Project Background:

In my Introduction to Experience Architecture class that I took Spring 2022 we were put into groups to work collaboratively and redesign the MSU Online (online.msu.edu) website. We met with an individual who was working at MSU Online which is the program at Michigan State University which specialize in online programs and she presented her concerns with the website and what she wanted to improve. The Online.msu.edu website had high traffic on their site but had few people sign up and enroll into MSU online. Another issue was the accessibility of the website and the web design.

Goal:

To increase the number of people enrolling into MSU online and improve the accessibility and overall visualization of the site.

MSU Online features degrees and certificate programs at Michigan State University.

Image Credits to: online.msu.com

First Step

The first step we completed as a group was a card sorting exercise in which we collectively sorted out information/categories that we saw on the online.msu site. We did this card sorting exercise to get a better understanding of how we categorize certain things. The text that is in bold shows the title of the categories and the regular font is what we choose to classify under those categories.

Research Methods

The first task we were presented with was to use a variety of different research methods to justify the changes we wanted to make to the webpage. We got together as a group and conducted a variety of different research methods starting off with card sorting.

Card Sorting Results

Second Step

Based on this card sorting exercise we decided to make a couple changes to how the things were categorized on the website. This is the before of the Online MSU website and based on our research methods we created a prototype of what we would want it to look like.