UVU Registrar’s Office Redesign
As part of a service-learning project, my team was assigned to redesign the website for the Registrar's Office at Utah Valley University to enhance the user experience. We began by interviewing the University Registrar to understand their expectations, goals, and needs. Conducting user research and testing further helped us gain insights into the users' preferences. With this information, we developed a site map, wireframes, and prototypes to guide our design process. After incorporating feedback from the Registrar's Office, we conducted usability tests to evaluate the effectiveness of the redesign. Our aim was to address and improve any issues identified, ensuring a seamless and user-friendly experience for visitors to the UVU Registrar's Office website.
Original Design
Goals
The primary goals for the website redesign were to prioritize the "Big 3" functions: Registration, Transfer Credit, and Graduation. We aimed to consolidate all relevant information within a single website, eliminating the need for users to navigate to different platforms. Our focus was on creating a user-friendly interface that enabled quick and easy access to the necessary resources, allowing users to efficiently accomplish their tasks online.
Problems
One of the main problems we encountered was that many students at UVU were unaware of the Registrar's Office and its role. Additionally, those who did visit the website often faced difficulties in finding the information they needed, resulting in a frustrating user experience.
Needs
The key needs for the website redesign were to prominently showcase the "big three" functions - Registration, Transfer, and Graduation - making them easily accessible. Additionally, ensuring consistency across all pages was essential to provide a cohesive and seamless user experience throughout the website.
Planning & Research
Survey & Interview
We sent out about 100 surveys to UVU students and interviewed a few of them to find and validate the existing problems and user needs. Based on the survey results, it was evident that students experienced confusion while using the website. Many resorted to using Google as a means of navigating the UVU site. Moreover, there was a lack of understanding among students regarding the Registrar's office and its functions, including the requirement to apply for graduation. When faced with questions, students typically sought assistance from their advisors.
Eye-tracking test & Results
During the usability test, participants reported spending 1-2 minutes searching for desired information, with some unable to find what they needed altogether. It became apparent that many were unaware that crucial functions such as Registration, Graduation, Transfer Credits, and Transcripts were all housed within the Registrar's Office. Additionally, participants did not recognize that they were navigating the same website throughout their search, indicating a lack of visual consistency. These insights underscored the need for improvements to enhance user awareness and streamline navigation on the website.
Design
Wireframes
To enhance the website, we implemented several key changes. Firstly, we prominently featured the "Big 3" functions in the first row, ensuring they received immediate attention. Secondly, we reorganized and prioritized the navigation bar and cards to optimize ease of use. Lastly, we maintained a consistent style across all pages, providing a cohesive and seamless user experience throughout the website.
Surface Comps
We incorporated several improved design features to enhance the website's visual appeal and user experience. These included a happier graduation photo, updated photo covers, and the use of drop-shadows instead of borders for a more modern and aesthetically pleasing look. Additionally, we added a map feature to cater to visual learners, providing a visual representation for easy navigation and location identification.
Prototype
It might look a little crazy, but everything’s linked up!
Testing
The results of the usability test revealed several key findings. Participants identified that the hero image, hero text, and cards were the most visually prominent elements on the website. They were able to effectively utilize the navigation bar and cards to navigate to their desired destinations. Impressively, participants were able to complete tasks within a short time frame of 10-15 seconds. Importantly, users acknowledged that all pages were under the same website, specifically the Registrar's Office. These insights guided us in optimizing the website's design to emphasize important elements, improve navigation, and streamline the user experience.
Conclusion
Our website redesign for the Registrar's Office successfully achieved several key objectives. We ensured that the website distinctly highlighted the "Big 3" components: Transfer students, Registration, and Graduation, which are crucial for students. By filtering the text and tailoring the content to address students as the primary audience, we improved the overall user experience. Additionally, we implemented branding elements that reinforced the identity of the Registrar's Office. Through enhanced usability and navigation, we strived to provide a seamless and intuitive browsing experience for students accessing the website.
