MySCAD: Usability Testing and Redesign (Professor View)
MySCAD: Usability Testing and Redesign (Professor View)
Class Project - Spring 2024
Class Project - Spring 2024
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
Navigating complex faculty portals can lead to frustration and inefficiency, impacting educators' ability to access essential resources. The MySCAD Faculty Portal Redesign focused on enhancing usability and streamlining navigation to create a more intuitive and enjoyable experience for SCAD faculty.
Navigating complex faculty portals can lead to frustration and inefficiency, impacting educators' ability to access essential resources. The MySCAD Faculty Portal Redesign focused on enhancing usability and streamlining navigation to create a more intuitive and enjoyable experience for SCAD faculty.
ROLES
ROLES
Project Manager
UI Designer
UX Researcher
Visual Designer
Project Manager
UI Designer
UX Researcher
Visual Designer
TOOLS
TOOLS
Figma
Microsoft Excel
Figma
Microsoft Excel
COLLABORATORS
COLLABORATORS
Leoj Chin
Soojin Kim
Emiliano Mirafuentes
Leoj Chin
Soojin Kim
Emiliano Mirafuentes
TOUCHPOINTS
TOUCHPOINTS
01
SCOPE
SCOPE
Defining the Problem and Goals for a User-Centered Redesign
01
SCOPE
Defining the Problem and Goals for a User-Centered Redesign
For such a creative institution, the MySCAD portal feels surprisingly uninspired and difficult to navigate.
For such a creative institution, the MySCAD portal feels surprisingly uninspired and difficult to navigate.
For such a creative institution, the MySCAD portal feels surprisingly uninspired and difficult to navigate.
- SCAD Professor
- SCAD Professor
17,500
17,500
STUDENTS
650
650
FACULTY
17,500
STUDENTS
650
FACULTY
Designing for Desktop
Designing for Desktop
Our team focused exclusively on testing the desktop experience of MySCAD, as user feedback showed it to be the primary platform for most users. By prioritizing desktop usability, we aimed to deliver a seamless and optimized experience for the majority of the user base, ensuring maximum impact and satisfaction.
Our team focused exclusively on testing the desktop experience of MySCAD, as user feedback showed it to be the primary platform for most users. By prioritizing desktop usability, we aimed to deliver a seamless and optimized experience for the majority of the user base, ensuring maximum impact and satisfaction.
PROJECT TIMELINE
This 10-week project followed an agile methodology, divided into five phases of design production. The process began with formulating a detailed test plan and culminated in a redesigned MySCAD portal to improve the user experience for faculty.
Our team conducted usability testing and research, focusing on the unique needs of professors. By week four, we synthesized findings and shifted into iterative design, delivering a faculty-focused solution that prioritized usability, efficiency, and an enhanced user experience.
PROJECT TIMELINE
This 10-week project followed an agile methodology, divided into five phases of design production. The process began with formulating a detailed test plan and culminated in a redesigned MySCAD portal to improve the user experience for faculty.
Our team conducted usability testing and research, focusing on the unique needs of professors. By week four, we synthesized findings and shifted into iterative design, delivering a faculty-focused solution that prioritized usability, efficiency, and an enhanced user experience.
02
DISCOVER
DISCOVER
Uncovering Pain Points Through Research and Usability Testing
02
DISCOVER
Uncovering Pain Points Through Research and Usability Testing
PARTICIPANT RECRUITMENT
PARTICIPANT RECRUITMENT
In the initial stages of recruitment, our team prepared and distributed recruitment materials, including consent forms. Participants were required to review and complete the consent forms to ensure ethical compliance and their agreement to participate in the study.
In the initial stages of recruitment, our team prepared and distributed recruitment materials, including consent forms. Participants were required to review and complete the consent forms to ensure ethical compliance and their agreement to participate in the study.
Faculty Walkthrough
Faculty Walkthrough
Lacking direct access to the Faculty Portal, our team collaborated with faculty members through scheduled walkthroughs to gain a comprehensive understanding of the system's functionality and user workflows.
Lacking direct access to the Faculty Portal, our team collaborated with faculty members through scheduled walkthroughs to gain a comprehensive understanding of the system's functionality and user workflows.
PARTICIPANTS
PARTICIPANTS
ED CHANETSA
ED CHANETSA
BUSI PROFESSOR
MIKE CONN
MIKE CONN
BOWLING COACH
KATIE THORNTON
BOWLING COACH
CLARK DELASHMET
BUSI PROFESSOR
KATIE THORNTON
BOWLING COACH
CLARK DELASHMET
UXDG PROFESSOR
SHANNON IACINO
IDUS PROFESSOR
DENISE PILAR
UXDG PROFESSOR
SHANNON IACINO
IDUS PROFESSOR
DENISE PILAR
UXDG PROFESSOR
DATA CAPTURED
DATA CAPTURED
Summative Usability Testing
Summative Usability Testing
We conducted summative usability testing to evaluate the current Faculty Portal and gain a deeper understanding of its functionality and user workflows. This testing allowed us to observe how users interacted with the system, identify key usability issues, and assess whether the portal effectively supported user goals.
We conducted summative usability testing to evaluate the current Faculty Portal and gain a deeper understanding of its functionality and user workflows. This testing allowed us to observe how users interacted with the system, identify key usability issues, and assess whether the portal effectively supported user goals.
FIRST ROUND
FIRST ROUND
USER TESTING
USER TESTING
Binary Success Metric
Participants were tasked with completing a series of actions within the current MySCAD portal to evaluate its usability and effectiveness. Success was measured as a binary outcome, indicating whether users could complete each task without errors or external assistance.
73.4%
73.4%
Confidence Interval
To assess task efficiency and reliability, we calculated confidence intervals for the time taken to complete each task. This approach allowed us to account for variability across participants and measure consistency in task performance.
System Usability Scale
After completing the tasks, participants provided feedback on their experience with the MySCAD portal through standardized surveys and questionnaires.
FIRST ROUND
KEY INSIGHTS
Information Overload
The current layout is cluttered and difficult to navigate, with too much information on one page and no clear content hierarchy.
The current layout is cluttered and difficult to navigate, with too much information on one page and no clear content hierarchy.
Non-Essential Information
The portal is cluttered with redundant, broken, and irrelevant links, creating a frustrating user experience.
The portal is cluttered with redundant, broken, and irrelevant links, creating a frustrating user experience.
Search Bar Usability
Most users didn’t notice the search bar, and those who did found it frustrating since it only searched content box names, not specific tasks or links.
03
DESIGN
DESIGN
Transforming Insights into Actionable Design Solutions
FIRST ROUND
KEY INSIGHTS
Information Overload
The current layout is cluttered and difficult to navigate, with too much information on one page and no clear content hierarchy.
Non-Essential Information
The portal is cluttered with redundant, broken, and irrelevant links, creating a frustrating user experience.
Search Bar Usability
Most users didn’t notice the search bar, and those who did found it frustrating since it only searched content box names, not specific tasks or links.
03
DESIGN
Transforming Insights into Actionable Design Solutions
FIRST ROUND
KEY INSIGHTS
Information Overload
The current layout is cluttered and difficult to navigate, with too much information on one page and no clear content hierarchy.
Non-Essential Information
The portal is cluttered with redundant, broken, and irrelevant links, creating a frustrating user experience.
Search Bar Usability
Most users didn’t notice the search bar, and those who did found it frustrating since it only searched content box names, not specific tasks or links.
03
DESIGN
Transforming Insights into Actionable Design Solutions
ACCELERATED HI-FI TESTING
ACCELERATED HI-FI TESTING
Contrary to my typical workflow, our team was instructed to begin with a high-fidelity prototype for testing. While we iterated on the design throughout the process, our initial usability tests focused on a near-finished prototype.
Under normal circumstances, I would first design and test a mid-fidelity prototype to validate the foundational structure and ensure users could navigate without relying on visual elements like images to guide them. This approach allows for a clearer assessment of usability before incorporating final design details.
Contrary to my typical workflow, our team was instructed to begin with a high-fidelity prototype for testing. While we iterated on the design throughout the process, our initial usability tests focused on a near-finished prototype.
Under normal circumstances, I would first design and test a mid-fidelity prototype to validate the foundational structure and ensure users could navigate without relying on visual elements like images to guide them. This approach allows for a clearer assessment of usability before incorporating final design details.
Design System
Design System
Our team adopted a bento box-inspired design, allowing us to organize content in a clear and structured way. This approach aligned with the users' mental models of the current system, ensuring familiarity while enhancing overall usability.
Our team adopted a bento box-inspired design, allowing us to organize content in a clear and structured way. This approach aligned with the users' mental models of the current system, ensuring familiarity while enhancing overall usability.
Reducing Information Overlaod
As part of our analysis of the current portal, we imported full-page screenshots of each screen and created a detailed Excel sheet to identify areas for improvement. This included pinpointing elements that needed to be relocated, redundant information to be streamlined, and content that could be omitted entirely in our redesign.
A/B TESTING
A/B TESTING
NAVIGATION STRUCTURES
During the iteration phase, we conducted A/B testing to compare side navigation with top navigation designs. This process helped us determine which structure better aligned with user workflows and improved accessibility.
During the iteration phase, we conducted A/B testing to compare side navigation with top navigation designs. This process helped us determine which structure better aligned with user workflows and improved accessibility.
Side Navigation
Side Navigation
Top Navigation
Top Navigation
STREAMLINED NAVIGATION
STREAMLINED NAVIGATION
By consolidating content into three intuitive categories, the new design enhances clarity and efficiency, ensuring a more focused and user-friendly experience.
By consolidating content into three intuitive categories, the new design enhances clarity and efficiency, ensuring a more focused and user-friendly experience.
Workspace
Workspace
The Workspace tab consolidates essential tools and resources faculty use daily, such as class schedules, due dates, and quick access to frequently used applications like Blackboard and Zoom.
The Workspace tab consolidates essential tools and resources faculty use daily, such as class schedules, due dates, and quick access to frequently used applications like Blackboard and Zoom.
WORKSPACE
WORKSPACE
FEATURES
FEATURES
My Info
My Info
The My Info tab provides faculty members with quick access to their personal information, including payroll details, meal plans, and SCAD card management. Designed with clarity in mind, this section organizes critical data into intuitive categories.
The My Info tab provides faculty members with quick access to their personal information, including payroll details, meal plans, and SCAD card management. Designed with clarity in mind, this section organizes critical data into intuitive categories.
MY INFO
MY INFO
FEATURES
FEATURES
Resources
Resources
The Resources tab acts as a hub for academic and administrative tools, including directories, policies, and faculty-specific links. By categorizing and consolidating these assets, the Resources tab reduces redundancy.
The Resources tab acts as a hub for academic and administrative tools, including directories, policies, and faculty-specific links. By categorizing and consolidating these assets, the Resources tab reduces redundancy.
RESOURCES
FEATURES
04
VALIDATION
VALIDATION
Measuring Success: Comparing Old vs. New Designs
04
VALIDATION
Measuring Success: Comparing Old vs. New Designs
SECOND ROUND
SECOND ROUND
USER TESTING
USER TESTING
Improved Success
Improved Success
The second round of user testing revealed a significant improvement in task success rates, increasing from 73.4% in the original portal to 93.3% in the redesigned version.
The second round of user testing revealed a significant improvement in task success rates, increasing from 73.4% in the original portal to 93.3% in the redesigned version.
93.3%
93.3%
05
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
Lessons Learned and Growth Through Collaborative Design
05
REFLECTION
Lessons Learned and Growth Through Collaborative Design
KEY LEARNINGS
KEY LEARNINGS
Stepping Up to the Plate
Taking on a leadership role for the first time is both exciting and daunting. The weight of responsibility can feel overwhelming, but rising to the challenge has strengthened my confidence as both a designer and a leader. I’ve learned that leading a team isn’t just about keeping the project on course, it’s about supporting the people steering it. Ensuring that every team member felt heard, valued, and aligned was critical to our success, reinforcing that great design is just as much about collaboration as it is about execution.
Stepping Up to the Plate
Taking on a leadership role for the first time is both exciting and daunting. The weight of responsibility can feel overwhelming, but rising to the challenge has strengthened my confidence as both a designer and a leader. I’ve learned that leading a team isn’t just about keeping the project on course, it’s about supporting the people steering it. Ensuring that every team member felt heard, valued, and aligned was critical to our success, reinforcing that great design is just as much about collaboration as it is about execution.
Stepping Up to the Plate
Taking on a leadership role for the first time is both exciting and daunting. The weight of responsibility can feel overwhelming, but rising to the challenge has strengthened my confidence as both a designer and a leader. I’ve learned that leading a team isn’t just about keeping the project on course, it’s about supporting the people steering it. Ensuring that every team member felt heard, valued, and aligned was critical to our success, reinforcing that great design is just as much about collaboration as it is about execution.
Test Early and Often
Test Early and Often
Test Early and Often
Never Let Up!
Never Let Up!
Never Let Up!
Stepping Up to the Plate
Taking on a leadership role for the first time is both exciting and daunting. The weight of responsibility can feel overwhelming, but rising to the challenge has strengthened my confidence as both a designer and a leader. I’ve learned that leading a team isn’t just about keeping the project on course, it’s about supporting the people steering it. Ensuring that every team member felt heard, valued, and aligned was critical to our success, reinforcing that great design is just as much about collaboration as it is about execution.
Stepping Up to the Plate
Taking on a leadership role for the first time is both exciting and daunting. The weight of responsibility can feel overwhelming, but rising to the challenge has strengthened my confidence as both a designer and a leader. I’ve learned that leading a team isn’t just about keeping the project on course, it’s about supporting the people steering it. Ensuring that every team member felt heard, valued, and aligned was critical to our success, reinforcing that great design is just as much about collaboration as it is about execution.
Never Let Up!
Never Let Up!
Test Early and Often
Test Early and Often
That's all folks!
Thanks for reading! If you'd like to learn more about this project, feel free to reach out.
Thats all folks!
Thanks for reading! If you'd like to learn more about this project, feel free to reach out.
EXPLORE MORE WORK
EXPLORE MORE WORK
That's all folks!
Thanks for reading! If you'd like to learn more about this project, feel free to reach out.