Proposed redesign for Machig Labdrön Nunnery’s website
Concept redesign to modernise a Tibetan Buddhist nunnery’s website, improve mobile usability, and create a clearer path for supporters to donate and engage.
Machig Labdron Nunnery had recently completed construction of their new building in 2024. Their existing website had been designed during the construction phase and heavily emphasised the physical build. While visually in keeping with Buddhist traditions, the site’s single-page scroll lacked depth, mobile optimisation, and clear calls to action for ongoing support.
Web design
The Problem
With the construction now complete, the focus needed to shift from “building the nunnery” to supporting the community of nuns and their activities. The old site did not adequately:
Highlight the nunnery’s evolving needs and campaigns.
Provide structured, easy-to-follow pathways for visitors to learn about the nuns, see their work, and contribute.
Appeal to younger audiences who increasingly access sites on mobile devices.
Goals & Requirements
Working closely with the head nun, the redesign was to:
Use the existing blue, white, and red Dharma colour palette.
Integrate a clear “Look, Like, Want, Give” navigation structure:
Look – About the Nunnery
Like – Gallery & Community of Nuns
Want – Current Needs & Campaigns
Give – Donation & Support Options
Optimise for mobile-first UX.
Replace the construction-focussed messaging with a focus on how non-sangha supporters can help today.
Maintain a respectful, contemporary aesthetic appealing to a younger demographic.
The Design Process
Research & Content Strategy
Reviewed the existing website and identified that much of its content still centred on the nunnery’s construction, which was completed in 2024. Developed a new structure based on the Head Nun’s requested “Look, Like, Want, Give” framework to highlight the nunnery’s story, community, needs, and ways to offer support.
Concept Development
Thumbnail sketches
Explored layout ideas for a more dynamic homepage, incorporating image-led sections, card-based navigation, and clear donation CTAs.
Wireframes
Designed mobile-first wireframes to ensure legibility, touch-friendly navigation, and improved section hierarchy.
High-Fidelity Mockups
Applied the nunnery’s Dharma colour palette (blue, white, red) with modern typography and photography to create a warm, inviting aesthetic appealing to a younger audience.
These are depicted within the Deliverables section.
Recommendations
Suggested a dedicated “Support Us” section, a homepage carousel showcasing current campaigns, and integration with online payment systems to streamline donations.
Reflection & Outcome
Although the project progressed through thumbnail sketches, wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups, it did not advance to development. Budget constraints, along with a later clarification that a full rebuild wasn’t strictly necessary (as the nunnery had recently launched a new site the previous year) meant the redesign was never implemented.
However, the process still proved valuable. It equipped the nunnery with a clear UX framework for structuring future campaigns, mobile-optimised mockups that could be adapted to their existing site, and a refreshed vision for how their online presence could evolve to better support their mission. This experience also highlighted the importance of confirming early on whether a complete rebuild is truly needed or if targeted improvements can achieve the same goals.
