Work Brief
During my internship at the Klausner Research Group of USC Keck Medicine School, I redesigned their original website as the only designer in the team.
Role
Web Designer
Timeline
Sept 2022 - May 2023
Location
Los Angeles, CA
Skills
Web Design, User Experience, Project Management
To revitalize the Klausner Research Group's digital presence
THE GOAL
address visually outdated interface
enhance user navigation and engagement
improve communication of research impact
THE PROCESS
Client Brief
During my initial meetings with the project manager, my main goal was to fully understand the project's scope. To align our visions, I presented a mood board created from various sites to identify her preferences more clearly. This approach allowed us to unify our concepts regarding the future direction of the website's overall visual and experiential design.
Client feedback showed that users were ignoring news in the press tab as it wasn't visible on the homepage. To improve the user flow, we added more call-to-action buttons on the homepage, making it easier to access information efficiently.
User Flow
Low Fidelity Mockup
During the lo-fidelity design stage, I considered user interactions to ensure our initial ideas were effectively visualized. I prioritized margin sizing and image placement while ensuring usability and avoiding redundancy.
After reviewing the low-fidelity drafts with the client and incorporating their feedback, I progressed to mid-fidelity designs, where I further explored color schemes, imagery, and various design elements to refine our concepts.
Mid-fidelity Mockup
High Fidelity Mockup
During the hi-fidelity design stage, I focused on maintaining consistency throughout all templates by using the same design system, settling on fonts, and incorporating the official USC and Klausner Research Group logo.
Development
After completing the design, I developed the website using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WordPress, teaching myself WordPress in the process. Once the site was live, I took on the role of web manager, ensuring it stayed updated and functional. Later, I led the successful integration of the research group’s website into USC’s platform.
The final home page developed in Wordpress.
Reflection
Always communicate with my client
At the end of the day, the design is for the client. Even if what they want isn’t exactly what I had in mind, my job is to make their vision come to life. Keeping in touch regularly, getting their thoughts, and making sure we're meeting their needs is key. This constant back-and-forth helps make sure the final design is something the client really loves.