Redesigning a University Department Website

Problem Statement

Users felt disconnected from the website’s structure, finding it difficult to locate essential information. Faculty members found the site cumbersome for sharing updates, while students complained about hidden or irrelevant content.

• Poor Content Hierarchy: Information was buried in illogical menus.
• Navigation Confusion: Users had difficulty finding basic resources like forms or event updates.
• Lack of Alignment with User Needs: The design prioritized the department’s perspective, not the users’.

Process and Approach

Step 1: Contextual Inquiry

Conducted 10+ interviews with students, faculty, and staff, observing real-life usage. Key insights included:

• Faculty struggled with clunky backend systems.
• Students avoided the site, relying on emails instead.
• Both groups preferred fewer clicks and simpler navigation.

Step 2: Participatory Design

Facilitated workshops to co-design ideal navigation and content layouts. Findings:

• Dedicated student and faculty sections were needed.
• Search functionality and clear categories were essential.

Outcome

1. Redesigned Homepage: Streamlined layout with intuitive navigation
   
2. Enhanced Visuals: Modernized design elements and updated imagery
   
3. Mobile Optimization: Responsive design for seamless browsing on all devices
   
4. Improved Content: Updated information architecture and refreshed content
   
5. Positive Feedback: Increased user engagement and satisfaction ratings
   

While I wasn’t involved in the implementation, the IT department adopted my recommendations, resulting in a user-focused redesign. Feedback post-launch highlighted smoother workflows, increased user satisfaction, and higher engagement with the website.