Redesigned the Bible Gateway app with a modern visual language and user-centered approach, transforming complex tools into a streamlined experience that makes Scripture reading, search, and study intuitive and enjoyable.
Over the course of a year, I led the end-to-end redesign of the Bible Gateway app and web experience as the primary designer, collaborating closely with HarperCollins and the internal Bible Gateway team. Guided by Design Director Alex Wierda and Project Manager Samantha Robinson, we focused on solving key user pain points from the legacy product. I worked from concept through to production, partnering directly with developers to ensure a smooth handoff and accurate implementation. Designed entirely in Figma, the result is a modern, streamlined experience rooted in user needs and real-world feedback.
We began the project by identifying core usability issues in the existing Bible Gateway experience. Through user feedback, analytics, and stakeholder input, we uncovered major pain points including outdated navigation patterns, cluttered UI, and difficulty accessing key features like reading plans, search, and study tools.
With clear problem areas defined, we moved into designing modern, user-centric interfaces using Figma. I led the creation of low- to high-fidelity prototypes for both web and mobile, focusing on simplifying user flows and improving accessibility. We conducted multiple rounds of user testing, gathering feedback to validate design decisions and refine interactions, ensuring the experience felt intuitive and responsive across platforms.
Once the core experiences were validated, we built a scalable design system to ensure consistency across the app and web platforms. I worked closely with developers to translate the final designs into production-ready assets, providing detailed specs, components, and responsive behaviors directly through Figma. This collaboration helped streamline implementation and ensured visual and functional consistency across the entire product ecosystem.
We kicked off the project with a full audit of the existing Bible Gateway app and website, identifying key usability issues through user feedback, app reviews, and stakeholder input. Common pain points included outdated navigation, visual clutter, and difficulty accessing core features like search and reading plans. This discovery phase aligned the team around clear priorities and set the foundation for a focused, user-centered redesign.
Users found the homepage overwhelming and cluttered, with too many competing elements and no clear entry point into the experience.
The core reading experience felt outdated and lacked readability, with inconsistent typography and limited customization options.
Discovery tools and secondary content were buried under confusing menus, making it difficult for users to find devotionals, reading plans, and study resources.
In this phase, we took initial low-fidelity wireframes and refined them based on feedback and user goals. We focused on layout clarity, navigation flow, and ensuring the content structure aligned with the app’s primary purpose.
Mapping out key user journeys to ensure that navigation felt intuitive and efficient. By testing and iterating on these flows, we reduced friction in tasks like finding passages, switching translations, and exploring content.
In this phase, we explored visual styles, typography, color, and layout patterns that balanced readability with modern aesthetics. We referenced other media and spiritual apps for inspiration while aligning everything to the Bible Gateway brand to ensure familiarity and trust.
We designed a fully dynamic dark mode to enhance readability in low-light environments and reduce eye strain. Careful attention was given to contrast, color shifts, and maintaining a warm, inviting tone throughout the interface to preserve the app's comforting feel.
Working on a faith-based app meant designing for users across a wide range of ages, tech comfort levels, and spiritual practices. I learned how to create inclusive, accessible experiences that resonate with both seasoned Bible readers and first-time users.
It was crucial to honor the sacredness of Scripture while introducing modern UI patterns. This taught me how to thoughtfully modernize a legacy product without alienating its loyal user base.
User testing and feedback were essential in guiding design decisions. I learned how to listen closely, synthesize qualitative input, and prioritize changes that would make the biggest impact on real-world usability.
Working side-by-side with developers, I gained a deeper understanding of how to prepare clean, functional Figma files and communicate design intent clearly—ensuring a smooth transition from design to production.
I helped establish a flexible design system that could scale across both app and web platforms. This experience strengthened my systems thinking and attention to visual consistency.
Over the course of a year-long project, I learned to pace design decisions, anticipate downstream needs, and think beyond launch—designing with sustainability and future iterations in mind.
Redesigning a product as established and widely used as Bible Gateway presented unique challenges. A key focus was balancing modern usability with legacy familiarity—many users had deep habits formed around the old interface, so updates needed to feel intuitive without alienating long-time users. The project also involved cross-functional collaboration with HarperCollins, developers, and stakeholders, requiring clear communication, flexibility, and alignment as priorities shifted throughout the process.
Addressing the challenges of redesigning Bible Gateway meant honoring what long-time users already knew while thoughtfully layering in modern functionality. By preserving familiar elements and introducing enhancements through intuitive, gradual shifts, the redesign stayed accessible while delivering a more refined experience.
Reflecting on the redesign process, several key insights emerged that shaped both the development and final outcome. One of the most valuable takeaways was recognizing the emotional connection users have with an established product. With Bible Gateway, many users were deeply familiar with the legacy interface, so redesigning wasn’t just a matter of improving functionality, it was about respecting the history, habits and trust that had been built over time.
