Campus Connect
Created a new design to our campus's student portal.
Role: Product design, visual design, usability testing
Context
Campus Connect is DePaul University's central online portal utilized by students, faculty, and staff. It is designed to manage key academic and administrative functions including:
- Class registration and scheduling
- Viewing graduation progress
- Accessing grade history and course materials
Despite its importance, the platform has garnered negative user feedback due to its outdated interface and unintuitive navigation.
Problem
Campus Connect is not effectively meeting the needs of its primary users—students. Specific pain points include:
- Ineffective and frustrating "Manage Classes" tab
- Poor overall navigation and layout
- Dated visual design that detracts from user experience
Core Question:
How can we revamp Campus Connect to make it a positive experience for students?
Research
To better understand user frustrations and identify opportunities for improvement, qualitative usability research was conducted.
1. Stakeholder Interviews (Usability Testing)
Three students from different disciplines and class standings were interviewed, ranging from incoming freshmen to experienced juniors
2. Observations
Each participant was observed navigating Campus Connect. The goal was to capture organic reactions and usage patterns.
3. Persona Development
Two key personas were identified:
- Students (76% of users): Use Campus Connect for academic planning, course registration, and viewing progress.
- Faculty/Staff (24% of users): Use it primarily for scheduling, roster management, and grade entry.
Development
1. Information Architecture
Reorganized site structure to improve navigation and accessibility of features.
2. Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Initial layouts for:
- Home Page
- Course Catalog
- Manage Classes
3. Feedback on Low-Fidelity Designs
Initial responses were mixed but constructive:
- "Feels a little cramped."
- "I like the concept, just needs adjustment on size."
- "Home page could use more boxes."
- "The sidebar is my favorite."
Final
High-Fidelity Wireframes
Refinements based on user feedback:
- More spacious and visually organized layout
- Event boxes on the homepage
- Highlighted DPR feature for easy access
Next Steps
The next steps with the information I gathered is to expand the redesign to include additional Campus Connect pages. I also want to conduct broader usability testing across departments since my sample size was on the smaller side. Lastly, I want to advocate for implementation within the universities administration.