Strengthening student support and usability by reorganizing content, minimizing friction in key user flows, and applying data-driven UX research.
Strengthening student support and usability by reorganizing content, minimizing friction in key user flows, and applying data-driven UX research.
Strengthening student support and usability by reorganizing content, minimizing friction in key user flows, and applying data-driven UX research.
User Research
SEMTE Graduate Resources Website, Arizona State University
User Research
SEMTE Graduate Resources Website, Arizona State University
User Research
SEMTE Graduate Resources Website, Arizona State University
Client: School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University
Role: Communications Assistant, Ira A Fulton Schools of Engineering, ASU
Tools: Google Forms, Figma, WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool
Timeline: 4 months
Client: School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University
Role: Communications Assistant, Ira A Fulton Schools of Engineering, ASU
Tools: Google Forms, Figma, WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool
Timeline: 4 months
The SEMTE Graduate Resources website serves graduate students and advisors across multiple engineering programs at ASU, to provide accessible information about academic procedures, student opportunities, policies, and tools to support successful program navigation.
Initial evaluations showed the site was hard to find, confusing to navigate, and lacked organization.
The goal of this study was to identify usability issues and improve user experience through research and testing.
My Role
As part of my role as Communications Assistant at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, I independently led the user experience research and redesign of the SEMTE Graduate Resources website.
With guidance from my manager and professor, I oversaw the entire process from conducting user research and heuristic evaluations to restructuring information architecture and designing high-fidelity prototypes.
My focus was on improving navigation, usability, and accessibility, ensuring that graduate students could easily find academic resources, advising information, and program details.
The SEMTE Graduate Resources website serves graduate students and advisors across multiple engineering programs at ASU, to provide accessible information about academic procedures, student opportunities, policies, and tools to support successful program navigation.
Initial evaluations showed the site was hard to find, confusing to navigate, and lacked organization.
The goal of this study was to identify usability issues and improve user experience through research and testing.
My Role
As part of my role as Communications Assistant at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, I independently led the user experience research and redesign of the SEMTE Graduate Resources website.
With guidance from my manager and professor, I oversaw the entire process from conducting user research and heuristic evaluations to restructuring information architecture and designing high-fidelity prototypes.
My focus was on improving navigation, usability, and accessibility, ensuring that graduate students could easily find academic resources, advising information, and program details.
Context
Context
Problem Statement
The existing SEMTE Graduate Resources website lacked a cohesive structure and intuitive navigation system. Key information was buried under inconsistent page layouts, redundant links, and fragmented categories, leading to user frustration and poor discoverability of critical academic and advising resources.
Business Problems
The site’s disorganized structure led to increased dependency on staff support, reducing efficiency.
Inconsistent content updates and lack of a scalable design limited long-term maintainability.
Absence of a unified design standard weakened brand credibility within the broader Fulton Schools ecosystem.
User Problems
Difficult navigation: Students often struggled to locate key resources such as advising forms, program requirements, and funding opportunities.
Content overload: Long, text-heavy pages without clear hierarchy made scanning difficult.
Fragmented experience: Information related to graduate life was scattered across multiple pages without clear cross-linking.
Accessibility gaps: The site was not optimized for mobile or screen-reader users, creating barriers for inclusivity.
Goals
The redesign aimed to:
Create a centralized, easy-to-navigate hub for graduate students.
Simplify content structure and enhance information discoverability.
Establish a consistent visual language aligned with ASU brand standards.
Improve accessibility and readability across devices.
Reduce student dependence on administrative staff for basic information.
Problem Statement
The existing SEMTE Graduate Resources website lacked a cohesive structure and intuitive navigation system. Key information was buried under inconsistent page layouts, redundant links, and fragmented categories, leading to user frustration and poor discoverability of critical academic and advising resources.
Business Problems
The site’s disorganized structure led to increased dependency on staff support, reducing efficiency.
Inconsistent content updates and lack of a scalable design limited long-term maintainability.
Absence of a unified design standard weakened brand credibility within the broader Fulton Schools ecosystem.
User Problems
Difficult navigation: Students often struggled to locate key resources such as advising forms, program requirements, and funding opportunities.
Content overload: Long, text-heavy pages without clear hierarchy made scanning difficult.
Fragmented experience: Information related to graduate life was scattered across multiple pages without clear cross-linking.
Accessibility gaps: The site was not optimized for mobile or screen-reader users, creating barriers for inclusivity.
Goals
The redesign aimed to:
Create a centralized, easy-to-navigate hub for graduate students.
Simplify content structure and enhance information discoverability.
Establish a consistent visual language aligned with ASU brand standards.
Improve accessibility and readability across devices.
Reduce student dependence on administrative staff for basic information.
Initial Website
Initial Website
User Research
User Research
To create a user-centered redesign strategy, I conducted a series of structured research activities to understand how graduate students interacted with the SEMTE Graduate Resources website, what challenges they faced, and how the website could better support their academic journey.
The research process involved Heuristic Evaluation, a Google Survey, User Interviews, and an Accessibility Evaluation, each contributing unique insights into the user experience.
Heuristic Evaluation
I began by evaluating the existing website using Nielsen’s 10 Usability Heuristics to identify critical usability issues.
The analysis revealed:
Inconsistent navigation across pages, violating standards of recognition and consistency.
Overwhelming content density, causing cognitive overload.
Poor visibility of system status, as users often did not receive confirmation of actions (like form submissions).
Lack of error prevention and feedback, leading to user uncertainty.
Each issue was categorized using Nielsen’s 0–4 severity scale, helping prioritize which areas needed immediate redesign attention.
Accessibility Evaluation
An accessibility audit was conducted using the WAVE tool to identify compliance issues with WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
The evaluation uncovered:
Missing alternative text for linked images.
Low color contrast ratios, reducing readability.
Lack of clear heading structure, making it hard for screen readers to navigate content.
Redundant links and titles affecting information clarity.
The findings guided accessibility-focused design decisions, such as improving color contrast, adding descriptive alt text, and reorganizing headings to create a more inclusive and equitable user experience.
To create a user-centered redesign strategy, I conducted a series of structured research activities to understand how graduate students interacted with the SEMTE Graduate Resources website, what challenges they faced, and how the website could better support their academic journey.
The research process involved Heuristic Evaluation, a Google Survey, User Interviews, and an Accessibility Evaluation, each contributing unique insights into the user experience.
Heuristic Evaluation
I began by evaluating the existing website using Nielsen’s 10 Usability Heuristics to identify critical usability issues.
The analysis revealed:
Inconsistent navigation across pages, violating standards of recognition and consistency.
Overwhelming content density, causing cognitive overload.
Poor visibility of system status, as users often did not receive confirmation of actions (like form submissions).
Lack of error prevention and feedback, leading to user uncertainty.
Each issue was categorized using Nielsen’s 0–4 severity scale, helping prioritize which areas needed immediate redesign attention.
Accessibility Evaluation
An accessibility audit was conducted using the WAVE tool to identify compliance issues with WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
The evaluation uncovered:
Missing alternative text for linked images.
Low color contrast ratios, reducing readability.
Lack of clear heading structure, making it hard for screen readers to navigate content.
Redundant links and titles affecting information clarity.
The findings guided accessibility-focused design decisions, such as improving color contrast, adding descriptive alt text, and reorganizing headings to create a more inclusive and equitable user experience.
To create a user-centered redesign strategy, I conducted a series of structured research activities to understand how graduate students interacted with the SEMTE Graduate Resources website, what challenges they faced, and how the website could better support their academic journey.
The research process involved Heuristic Evaluation, a Google Survey, User Interviews, and an Accessibility Evaluation, each contributing unique insights into the user experience.
Heuristic Evaluation
I began by evaluating the existing website using Nielsen’s 10 Usability Heuristics to identify critical usability issues.
The analysis revealed:
Inconsistent navigation across pages, violating standards of recognition and consistency.
Overwhelming content density, causing cognitive overload.
Poor visibility of system status, as users often did not receive confirmation of actions (like form submissions).
Lack of error prevention and feedback, leading to user uncertainty.
Each issue was categorized using Nielsen’s 0–4 severity scale, helping prioritize which areas needed immediate redesign attention.
Accessibility Evaluation
An accessibility audit was conducted using the WAVE tool to identify compliance issues with WCAG 2.1 guidelines.
The evaluation uncovered:
Missing alternative text for linked images.
Low color contrast ratios, reducing readability.
Lack of clear heading structure, making it hard for screen readers to navigate content.
Redundant links and titles affecting information clarity.
The findings guided accessibility-focused design decisions, such as improving color contrast, adding descriptive alt text, and reorganizing headings to create a more inclusive and equitable user experience.
Heuristic Evaluation
Heuristic Evaluation
Accessibility Evaluation
Accessibility Evaluation
User Research
User Research
Google Survey
To gain quantitative insights, I distributed a Google Form survey among graduate students across various SEMTE programs.
The goal was to understand how often students used the website, what information they sought, and where they struggled most.
Key findings included:
85% of respondents found it “somewhat difficult” or “very difficult” to locate key academic resources.
Most-used sections included Advising, Degree Requirements, and Funding Opportunities.
Students preferred concise, well-organized content with visual hierarchy over long text blocks.
These results validated the need for a clearer structure and a more engaging visual layout.
User Interviews
To complement the survey data, I conducted in-depth user interviews with graduate students from different programs. Each session focused on exploring their information-seeking behaviors, challenges, and mental models of navigation.
Key insights from the interviews:
Students often relied on Google search rather than navigating the site directly, indicating low trust in the site’s structure.
Many were unaware that certain resources (like student organizations and research support) even existed on the site.
Participants expressed a desire for a single-page view or dashboard-like structure that aggregated important links.
These qualitative insights shaped the foundation for persona development and journey mapping in later stages.
Google Survey
To gain quantitative insights, I distributed a Google Form survey among graduate students across various SEMTE programs.
The goal was to understand how often students used the website, what information they sought, and where they struggled most.
Key findings included:
85% of respondents found it “somewhat difficult” or “very difficult” to locate key academic resources.
Most-used sections included Advising, Degree Requirements, and Funding Opportunities.
Students preferred concise, well-organized content with visual hierarchy over long text blocks.
These results validated the need for a clearer structure and a more engaging visual layout.
User Interviews
To complement the survey data, I conducted in-depth user interviews with graduate students from different programs. Each session focused on exploring their information-seeking behaviors, challenges, and mental models of navigation.
Key insights from the interviews:
Students often relied on Google search rather than navigating the site directly, indicating low trust in the site’s structure.
Many were unaware that certain resources (like student organizations and research support) even existed on the site.
Participants expressed a desire for a single-page view or dashboard-like structure that aggregated important links.
These qualitative insights shaped the foundation for persona development and journey mapping in later stages.
Quantitative Analysis
Quantitative Analysis
User Research
User Research
Persona Creation
Based on the insights gathered from the survey and user interviews, I developed three key personas representing the primary user groups of the SEMTE Graduate Resources website- current graduate students in first year, Current graduate students who are about to graduate and SEMTE Graduate Advisors.
These personas helped humanize the research findings and guided all major design decisions, from information architecture to content hierarchy.
Persona Creation
Based on the insights gathered from the survey and user interviews, I developed three key personas representing the primary user groups of the SEMTE Graduate Resources website- current graduate students in first year, Current graduate students who are about to graduate and SEMTE Graduate Advisors.
These personas helped humanize the research findings and guided all major design decisions, from information architecture to content hierarchy.
User Personas
User Personas
User
Research
User Research
User Research
User Testing (Pre-Design)
Before diving into redesign, I conducted moderated usability testing on the existing SEMTE Graduate Resources website to surface real user pain points. Five participants performed scenario-based tasks while thinking aloud, allowing me to capture friction and mental models in context.
Process
Participants completed three real-world scenarios reflecting core student needs:
Graduation Planning – Finding the faculty advisor selection process and program checksheets.
OPT & CPT Information – Locating eligibility and SEMTE’s policies for work authorization.
Student Resources & Opportunities – Exploring technical electives, scholarships, and fellowship timelines.
Key Findings
Complex navigation made it difficult to find essential information.
Scattered content caused confusion, especially for international students.
Inconsistent link styles and dense text blocks hindered scannability and comprehension.
Outcome
The insights directly informed the redesign’s information architecture and content structure, resulting in a more intuitive and task-focused experience for graduate students.
User Testing (Pre-Design)
Before diving into redesign, I conducted moderated usability testing on the existing SEMTE Graduate Resources website to surface real user pain points. Five participants performed scenario-based tasks while thinking aloud, allowing me to capture friction and mental models in context.
Process
Participants completed three real-world scenarios reflecting core student needs:
Graduation Planning – Finding the faculty advisor selection process and program checksheets.
OPT & CPT Information – Locating eligibility and SEMTE’s policies for work authorization.
Student Resources & Opportunities – Exploring technical electives, scholarships, and fellowship timelines.
Key Findings
Complex navigation made it difficult to find essential information.
Scattered content caused confusion, especially for international students.
Inconsistent link styles and dense text blocks hindered scannability and comprehension.
Outcome
The insights directly informed the redesign’s information architecture and content structure, resulting in a more intuitive and task-focused experience for graduate students.
Design
Process
Design Process
Design Process
Wireframes
To translate the research insights into a clear and structured design direction, I began by developing low- and mid-fidelity wireframes using the ASU Unity Design System — a university-wide framework built to ensure visual consistency, accessibility compliance, and cohesive user experience across all ASU digital platforms.
The focus during this phase was on:
Information hierarchy: Organizing key content areas—advising, funding, graduation, and CPT/OPT—based on frequency of use and user goals identified during research.
Navigation clarity: Simplifying menu structures and adding quick-access links to reduce cognitive load and help users find information efficiently.
Layout consistency: Adopting pre-defined Unity components for typography, spacing, and button styles to align with ASU’s brand and accessibility standards.
Scalability: Structuring layouts that could be easily expanded or modified as new resources are added by the SEMTE team.
These wireframes acted as the foundation for iterative feedback sessions with my manager and peers, ensuring that each design decision supported both user needs and organizational objectives.
Wireframes
To translate the research insights into a clear and structured design direction, I began by developing low- and mid-fidelity wireframes using the ASU Unity Design System — a university-wide framework built to ensure visual consistency, accessibility compliance, and cohesive user experience across all ASU digital platforms.
The focus during this phase was on:
Information hierarchy: Organizing key content areas—advising, funding, graduation, and CPT/OPT—based on frequency of use and user goals identified during research.
Navigation clarity: Simplifying menu structures and adding quick-access links to reduce cognitive load and help users find information efficiently.
Layout consistency: Adopting pre-defined Unity components for typography, spacing, and button styles to align with ASU’s brand and accessibility standards.
Scalability: Structuring layouts that could be easily expanded or modified as new resources are added by the SEMTE team.
These wireframes acted as the foundation for iterative feedback sessions with my manager and peers, ensuring that each design decision supported both user needs and organizational objectives.
Final Design
Final Design
Building on the insights from research, testing, and wireframes, I transitioned into creating high-fidelity designs using the ASU Unity Design System.
My goal was to blend clarity, consistency, and accessibility while ensuring the experience felt intuitive for graduate students with diverse needs.
I refined the visual hierarchy, strengthened navigation pathways, and applied a modular layout structure that keeps information scannable and easy to update.
Each page was designed with purpose, reducing cognitive load, highlighting time-sensitive tasks, and surfacing key academic resources exactly when students need them.
This phase transformed validated wireframes into polished, functional screens that reflect SEMTE’s academic identity while supporting real student workflows.
Building on the insights from research, testing, and wireframes, I transitioned into creating high-fidelity designs using the ASU Unity Design System.
My goal was to blend clarity, consistency, and accessibility while ensuring the experience felt intuitive for graduate students with diverse needs.
I refined the visual hierarchy, strengthened navigation pathways, and applied a modular layout structure that keeps information scannable and easy to update.
Each page was designed with purpose, reducing cognitive load, highlighting time-sensitive tasks, and surfacing key academic resources exactly when students need them.
This phase transformed validated wireframes into polished, functional screens that reflect SEMTE’s academic identity while supporting real student workflows.
Final Design
Final Design
Final Design
Homepage Design
Homepage Design
Homepage Design
The redesigned homepage serves as the central entry point for all SEMTE graduate resources, structured to support fast discovery, clarity, and confidence for new and current students.
Key Highlights of the Homepage Design:
Clear Information Architecture: The homepage organizes content into four primary pathways—Advising, Graduation, Funding, and International Student Support—reflecting the top needs identified during research and usability testing.
Task-Oriented Navigation: Prominent quick links help users immediately access high-demand resources such as forms, checklists, and policy documents without deep navigation.
Structured Program Breakdown: Programs are displayed in an organized grid, allowing users to quickly locate program-specific requirements, faculty advisors, and technical elective lists.
Student-Centered Copy: Content is rewritten to be direct and actionable, reducing ambiguity and helping students understand what to do next.
Overall, the homepage establishes a strong foundation for the site—visually cohesive, logically structured, and designed to guide students to the right information with fewer clicks.
The redesigned homepage serves as the central entry point for all SEMTE graduate resources, structured to support fast discovery, clarity, and confidence for new and current students.
Key Highlights of the Homepage Design:
Clear Information Architecture: The homepage organizes content into four primary pathways, Advising, Graduation, Funding, and International Student Support, reflecting the top needs identified during research and usability testing.
Task-Oriented Navigation: Prominent quick links help users immediately access high-demand resources such as forms, checklists, and policy documents without deep navigation.
Structured Program Breakdown: Programs are displayed in an organized grid, allowing users to quickly locate program-specific requirements, faculty advisors, and technical elective lists.
Student-Centered Copy: Content is rewritten to be direct and actionable, reducing ambiguity and helping students understand what to do next.
Overall, the homepage establishes a strong foundation for the site, visually cohesive, logically structured, and designed to guide students to the right information with fewer clicks.
The redesigned homepage serves as the central entry point for all SEMTE graduate resources, structured to support fast discovery, clarity, and confidence for new and current students.
Key Highlights of the Homepage Design:
Clear Information Architecture: The homepage organizes content into four primary pathways, Advising, Graduation, Funding, and International Student Support, reflecting the top needs identified during research and usability testing.
Task-Oriented Navigation: Prominent quick links help users immediately access high-demand resources such as forms, checklists, and policy documents without deep navigation.
Structured Program Breakdown: Programs are displayed in an organized grid, allowing users to quickly locate program-specific requirements, faculty advisors, and technical elective lists.
Student-Centered Copy: Content is rewritten to be direct and actionable, reducing ambiguity and helping students understand what to do next.
Overall, the homepage establishes a strong foundation for the site, visually cohesive, logically structured, and designed to guide students to the right information with fewer clicks.
Programs Page Design
Programs Page Design
Programs Page Design
The Programs page provides a structured overview of all SEMTE graduate offerings, allowing students to quickly locate their program and access essential resources. Using a clean grid layout, each program card highlights key information at a glance—degree type, specialization, and direct access to program-specific guides. This page reduces search time and supports students who prefer scanning before committing to deeper navigation.
Each individual program page provides a clear, structured view of all essential academic information, tailored to help students quickly find exactly what they need. Every page includes a brief introduction outlining the program’s purpose, structure, and key expectations, advising information, course requirements, program chair details and
important deadlines (alert boxes).
Consistent layouts across programs help students navigate with confidence, reducing cognitive load and making academic planning simpler and more intuitive.
The Programs page provides a structured overview of all SEMTE graduate offerings, allowing students to quickly locate their program and access essential resources. Using a clean grid layout, each program card highlights key information at a glance—degree type, specialization, and direct access to program-specific guides. This page reduces search time and supports students who prefer scanning before committing to deeper navigation.
Each individual program page provides a clear, structured view of all essential academic information, tailored to help students quickly find exactly what they need. Every page includes a brief introduction outlining the program’s purpose, structure, and key expectations, advising information, course requirements, program chair details and
important deadlines (alert boxes).
Consistent layouts across programs help students navigate with confidence, reducing cognitive load and making academic planning simpler and more intuitive.
The Programs page provides a structured overview of all SEMTE graduate offerings, allowing students to quickly locate their program and access essential resources. Using a clean grid layout, each program card highlights key information at a glance—degree type, specialization, and direct access to program-specific guides. This page reduces search time and supports students who prefer scanning before committing to deeper navigation.
Each individual program page provides a clear, structured view of all essential academic information, tailored to help students quickly find exactly what they need. Every page includes a brief introduction outlining the program’s purpose, structure, and key expectations, advising information, course requirements, program chair details and
important deadlines (alert boxes).
Consistent layouts across programs help students navigate with confidence, reducing cognitive load and making academic planning simpler and more intuitive.
Culminating Events Page Design
Culminating Events Page Design
Culminating Events Page Design
The Portfolio, Thesis, and Applied Project pages break down each culminating option into simple, easy-to-follow steps. Each page includes:
Clear Process Overview: A quick explanation of what the culminating experience involves and who it’s for.
Step-by-Step Requirements: Structured guidance on proposal guidelines, submission steps, and evaluation expectations.
Faculty & Advising Support: Direct links to advisors, committee requirements, and approval workflows.
Important Deadlines: Alert boxes highlight key dates so students can stay on track throughout the process.
These pages remove confusion around graduation pathways and help students confidently choose and complete the option that best aligns with their academic goals.
The Portfolio, Thesis, and Applied Project pages break down each culminating option into simple, easy-to-follow steps. Each page includes:
Clear Process Overview: A quick explanation of what the culminating experience involves and who it’s for.
Step-by-Step Requirements: Structured guidance on proposal guidelines, submission steps, and evaluation expectations.
Faculty & Advising Support: Direct links to advisors, committee requirements, and approval workflows.
Important Deadlines: Alert boxes highlight key dates so students can stay on track throughout the process.
These pages remove confusion around graduation pathways and help students confidently choose and complete the option that best aligns with their academic goals.
The Portfolio, Thesis, and Applied Project pages break down each culminating option into simple, easy-to-follow steps. Each page includes:
Clear Process Overview: A quick explanation of what the culminating experience involves and who it’s for.
Step-by-Step Requirements: Structured guidance on proposal guidelines, submission steps, and evaluation expectations.
Faculty & Advising Support: Direct links to advisors, committee requirements, and approval workflows.
Important Deadlines: Alert boxes highlight key dates so students can stay on track throughout the process.
These pages remove confusion around graduation pathways and help students confidently choose and complete the option that best aligns with their academic goals.
Other Pages Design
Other Pages Design
Other Pages Design
Student Resources Page
This page consolidates all essential academic and support resources into one intuitive space. Students can easily access tutoring, writing support, lab information, policies, and links to university-wide services. Organized sections and clear labeling help users quickly find the tools they need to succeed throughout their program.
CPT & OPT Information Page
The CPT/OPT page simplifies complex immigration and employment information for international students. It provides clear explanations of eligibility, required steps, SEMTE-specific guidelines, and links to official ISSC resources. The structured layout reduces cognitive load and ensures students feel confident navigating work authorization processes.
Student Resources Page
This page consolidates all essential academic and support resources into one intuitive space. Students can easily access tutoring, writing support, lab information, policies, and links to university-wide services. Organized sections and clear labeling help users quickly find the tools they need to succeed throughout their program.
CPT & OPT Information Page
The CPT/OPT page simplifies complex immigration and employment information for international students. It provides clear explanations of eligibility, required steps, SEMTE-specific guidelines, and links to official ISSC resources. The structured layout reduces cognitive load and ensures students feel confident navigating work authorization processes.
Student Resources Page
This page consolidates all essential academic and support resources into one intuitive space. Students can easily access tutoring, writing support, lab information, policies, and links to university-wide services. Organized sections and clear labeling help users quickly find the tools they need to succeed throughout their program.
CPT & OPT Information Page
The CPT/OPT page simplifies complex immigration and employment information for international students. It provides clear explanations of eligibility, required steps, SEMTE-specific guidelines, and links to official ISSC resources. The structured layout reduces cognitive load and ensures students feel confident navigating work authorization processes.
Quick Links Page
Designed for fast access, the Quick Links page gathers the most frequently used SEMTE resources, forms, program documents, electives lists, policies, and student services, into a clean, scannable format. It eliminates unnecessary searching and supports students who regularly return for specific information.
Advisors Page
This page helps students identify the right academic advisor or program chair with ease. It includes advisor names, roles, contact details, and relevant responsibilities. A structured layout ensures students can quickly locate guidance based on their program and connect with the right support at the right time.
Quick Links Page
Designed for fast access, the Quick Links page gathers the most frequently used SEMTE resources, forms, program documents, electives lists, policies, and student services, into a clean, scannable format. It eliminates unnecessary searching and supports students who regularly return for specific information.
Advisors Page
This page helps students identify the right academic advisor or program chair with ease. It includes advisor names, roles, contact details, and relevant responsibilities. A structured layout ensures students can quickly locate guidance based on their program and connect with the right support at the right time.
Quick Links Page
Designed for fast access, the Quick Links page gathers the most frequently used SEMTE resources, forms, program documents, electives lists, policies, and student services, into a clean, scannable format. It eliminates unnecessary searching and supports students who regularly return for specific information.
Advisors Page
This page helps students identify the right academic advisor or program chair with ease. It includes advisor names, roles, contact details, and relevant responsibilities. A structured layout ensures students can quickly locate guidance based on their program and connect with the right support at the right time.
Impact
Impact
The redesigned SEMTE Graduate Resources platform has the potential to significantly improve how students navigate critical academic information. By restructuring content, clarifying pathways, and strengthening visual hierarchy, the new design reduces the time and cognitive effort required to find program details, policies, and graduation requirements.
Improved findability of key information such as program requirements, CPT/OPT policies, and graduation steps.
Reduced cognitive load through clearer content structure, consistent layouts, and simplified navigation.
Created a more accessible and supportive experience for international students.
Strengthened visual hierarchy and alignment with ASU’s Unity Design System for a cohesive experience.
Enabled smoother academic planning by organizing content in a predictable, student-friendly format.
The redesigned SEMTE Graduate Resources platform has the potential to significantly improve how students navigate critical academic information. By restructuring content, clarifying pathways, and strengthening visual hierarchy, the new design reduces the time and cognitive effort required to find program details, policies, and graduation requirements.
Improved findability of key information such as program requirements, CPT/OPT policies, and graduation steps.
Reduced cognitive load through clearer content structure, consistent layouts, and simplified navigation.
Created a more accessible and supportive experience for international students.
Strengthened visual hierarchy and alignment with ASU’s Unity Design System for a cohesive experience.
Enabled smoother academic planning by organizing content in a predictable, student-friendly format.
Key Learnings
Key Learnings
Working on this project taught me how deeply clarity, or the lack of it, impacts a student’s ability to make important academic decisions. Through user interviews and testing, I began to see patterns in how overwhelmed students often feel when navigating policies, deadlines, and forms scattered across pages.
Personally, I learned how to balance university branding constraints with user-centered design decisions, and how to translate complex academic structures into simple pathways. I also refined my ability to synthesize large amounts of information and create systems that feel structured, predictable, and reassuring.
Because this was a solo project, I strengthened my end-to-end UX process, from research to testing to high-fidelity design, while regularly seeking feedback from my manager and professor. This helped me grow not only as a designer but also as a decision-maker.
Working on this project taught me how deeply clarity, or the lack of it, impacts a student’s ability to make important academic decisions. Through user interviews and testing, I began to see patterns in how overwhelmed students often feel when navigating policies, deadlines, and forms scattered across pages.
Personally, I learned how to balance university branding constraints with user-centered design decisions, and how to translate complex academic structures into simple pathways. I also refined my ability to synthesize large amounts of information and create systems that feel structured, predictable, and reassuring.
Because this was a solo project, I strengthened my end-to-end UX process, from research to testing to high-fidelity design, while regularly seeking feedback from my manager and professor. This helped me grow not only as a designer but also as a decision-maker.
Going
Forward
Going Forward
Moving forward, the next steps would focus on refining and validating the design through:
Usability testing on the high-fidelity prototype to confirm improvements in navigation, clarity, and findability.
Content collaboration with SEMTE staff, ensuring program pages remain accurate, consistent, and easy to maintain.
Enhancing personalization, such as adding role-based quick access sections (e.g., international students, graduating students, new admits).
Iterating on accessibility, including improved alt text coverage, heading structure, and contrast refinements.
Preparing a CMS-ready component library, enabling SEMTE administrators to update content quickly without breaking the structure.
The long-term goal is to create a reliable, intuitive resource that students can trust throughout their academic journey and one that can evolve with SEMTE’s programs and policies.
Moving forward, the next steps would focus on refining and validating the design through:
Usability testing on the high-fidelity prototype to confirm improvements in navigation, clarity, and findability.
Content collaboration with SEMTE staff, ensuring program pages remain accurate, consistent, and easy to maintain.
Enhancing personalization, such as adding role-based quick access sections (e.g., international students, graduating students, new admits).
Iterating on accessibility, including improved alt text coverage, heading structure, and contrast refinements.
Preparing a CMS-ready component library, enabling SEMTE administrators to update content quickly without breaking the structure.
The long-term goal is to create a reliable, intuitive resource that students can trust throughout their academic journey and one that can evolve with SEMTE’s programs and policies.
