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

UX Strategy, Accessibility & Structured Web Evaluation 

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Work in progress — updated regularly.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Vera Blinds E-commerce
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Research Depth & Evaluation Thinking

My work goes deeper than surface redesign. I conduct structured competitive analysis, moderated usability testing, and longitudinal evaluation to understand how digital systems perform over time — and why they quietly lose users. This thinking led me to develop CEWQI, a structured web quality evaluation framework built on those same principles.

→ View Case Studies

Lynn writing comments about sketches

Participant Lynn engages in moderated usability testing, interacting with hand-drawn wireframes to assess navigation structure and product organization within the prototype.

What is CEWQI?

Most websites don’t fail because they look bad. They fail because something underneath isn’t working. CEWQI (Cara’s Extensive Web Quality Index) is the structured evaluation framework I developed to find exactly that — examining accessibility, usability, content clarity, structure, and visual design together to surface what standard audits miss.

→ See How It Works

CEWQI

a logo for the cewqi frameworks, computer with high contrast colors, check in the middle of the screen. the screen is filled with node like objects

What I do

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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.

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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.

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