As President, I led IGLA+ through a comprehensive digital and organizational transformation, evolving it from an outdated competition-focused organization into a modern, mission-driven non-profit serving LGBT+ aquatics clubs worldwide. This transformation included a complete rebrand, implementation of integrated community platforms, new website, and restructuring that revitalized the organization's leadership and technological foundation.
Modernizing an International Aquatics Organization
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My Role
President & Creative Director
Team
1 UX Designer (Myself)
7 Board Members
Design Timeline
9 months
This is an image of the homepage of IGLA+'s website I developed
Severe understaffing (4/9 board positions filled), outdated technologies, and manual processes were making the organization increasingly ineffective and burning out volunteers.
The organization was struggling with 35-year-old bylaws, poor file management, and an outdated brand that didn't reflect our community's vibrancy. When I stepped into the presidency, I saw an opportunity not just to modernize operations but to transform IGLA+ into a mission-driven organization that could better serve member clubs through technology, resources, and community building.
This is an image of the rebrand logo of IGLA+
How might we transform an aging international organization into a modern platform that empowers LGBTQIA+ aquatics clubs worldwide?
What will help make international aquatics more accessible while reducing the administrative burden on volunteers?
Prior approaches to running IGLA+ focused solely on annual championships but lacked vision for what a modern international governing body could become. We needed to understand our member clubs' needs to create an integrated platform that could successfully serve the global LGBT+ aquatics community while maintaining an efficient, sustainable operational model.
IGLA+ was struggling with outdated systems, manual processes, and poor member engagement. With only 4 of 9 board positions filled, 35-year-old bylaws, and fragmented communications, the organization needed a comprehensive transformation to better serve its global LGBT+ aquatics community while reducing volunteer burnout.
Core Objectives
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Modernize technology infrastructure to streamline operations and reduce manual work
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Create an integrated community platform that empowers member clubs
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Implement a brand refresh that better reflects our diverse community
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Restructure the organization to be more efficient and sustainable
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Build reusable solutions for annual championships to reduce costs
Project Stakeholders
Internal
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Board of Directors
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Championship Committees
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Member Club Leaders
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Volunteer Coordinators
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Records Committee
External
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Member Clubs
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Individual Athletes
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Corporate Partners
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Competition Hosts
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International Sport Governing Bodies
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This is an extensive restructuring proposal and initiative plan I developed for IGLA+
What I noticed
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Member clubs faced significant barriers in promoting events and accessing IGLA+ resources due to outdated systems and manual processes
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Competition committees were repeatedly purchasing redundant technology solutions for each championship
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Traditional organizational structures often failed to consider the unique needs of emerging LGBT+ clubs and athletes
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Email communications, record management, and member engagement lacked or were fragmented across multiple outdated platforms
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Board turnover and burnout were systemic issues due to inefficient processes and lack of automated solutions
Through Research
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Conducted comprehensive surveys of member clubs to understand their relationship with IGLA+, needs, and suggestions for improvement
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Investigated various community platforms and sports management solutions that could integrate with our website
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Analyzed successful sports organizations' operations and technology implementations
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Studied competition committee needs and pain points to identify opportunities for shared resources
This is a gif interaction of IGLA+'s website and community platform after release in 2024
How do we create an accessible international platform while efficiently managing operations?
Presenting Design & Operational Solution: An integrated community platform proved essential for modern sports organization management, but the implementation needed careful consideration. The challenge was balancing comprehensive features with user-friendly, accessible interfaces that would serve diverse international needs.
Streamlined Community Platform: Created a centralized platform for discussion, interaction, and marketing campaigns that integrates with our website, allowing clubs to easily promote events and athletes to communicate with the global community
Modernized Website & Brand: Implemented a complete brand refresh moving from "International Gay & Lesbian Aquatics" to "IGLA+" with a fluid, energetic identity that better reflects our diverse community
Integrated Competition Solutions: Developed reusable registration and communication platforms for annual championships, reducing redundant technology purchases and streamlining operations
Design & Leadership Process
Leading an international sports organization taught me that great design isn't just about aesthetics – it's about creating reliable systems where community building and operational efficiency come together to serve diverse global needs:
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Extensive research into similar international athletic organizations worldwide before implementing solutions
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Close collaboration between board members, competition committees, and member clubs
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Rapid iteration balanced with careful attention to international community feedback
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Continuous improvement based on member experiences and operational insights
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Strong emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility in all design decisions
This methodology proved particularly effective when developing our integrated community platform and brand identity, where each stage built upon member club insights while maintaining high standards for international competition and local club development.
The iterative approach allowed us to balance the needs of established clubs, the committees running major championships, and emerging organizations seeking resources and support. This was especially evident in how our platform evolved to serve both purposes - streamlining competition management while simultaneously providing tools for club growth and community engagement.
My general organizational overhaul approach and strategy
My approach to international sports organization design centers on three core elements:
global community engagement
operational excellence (automation)
inclusive accessibility
I believe successful international sports organizations emerge from the intersection of community building, efficient operations, and inclusive practices. It's critical to automate and streamline operations - when volunteer leaders are bogged down by administrative tasks, it diminishes their ability to focus on their passion for the sport and community building.
User-Centered Leadership & Approach
This is the promotional rebrand announcement video of IGLA+ I created
Building a Modern Global Sports Brand
Developing an Inclusive, Vibrant Yet Professional Brand
Working with queer graphic designers, we created a distinctive brand identity centered around fluidity and energy. The new IGLA+ identity features a clean, modern wordmark with a stylized wave element that represents both water and the fluid nature of identity. The visual system employs a gradient-rich color palette of blues and purples that creates dynamic, flowing backgrounds while maintaining professional credibility.
Creating Brand Cohesion
The brand system implementation focused on:
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Developing a consistent visual language using flowing gradients and clean typography that works across international contexts
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Designing an intuitive website navigation system with clear pathways for different user needs (clubs, individual athletes, event organizers)
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Creating an interactive club directory with integrated mapping and filtering capabilities
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Building a mobile-first responsive design that makes information accessible across devices
Visual System Implementation
The new platform features:
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A clean, modern interface with an emphasis on accessibility and user flow
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Content and Canva Assets development for social media consistency
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Interactive features like the global club map and filtered club directory
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Clear calls to action for different user journeys (finding clubs, joining as an individual, accessing benefits)
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Integration of championship event promotion and bidding systems
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Multi-language support for our international community
Brand Voice and Messaging
The brand personality balances inclusivity with authority through:
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Clear, welcoming messaging that emphasizes both legacy and forward momentum
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"DIVE IN WITH PRIDE" tagline that captures both our sport focus and community pride
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Accessible content structure that guides users whether they're existing members or newcomers
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Educational resources about LGBTQIA+ aquatics history and opportunities
We had to create systems that were welcoming and accessible for new clubs joining today, while building a foundation that could support our global community's continued growth and evolution.
Takeaways
Success came from turning organizational complexity into strength - bringing together diverse perspectives from international clubs, athletes, and volunteers while keeping community growth central.
Despite the challenges of transforming a volunteer-based international organization, these obstacles pushed me to create innovative solutions in branding, operations, and community building that revolutionized how LGBT+ sports organizations can operate globally. Through this transformation, I learned that thoughtful design and strategic automation can bring clarity to complexity, turning traditional sports organization operations into an engaging, accessible community platform. IGLA+ has now become a model for how international sports organizations can modernize their operations and better serve their communities.
Approval Rating
Board Positions filled
New Operational Technologies
New Member Clubs
Want to see more?
I am happy to talk through my research and design work for IGLA+ during a scheduled call. I am incredibly proud of this work and aquatic community I helped inspired.
