RE:RISD
A user-first information architecture bridging RISD’s websites
RE:RISD aimed at optimizing the digital landscape of Rhode Island School of Design by merging risd.edu and the Student Hub into a single, user-centered ecosystem. Through user research and usability testing, the new site architecture provides customized entry points for both internal and external users of RISD. This new system ultimately streamlines the user experience while creating a strong online platform that echoes RISD’s brand guidelines.
The Need for Personalized information at RISD
The current digital environment of RISD—risd.edu and the Student Hub—forces users to awkwardly bounce between multiple portals to find a single piece of information. To eliminate this redundancy and friction, I identified distinct user groups, including current students, faculty, prospective students, and parents, to uncover the specific challenges they face within these disconnected platforms. Through qualitative user research, the goal became clear: merging both risd.edu and the Student Hub into a single, integrated platform that delivers relevant information for each user group.
Differentiate Users
Analyzing the existing user journey highlighted critical friction points and redundant navigational loops. To resolve these issues, I segmented users into internal "insiders" seeking utility and external "outsiders" needing surface-level guidance.
Driven by these findings, I developed a global user flow introducing two core elements: a dropdown menu and a local navigation bar. These features serve as customized entry points, effectively filtering users and guiding them to their desired depth of information.
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Test It Out
Guided by the sitemap, I aligned each navigational path with a specific level of information, directly matching the visiting intent of each persona. I then developed targeted low-fidelity wireframes to translate these pathways into a tangible UI.
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For usability testing, I assigned specific tasks to nine random RISD students using my low-fidelity mockup. Through this, I gathered valuable feedback regarding the clarity of the labeling menu titles and identified UI features that could further enhance the overall user experience.
System Delivery / HI-FI
Reflecting insights from user testing, the final phase establishes strict visual consistency through the strategic use of RISD Blue (#2454FF) and Ryan Bugden’s RISD Serif fonts. During development, I built a cohesive system of custom navigation, footers, and scalable layouts, ultimately delivering on the primary objective: an integrated, user-optimized platform.