Client:
Amazon Web Services
FreeRTOS.org website refresh
Overview
FreeRTOS.org is the main hub for developers using the FreeRTOS kernel and its connectivity libraries to build IoT solutions. The site connects a large, global open-source community and serves as the starting point for developers integrating real-time operating systems with AWS IoT.
Challenge
Originally launched in 2003, the site had seen little modernization until 2019. The experience reflected its age — default blue hyperlinks, inconsistent styling, and a lack of visual hierarchy made it difficult to navigate. Key content such as kernel downloads, connectivity libraries, and example demos were buried in deep page structures. It wasn’t optimized for mobile, and its technical documentation failed to meet modern accessibility and SEO standards. Beyond usability, the outdated presentation affected credibility — it could imply whether the project was still actively maintained, which impacted adoption and engagement.
Approach
I led the end-to-end redesign of FreeRTOS.org to modernize its structure, improve discoverability, and align it with today's web standards.
Conducted a full audit of site content, documentation, and resources to define a cleaner information architecture.
Sitemap illustrating the new structure that simplified navigation and improved search visibility.
Reorganized navigation around developer workflows — Get Started, Libraries, Demos, and Community — to better support discovery and learning.
Introduced a modern visual framework with clear hierarchy, updated typography, and responsive layouts optimized for both desktop and mobile.
Partnered with engineering and documentation teams to simplify language and metadata for SEO, while maintaining technical precision.
Established reusable page templates to ensure design consistency across documentation and new feature launches.
Impact
The redesign transformed FreeRTOS.org from a legacy developer site into a modern, structured entry point for IoT development. Developers could now locate libraries and demos within two clicks, reducing onboarding friction. The new architecture improved visibility of connectivity features and demos while meeting accessibility and SEO best practices. The refreshed interface established a stronger first impression for one of AWS’s most visited open-source properties.
