ROLE
UI/UX Designer & Manager
ROLE
UI/UX Designer & Manager
ROLE
UI/UX Designer & Manager
ROLE
UI/UX Designer & Manager
SKILLS
Web design, visual design
SKILLS
Web design, visual design
SKILLS
Web design, visual design
SKILLS
Web design, visual design
TOOLS
WordPress, Figma, Google Forms + Sheets
TOOLS
WordPress, Figma, Google Forms + Sheets
TOOLS
WordPress, Figma, Google Forms + Sheets
TOOLS
WordPress, Figma, Google Forms + Sheets
TIMELINE
2 months
TIMELINE
2 months
TIMELINE
2 months
TIMELINE
2 months
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
I was hired in September 2023 to help redesign the old Dornsife Economics Department’s website. The Dornsife School (Letters and Sciences) was going through a massive overhaul of their site identity, which required every individual department to redesign their website by the end of the 2023 semester.
The old website was extremely outdated, and contained line after line of text for users to sift through to find what they need. This meant filtering through all the information on the website, understanding what needed to be kept, removed, or updated, as well as how to maintain all the components effectively after publishing.
I was hired in September 2023 to help redesign the old Dornsife Economics Department’s website. The Dornsife School (Letters and Sciences) was going through a massive overhaul of their site identity, which required every individual department to redesign their website by the end of the 2023 semester.
The old website was extremely outdated, and contained line after line of text for users to sift through to find what they need. This meant filtering through all the information on the website, understanding what needed to be kept, removed, or updated, as well as how to maintain all the components effectively after publishing.
I was hired in September 2023 to help redesign the old Dornsife Economics Department’s website. The Dornsife School (Letters and Sciences) was going through a massive overhaul of their site identity, which required every individual department to redesign their website by the end of the 2023 semester.
The old website was extremely outdated, and contained line after line of text for users to sift through to find what they need. This meant filtering through all the information on the website, understanding what needed to be kept, removed, or updated, as well as how to maintain all the components effectively after publishing.
I was hired in September 2023 to help redesign the old Dornsife Economics Department’s website. The Dornsife School (Letters and Sciences) was going through a massive overhaul of their site identity, which required every individual department to redesign their website by the end of the 2023 semester.
The old website was extremely outdated, and contained line after line of text for users to sift through to find what they need. This meant filtering through all the information on the website, understanding what needed to be kept, removed, or updated, as well as how to maintain all the components effectively after publishing.
Images of the old department website shown above, recovered from wayback,archive.org ^
Images of the old department website shown above, recovered from wayback,archive.org ^
Images of the old department website shown above, recovered from wayback,archive.org ^
Images of the old department website shown above, recovered from wayback,archive.org ^
Research + solution
Research + solution
Research + solution
Research + solution
I conducted an audit of the existing website, as well as existing USC Dornsife Department websites that had already been updated with USC’s new brand guide and identities. With this information, I was able to create a newer version of the website which was published mid-October 2023.
I conducted an audit of the existing website, as well as existing USC Dornsife Department websites that had already been updated with USC’s new brand guide and identities. With this information, I was able to create a newer version of the website which was published mid-October 2023.
I conducted an audit of the existing website, as well as existing USC Dornsife Department websites that had already been updated with USC’s new brand guide and identities. With this information, I was able to create a newer version of the website which was published mid-October 2023.
I conducted an audit of the existing website, as well as existing USC Dornsife Department websites that had already been updated with USC’s new brand guide and identities. With this information, I was able to create a newer version of the website which was published mid-October 2023.
User survey
User survey
User survey
User survey
A survey was linked within the website after it was published to gain feedback from the community. In the free response portion of the survey, users mentioned that they were prospective students looking to find information about certain programs and major requirements, and wished that this information would be readily available.
A survey was linked within the website after it was published to gain feedback from the community. In the free response portion of the survey, users mentioned that they were prospective students looking to find information about certain programs and major requirements, and wished that this information would be readily available.
A survey was linked within the website after it was published to gain feedback from the community. In the free response portion of the survey, users mentioned that they were prospective students looking to find information about certain programs and major requirements, and wished that this information would be readily available.
A survey was linked within the website after it was published to gain feedback from the community. In the free response portion of the survey, users mentioned that they were prospective students looking to find information about certain programs and major requirements, and wished that this information would be readily available.
#1 Potential Students
#1 Potential Students
#1 Potential Students
#1 Potential Students
Many stated that the main reason they visited the website was to learn more about the Economics Department, and wanted it to be readily available.
Many stated that the main reason they visited the website was to learn more about the Economics Department, and wanted it to be readily available.
Many stated that the main reason they visited the website was to learn more about the Economics Department, and wanted it to be readily available.
Many stated that the main reason they visited the website was to learn more about the Economics Department, and wanted it to be readily available.
#2 Parents & Guardians
#2 Parents & Guardians
#2 Parents & Guardians
#2 Parents & Guardians
Parents and guardians want to know general information about their child's program, what Dornsife Economics offers, as well as advisor and staff information.
Parents and guardians want to know general information about their child's program, what Dornsife Economics offers, as well as advisor and staff information.
Parents and guardians want to know general information about their child's program, what Dornsife Economics offers, as well as advisor and staff information.
Parents and guardians want to know general information about their child's program, what Dornsife Economics offers, as well as advisor and staff information.
Limitations
Limitations
Limitations
Limitations
Since the department was made out of many different teams and programs, this meant that my approval to include certain information and details were limited depending on the directors of the programs. Most of the time, this meant that the directors preferred their pages to be simpler, and to redirect users to a different page when looking for the information they wanted.
Since the department was made out of many different teams and programs, this meant that my approval to include certain information and details were limited depending on the directors of the programs. Most of the time, this meant that the directors preferred their pages to be simpler, and to redirect users to a different page when looking for the information they wanted.
Since the department was made out of many different teams and programs, this meant that my approval to include certain information and details were limited depending on the directors of the programs. Most of the time, this meant that the directors preferred their pages to be simpler, and to redirect users to a different page when looking for the information they wanted.
Since the department was made out of many different teams and programs, this meant that my approval to include certain information and details were limited depending on the directors of the programs. Most of the time, this meant that the directors preferred their pages to be simpler, and to redirect users to a different page when looking for the information they wanted.
For example, when looking for Master’s program information, the director wanted their economics page to direct users to a separate page, meaning that users had to perform one additional click to get to their final destination, rather than having it all load on one page for them to scroll through.
For example, when looking for Master’s program information, the director wanted their economics page to direct users to a separate page, meaning that users had to perform one additional click to get to their final destination, rather than having it all load on one page for them to scroll through.
For example, when looking for Master’s program information, the director wanted their economics page to direct users to a separate page, meaning that users had to perform one additional click to get to their final destination, rather than having it all load on one page for them to scroll through.
For example, when looking for Master’s program information, the director wanted their economics page to direct users to a separate page, meaning that users had to perform one additional click to get to their final destination, rather than having it all load on one page for them to scroll through.
There were a lot of technical issues that came with working exclusively on WordPress, and restrictions from only using design components within USC’s web design guidelines. With that being said, I learned a lot about designing within constraints, and using tools that we had at hand to make the most out of the situation.
There were a lot of technical issues that came with working exclusively on WordPress, and restrictions from only using design components within USC’s web design guidelines. With that being said, I learned a lot about designing within constraints, and using tools that we had at hand to make the most out of the situation.
There were a lot of technical issues that came with working exclusively on WordPress, and restrictions from only using design components within USC’s web design guidelines. With that being said, I learned a lot about designing within constraints, and using tools that we had at hand to make the most out of the situation.
There were a lot of technical issues that came with working exclusively on WordPress, and restrictions from only using design components within USC’s web design guidelines. With that being said, I learned a lot about designing within constraints, and using tools that we had at hand to make the most out of the situation.
Future-proofing
Future-proofing
Future-proofing
Future-proofing
My term ended when I completed my master’s degree, so I created a design manual/handbook to be passed down to the next Web Manager. This document detailed important information like key stakeholders and their contact information, links to websites and files with documentation relevant to the position, as well as some not-so-obvious solutions to issues that appeared multiple times when I was working.
My term ended when I completed my master’s degree, so I created a design manual/handbook to be passed down to the next Web Manager. This document detailed important information like key stakeholders and their contact information, links to websites and files with documentation relevant to the position, as well as some not-so-obvious solutions to issues that appeared multiple times when I was working.
My term ended when I completed my master’s degree, so I created a design manual/handbook to be passed down to the next Web Manager. This document detailed important information like key stakeholders and their contact information, links to websites and files with documentation relevant to the position, as well as some not-so-obvious solutions to issues that appeared multiple times when I was working.
My term ended when I completed my master’s degree, so I created a design manual/handbook to be passed down to the next Web Manager. This document detailed important information like key stakeholders and their contact information, links to websites and files with documentation relevant to the position, as well as some not-so-obvious solutions to issues that appeared multiple times when I was working.
Takeaways
Takeaways
Takeaways
Takeaways
Be ready for anything
As the sole designer and web manager for the department, I was constantly being pulled in multiple directions and tasks. Thankfully I was able to effectively communicate my deadline expectations as well as advise stakeholders on what would be feasible for the website.
Be ready for anything
As the sole designer and web manager for the department, I was constantly being pulled in multiple directions and tasks. Thankfully I was able to effectively communicate my deadline expectations as well as advise stakeholders on what would be feasible for the website.
Be ready for anything
As the sole designer and web manager for the department, I was constantly being pulled in multiple directions and tasks. Thankfully I was able to effectively communicate my deadline expectations as well as advise stakeholders on what would be feasible for the website.
Be ready for anything
As the sole designer and web manager for the department, I was constantly being pulled in multiple directions and tasks. Thankfully I was able to effectively communicate my deadline expectations as well as advise stakeholders on what would be feasible for the website.
Never stop learning
I found myself learning new things about my role every week- whether it be looking through my previous notes on how to do basic code, or dig through USC’s expansive web design handbooks to find the one piece of information I needed to complete my task, it was both fulfilling and challenging. Being able to stay humble and hungry for new information made me willing to try new ideas and features out.
Never stop learning
I found myself learning new things about my role every week- whether it be looking through my previous notes on how to do basic code, or dig through USC’s expansive web design handbooks to find the one piece of information I needed to complete my task, it was both fulfilling and challenging. Being able to stay humble and hungry for new information made me willing to try new ideas and features out.
Never stop learning
I found myself learning new things about my role every week- whether it be looking through my previous notes on how to do basic code, or dig through USC’s expansive web design handbooks to find the one piece of information I needed to complete my task, it was both fulfilling and challenging. Being able to stay humble and hungry for new information made me willing to try new ideas and features out.
Never stop learning
I found myself learning new things about my role every week- whether it be looking through my previous notes on how to do basic code, or dig through USC’s expansive web design handbooks to find the one piece of information I needed to complete my task, it was both fulfilling and challenging. Being able to stay humble and hungry for new information made me willing to try new ideas and features out.
