Designing a new online presence to reflect a newly reconstructed home
Designing a new online presence to reflect a newly reconstructed home
From March-August 2025, Vien An Buddhist Association's website went through multiple redesign attempts with various web designers. The old website no longer represented the newly constructed temple, which was set to open to the public soon. In September, I was recruited to redesign and build a new website to reflect the temple’s new home, prioritizing accessibility, ease of use, and authenticity.
From March-August 2025, Vien An Buddhist Association's website went through multiple redesign attempts with various web designers. The old website no longer represented the newly constructed temple, which was set to open to the public soon. In September, I was recruited to redesign and build a new website to reflect the temple’s new home, prioritizing accessibility, ease of use, and authenticity.
Role: Website Developer
Role: Website Developer
Client: Vien An Buddhist Association
Client: Vien An Buddhist Association
Live site: vienantemple.org
Live site: vienantemple.org
Vien An Buddhist Association now has a modern, bilingual website that reflects the newly rebuilt temple and welcomes a diverse community.
Vien An Temple now has a modern, bilingual website that reflects the newly rebuilt temple and welcomes a diverse community.
Dedicated Vietnamese and English homepages with bilingual shared pages
Guided navigation with clear menus and visual storytelling
Responsive design optimized for accessibility and performance
Built on WordPress for long-term flexibility and easy maintenance
Integrated donation form with full PayPal support
Vietnamese & English homepages with bilingual shared pages
Guided navigation with clear menus and visual storytelling
Responsive design optimized for accessibility and performance
Built on WordPress for long-term flexibility and easy maintenance
Integrated donation form with full PayPal support
▮HEURISTIC EVALUATION AND PROBLEMS
▮HEURISTIC EVALUATION AND
PROBLEMS
A review of the existing site revealed several UX and content challenges:
Distracting effects and background music
Text-heavy layout
Hard to scale or update (fully hand-coded)
Minimal visual feedback
No bilingual support
No direct donation option
A review of the existing site revealed several UX and content challenges:
Distracting effects and background music
Text-heavy layout
Hard to scale or update (fully hand-coded)
Minimal visual feedback
No bilingual support
No direct donation option
▮RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY
How are other temples shaping their digital sanctuaries?
We explored how existing temple websites convey peace and accessibility through design, looking for features that could inspire our own.
Through a competitive analysis of
Dai Dang Meditation Center in Bonsall, California
Huyền Không Pagoda in Huế, Vietnam
We identified design elements and layouts that balance serenity with usability, reflecting the calm spirit we aimed to achieve.
How are other temples shaping their digital sanctuaries?
We explored how existing temple websites convey peace and accessibility through design, looking for features that could inspire our own.
Through a competitive analysis of
Dai Dang Meditation Center in Bonsall, California
Huyền Không Pagoda in Huế, Vietnam
We identified design elements and layouts that balance serenity with usability, reflecting the calm spirit we aimed to achieve.
▮IDEATION
Defining audiences, journeys, and structure for a refreshed online presence
Defining audiences, journeys, and structure for a refreshed online presence
Who is visiting the temple website?
We clarified the extent of bilingual support and content for each language by reevaluating the website’s audience. This included newcomers seeking Buddhist temples in the Silver Spring area, Vietnamese individuals interested in cultural events, and potential donors.
Who is visiting the temple website?
We clarified the extent of bilingual support and content for each language by reevaluating the website’s audience. This included newcomers seeking Buddhist temples in the Silver Spring area, Vietnamese individuals interested in cultural events, and potential donors.
What should visitors learn and experience?
Navigation bars and submenus were sketched and color-coded by language to map user journeys. A secondary menu was added for longer pages to keep navigation accessible. Inspired by Dai Dang’s all-Vietnamese tabs with a single English link, we created a dedicated English landing page with matching submenus for a complete experience.
What should visitors learn and experience?
Navigation bars and submenus were sketched and color-coded by language to map user journeys. A secondary menu was added for longer pages to keep navigation accessible. Inspired by Dai Dang’s all-Vietnamese tabs with a single English link, we created a dedicated English landing page with matching submenus for a complete experience.
How can we modernize while staying true to temple values?
After comparing other web builders, we chose WordPress for its flexibility and long-term stability. The site was built and customized as needed, with custom code added to ensure it could scale, remain secure, and grow with the temple’s needs.
How can we modernize while staying true to temple values?
After comparing other web builders, we chose WordPress for its flexibility and long-term stability. The site was built and customized as needed, with custom code added to ensure it could scale, remain secure, and grow with the temple’s needs.
▮SOLUTION
Introducing, the new website to debut alongside the newly constructed temple as its doors open.
A hero section that captures the temple.
The hero section shows the newly constructed building, the temple name, and a venerable’s quote, quickly conveying the site’s purpose.
A hero section that captures the temple.
The hero section shows the newly constructed building, the temple name, and a venerable’s quote, quickly conveying the site’s purpose.
Integrated bilingual structure
Distinct Vietnamese and English home pages were created, each with consistent, language-matched content.
For links leading to a common page, the page is bilingual so all users are accounted for.
Integrated bilingual structure
Distinct Vietnamese and English home pages were created, each with consistent, language-matched content.
For links leading to a common page, the page is bilingual so all users are accounted for.
No more interruptive music or snow effect site wide
Three bells replace a constant meditation audio on both home pages, The snowstorm effect is now only on the English page and constrained to its hero section instead of staying site wide.
No more interruptive music or snow effect site wide
Three bells replace a constant meditation audio on both home pages, The snowstorm effect is now only on the English page and constrained to its hero section instead of staying site wide.
Guided navigation and storytelling
Clear submenus and parent–child page links were added for easier exploration.
Strategic imagery is now used convey the temple’s story instead of relying on text.
Guided navigation and storytelling
Clear submenus and parent–child page links were added for easier exploration.
Strategic imagery is now used convey the temple’s story instead of relying on text.
Scalable and adaptable design
Layouts are now responsive across mobile, tablet, and desktop. The text hover color for the main menu is now different than the normal color, giving visual feedback.
Scalable and adaptable design
Layouts are now responsive across mobile, tablet, and desktop. The text hover color for the main menu is now different than the normal color, giving visual feedback.
A donation gateway is here!
On the Liên Lạc (Contact) page, there is now a “Donate” button and form with full PayPal support.
A donation gateway is here!
On the Liên Lạc (Contact) page, there is now a “Donate” button and form with full PayPal support.
▮IMPACT
The site officially launched in October 2025, with frequent content updates and maintenance to ensure everything is running smoothly. So far, these are the results:
20+ events easily updated using layouts and plugins
500+ monthly visitors since launch
25+ pages equipped with bilingual content
▮IMPACT
The site officially launched in October 2025, with frequent content updates and maintenance to ensure everything is running smoothly. So far, these are the results:
20+ events easily updated using layouts and plugins
500+ monthly visitors since launch
25+ pages equipped with bilingual content
Ready to turn your concepts into reality? Let’s work together.
Or email me hello@nguyentamn.com
Ready to turn your concepts into reality? Let’s work together.
Or email me hello@nguyentamn.com