the only full-service land solutions company that offers custom service packages for the education and business sectors across the U.S. that have unique site requirements, timelines, and budgets in an industry that often overlooks off-market properties and the importance of upfront due diligence. Meridian helps clients navigate the complexities of land acquisition and find ideal sites that meet their specific needs and budget.
Project Goals
1
2
3
Develop a strong digital presence
Create an engaging user centric experience
Position Meridian as the leading land solutions
Problem/Challenge Statement:
Meridian, a full-service land solutions company, needed a digital presence that effectively communicated its expertise and innovative approach to land acquisition.
The challenge was to create a website that balanced a modern, professional aesthetic with user accessibility while resonating with diverse audiences such as schools, CEOs and business owners. Additionally, the project faced constraints like limited content availability and tight deadlines.
Proposed Solution
Clear engaging user-focused services presentation
To address these challenges, the project focused on creating a responsive, user-centric website that highlighted Meridian’s professionalism and innovation.
Key solutions included: • Design a brand identity for a land solutions company to have a professional and innovative positioning.
• Develop a user-friendly website that showcases Meridian's services and expertise in land acquisition for education and business sectors.
• Ensuring scalability and performance by building a Webflow site optimized for responsiveness, SEO, and future content growth.
What we set out to accomplish at the beginning of the project
• Balancing a modern, professional aesthetic with accessibility and user-friendliness.
• Collaborating on brand identity elements while ensuring alignment with Meridian’s core values.
• Managing dependencies like content and evolving project directions during tight deadlines.
Process
1. Define & Research
Leveraged Meridian’s Brand Book to understand its core values, messaging, and audience. Applied best practices from successful brand identities while assisting in creating the design guidelines deck for consistency and clarity.
Process
2. Design
Initially, I started by crafting low-fidelity wireframes for the homepage and other core pages to map out the structure and user flows. These wireframes allowed me to focus on functionality and layout without getting distracted by visuals. After finalizing the wireframes, I transitioned to high-fidelity mockups that incorporated Meridian’s brand elements, such as the color palette, typography (Neue Montreal), and imagery guidelines. These mockups aimed to establish a strong visual hierarchy while maintaining a clean and professional appearance. However, after presenting the designs for feedback, they were considered "too tech-oriented" for the industry.
Under the art director’s guidance, I revisited the designs to align them better with the company’s audience and values. I fully designed the contact page, ensuring it adhered to accessibility standards and provided an intuitive experience for users. This page served as a critical touchpoint for client interactions, and I prioritized clarity, ease of use, and consistent branding. Beyond the contact page, I laid the groundwork for additional pages. This approach ensured consistency across the website while allowing for scalability and adaptability for future iterations. The process taught me the importance of balancing creative vision with industry-specific expectations and adapting designs based on constructive feedback. These steps not only improved the clarity and cohesion of Meridian’s digital presence but also provided a solid foundation for further refinements, reflecting the brand’s commitment to innovation and expertise.
Process
3. Development in Webflow
Built responsive designs adhering to WCAG accessibility standards.Structured web pages to support scalability and easy handoff to collaborators.
Animation & Interaction: Created smooth, engaging animations using GSAP, such as loading sequences and interactive navigation. These elements added depth and a modern touch to the user experience.
Home Page:
Solutions Page
Contact Page:
Takeaway
This project significantly improved my understanding of iterative design, teaching me to prioritize refinement through rapid prototyping rather than aiming for perfection upfront. Working on a brand deeply rooted in identity also gave me valuable insight into aligning visual elements with messaging, enhancing my ability to create cohesive and impactful designs.
This project also deepened my understanding of aligning brand identity with UX, and reinforced the importance of adaptability, clear communication, and a user-centered mindset when building scalable digital products.
Credits:
Art Direction: John Arriola (J.D) Vidi Global Team: Christian Arriola, Christina Nguyen, Jennifer Hoang. Agency: Vidi Global
.png)
