UX Design Warrior Shield
UX DESIGN WARRIOR · PORTFOLIO

Hi, I'm Cara Harpole —
a UX Design Warrior

UX STRATEGY · ACCESSIBILITY · STRUCTURED WEB EVALUATION

Case Studies & Evaluation Thinking

Real-world UX solutions built on structured analysis, accessibility standards, and strategic implementation.

UX Systems Design

Structured visual systems, IA frameworks, and evaluation-driven UI aligned to measurable UX standards.

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Structured Evaluation & Web Analysis

Identifying what breaks, why it breaks, and how to fix it — across devices, standards, and user contexts.

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Strategic Content Mapping

Content clarity aligned to user journeys and business goals.

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Case Studies & Measured Outcomes

Process-driven design with evaluation insights.

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My Design Ethos

As we enter the age of AI, one constant remains: the need for human-centered systems.

I design for the user who wasn't in the room when decisions were made.

That instinct was sharpened when I built A2Symmetry — an accessibility advocacy platform created around the lived experience of my visually impaired friend Heather. It taught me that anticipating diverse needs isn't a specialization. It's the foundation of every design decision I make.

Inclusive, strategic, and research-informed — that's how I build clear, effective, and meaningful digital products.

ux design warrior character, holding shield in wakanda type of clothing
KETO ME COACHING
Designing for underserved communities means questioning who the market forgot.

Keto Me is a mobile app prototype designed to bring accountability, community, and inclusive coaching to a health-and-wellness market that largely ignores women of color.

The design process spanned research, card sorting, onboarding flows, and a four-pillar information architecture built around real user needs — not assumptions.

View Case Study →
Keto Me Coaching Project
QUEEN PELICAN
Crafting a brand identity built to last.

Designed the Queen Pelican visual identity from concept in 2015 — including the mascot, voice, and visual language — and carried it through three major design iterations over a decade.

The 2025 redesign unified the original brand assets into a cohesive system across mobile and desktop, demonstrating that strong foundational design decisions scale with a product as it matures.

View Case Study →
Queen Pelican Brand Identity
VERA BLINDS
A mobile-first redesign for a business that needed to meet customers where they shop.

Vera Blinds is a live e-commerce site designed and launched for a custom window treatments business. Built mobile-first in WordPress, the site combined accessibility, intuitive product visualization, and a clean conversion flow.

In its first active month the site generated over 12,000 pageviews and 21,000 hits — driven by Google Ads, Yelp, and social media.

View Case Study →
Vera Blinds E-commerce
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Proprietary Framework

Built Because Standard Audits
Miss the Real Problems

Most websites don't fail because they look bad. They fail because something underneath isn't working — and standard audits aren't designed to find it. CEWQI (Cara's Extensive Web Quality Index) is the structured evaluation framework I developed to examine accessibility, usability, content clarity, structure, and visual design together — surfacing the compounding issues that single-category tools overlook.

See How It Works →
CEWQI logo — Cara's Extensive Web Quality Index

6-Dimension Framework

  • Structural Integrity
  • Visual Hierarchy
  • Accessibility
  • Usability Friction
  • System Cohesion
  • Visual Design

Why I Built It

A Real Client.
A Problem I Couldn't
Solve Any Other Way.

"There were too many problems to explain in conversation. I needed a system."

A small business owner asked me to help grow his online presence. When I evaluated his website, I found problems in every layer — structure, accessibility, usability, visual design. There was no way to communicate that complexity in a single conversation without losing him.

I needed something that could grade each category independently, show relative severity, and give a client a clear picture of where to focus — even if they never hired me again. So I built CEWQI: an AI-assisted framework that delivers that clarity in a fraction of the time a traditional audit takes.

The goal was never to create dependency. It was to give people the information they need to make smart decisions — with or without me.

See It In Action →
Small business storefront — the client context that led to CEWQI
Participant Lynn in moderated usability testing with hand-drawn wireframes

Participant Lynn in moderated usability testing with hand-drawn wireframes.

Even if a client never hires me again, they leave with a clear picture of exactly what needs attention and why.

See the Full CEWQI Methodology →

What I do

mock up icon that symbolizes a computer screen

UX Systems  Architecture

I design structured digital systems grounded in usability research, information architecture, and measurable UX outcomes. Interface hierarchy, user flows, and interaction patterns are intentionally built to align user needs with business objectives.

UX Systems Architecture

Good design is about more than layout — it’s about structure. I design digital systems where hierarchy is intentional, user flows are clear, and interaction patterns guide visitors naturally through content without confusion or friction.

Brand Identity & SEO

Good design is about more than visuals — it’s about visibility. I align brand identity, messaging, and search structure so your digital presence is cohesive, discoverable, and positioned for sustainable growth.

Content Strategy

Good design is about more than words — it’s about clarity. I structure content around user intent and business goals, ensuring messaging is organized, purposeful, and easy to navigate at every stage.

the ada disability symbol with stick man with hand stretches wide.

Accessibility & Compliance

Good design is about more than compliance — it’s about inclusion. I integrate WCAG standards, readable typography, and structured navigation so interfaces are usable, resilient, and accessible across abilities and environments.

Why Accessibility Audits Matter

Accessibility isn’t just about following rules — it’s about people. Clear text, strong contrast, and simple navigation make your site easier for everyone to use. Building with accessibility in mind also strengthens trust and opens your business to a wider audience.

ADA & WCAG Compliance

Beyond good design, compliance protects your business. I provide guidance and practical steps to help your site meet ADA and WCAG standards, reducing legal risk while improving usability and long-term performance.

Inclusive Design Consulting

I work with businesses to integrate inclusive practices into their digital strategy. This means thinking beyond checklists — building websites and content that reflect the real needs of your audience.