The newly redesigned uis.edu website launched June 1, 2021. The project included a complete redesign of the site, a migration from Wordpress to Drupal 9, and a new information architecture. The site is fully responsive and accessible, and includes a new design system and content strategy. My team and I worked closing with the various stakeholders throughout the university to build a new website that better reflects the university, improves navigation, and follows usability and accessibility best practices.
We developed a video to announce the launch of the website as well as created a New UIS Website webpage. These assets allowed us to share the news with campus and to build excitement. A promotional video was created to showcase the progression of the UIS website through the years.
The new website was developed using the content management system called Drupal. The website featured a new look and feel that added more visual elements, video, animations, interactions, and overall a more modern appearance. The website offers different theme options for use by departments, allowing them to have their own menu, header and footer.
Low-fidelity and high-fidelity wireframes and interactive prototypes for four design mockups were developed, progressing from basic layouts to polished, user-centered designs. Starting with low-fidelity wireframes, I focused on structure and user flow, refining them into high-fidelity versions with detailed visuals and interactivity. Prototypes allowed for usability testing and feedback, ensuring each mockup evolved into a functional and visually cohesive design aligned with project goals.
Personas were developed for the university website to ensure it meets the unique needs of its diverse users, such as prospective students, faculty, alumni, etc. Personas help us understand their goals, challenges, and priorities, allowing us to design a user-friendly, engaging site that delivers relevant content and a seamless experience for all.
Card sorting is a valuable tool for aligning design decisions with user needs, ensuring intuitive and efficient access to content. Drag and drop the cards below in the order you think the should be in.
The website features a user-centered design with oversized type and elements for readability and bold visuals. Asymmetrical Web 3.0 layouts with color blocks and overlapping layers add depth, while microinteractions like scroll-to-reveal animations enhance engagement. Fullscreen menus and forms simplify navigation, and ultra-minimalist design ensures a clean, intuitive user experience. These elements create a modern, interactive, and accessible website.
The website redeisgn was completed in a year and the website migration in the following. The site saw the number of site visitors and pageviews skyrocket across the site, with a 60% to 221% increase in pageviews, the highest stats the website had gained within the previous 8 years.