Rethinking Registration for Special Olympics Canada

How I redesigned Special Olympics Canada's registration system to center user accessibility and inclusivity

APPLICATION

WEB APP

ROLE

UX/UI DESIGNER

DELIVERABLES

DESIGN & RESEARCH

DURATION

2023

BACKGROUND

Special Olympics Canada (SOC) is a national organization that fosters self-esteem and interpersonal skills in individuals with intellectual disabilities through competition. The organization operates through multiple provincial Chapters, each serving their local communities.

I redesigned their online registration system, transforming a complex multi-portal process into a streamlined experience for athletes and staff across all provincial chapters.

THE ISSUE AT HAND

The registration process needed to be easier for athletes and more efficient for staff to administer

Fragmented Experience

Different registration systems in each province created inconsistency throughout the organization.

Administrative Burden

The approval process was hard to use - staff had to click through multiple pop-ups for each section.

User Abandonment

Users avoided the complex system and used paper forms instead, creating even more work for staff.

DEFINING THE PROBLEM

Brainstorming

The workshop aimed to encourage our team's collaboration and gather valuable feedback based on user research insights and design principles. This process helped me guide the creation of mood boards, setting a direction for the project.

Initial Evaluation

During my review of the current portal layout, I noticed several common elements already creating user experience issues. It was clear that some planning was needed to prioritize the architecture of information.

Understanding the structures

Research: Low - Fidelity Wireframes & Round 1 Usability Testing

Since each chapter used different registration standards, I created a Minimum Viable Record (MVR) that brought together all the information requirements from every chapter's registration process. By compiling both required and optional fields into a single document, the MVR allowed chapters to see exactly how their forms compared—highlighting both shared elements and unique differences.

Exploring Accessible Layout & Structure

Research: Low - Fidelity Wireframes & Round 1 Usability Testing

As we moved from concept to actual design, I created low-fidelity wireframes to map out and test the main user paths. These wireframes became the foundation for our updated design, giving stakeholders a clear view of how the current registration process works and what changes we needed to make.

Identifying Usability Issues & Iterating

Research: Low - Fidelity Wireframes & Round 2 Usability Testing

    1. INFORMATION OVERLOAD

    Issue: Users were overwhelmed by too much information on some screens.

    Improvement: Simplified content, increased button size for meet accessibility standards

    1. VALIDATION PROCESS

    Issue: Validating just one user required multiple disjointed screens

    Improvement: A sticky navigation and sectioned form let users easily switch between sections, reducing cognitive load from processing long, single-page documents.

    1. REACHING ALIGNMENT

    Issue: Aligning chapters to one unified registration process

    Improvement: Using the MVR to create an updated process that accommodates more needs of each Chapter.

An Improved Registration Experience

After finalizing the MVR, we successfully reduced the number of fields by 40%, allowing for greater flexibility in restructuring the registration form. We organized the remaining fields into distinct sections, enhancing both readability and scanability for users.

Feature 1 - Simplified Layout

After finalizing the MVR, we successfully reduced the number of fields by 40%, allowing for greater flexibility in restructuring the registration form. We organized the remaining fields into distinct sections, enhancing both readability and scannability for users.

Feature 2 - Efficient Validation Process

After finalizing the MVR, we successfully reduced the number of fields by 40%, allowing for greater flexibility in restructuring the registration form. We organized the remaining fields into distinct sections, enhancing both readability and scannability for users.

Building a Design System

I established a comprehensive design system to ensure consistency across all elements and streamline future development. The previous minimal system had created challenges for developers, so I built detailed guidelines that would support both current needs and scalable growth.

IMPACT

50%

Reduced loading time through rearrangement of elements

85%

Positive feedback from stakeholders and management

+2 Chapters

Increased adoption of the Online Registration Portal

Key Takeaways

Beyond improving the immediate user experience, this project established design thinking as a core organizational capability at Special Olympics Canada, empowering chapters to advocate for their users' needs in future technology decisions.

Working with technical constraints

Operating within limited resources taught me to identify high-impact, easy improvements. Sometimes the most elegant solution isn't a complete rebuild—it's strategic optimization of existing systems.

Building design culture from the ground up

As the organization's first UX Designer, I discovered that user-centered design is about changing mindsets, not just methods. By involving stakeholders as partners, I turned skepticism into buy-in while building lasting design practices.

Collaborative Problem-Solving

The MVR process became more than just a design exercise—it strengthened relationships between chapters and created a foundation for future collaborative initiatives.