Simple. Powerful. Clear.
Storytelling through
web design
OVERVIEW
The current MHCI+D website, though functional, failed to fully represent the creativity and opportunities offered by the program. To better communicate its world-class status and attract prospective students, the site required a refresh. The goal was to implement a clean, straightforward design paired with engaging features that inspire exploration and drive action.
DISCOVERY
WHAT THEY DO
The MHCI+D program is highly regarded for its interdisciplinary, hands-on approach, fostering a collaborative community and preparing students for successful careers in tech and design. I focused on capturing the excitement and passion around the program and conveying it in my design.
WHAT I DID
I collaborated with our creative director, who led the research, including competitive analysis of similar human design programs, a review of existing client research and alumni surveys, and additional surveys and listening sessions with current students, faculty, and staff. I used those findings to guide the design direction and overall storytelling of the site.
THE RESULTS
The research and site audit guided my development of a new information architecture, designed to align with the program’s values and emphasize a human-centered approach. Alumni and students value career clarity, practical skills, and connections, while faculty and advisors stress highlighting the 11-month structure, thesis and capstone projects, supportive community, and industry ties through an engaging, accessible website.
Duration
Oct 2024 – Jan 2025
Project
UX Research
Visual Design
Web Design
Tools
Figma
WordPress
Roles
Branding
Design
Development
CONCEPTING
My challenge was to captivate visitors quickly, exciting, inspiring, and informing them at first glance. The MHCI+D program emphasizes visual communication, and the website must reflect this priority. At the same time, it must account for technical constraints to ensure efficient updates and long-term sustainability.
KEY UPDATES
Simple and Clear Design: Introduced a clean, clutter-free layout for intuitive and efficient navigation.
Easy Access to Key Information: Created clear sections highlighting professors, students, program details, and facilities.
Engagement and Inspiration: Integrate fun, interactive elements to spark curiosity and encourage exploration.
World-Class Appeal: Showcase the program’s “tiny but mighty” identity to motivate prospective students to apply.
WORKSHOPS
I led workshops with students and the core client team to figure out the best way to tell the MHCI+D story. These in-person workshops were critical to making sure the story I was telling was the right one for the program, students, and faculty.
PARTNERSHIP
I worked closely with the RWS team on design handoff and implementation of the WordPress site. RWS completed development, migration, and testing, walked the client through the final site, and provided training and materials to get the UW MHCI+D team ready for launch and site maintenance. I designed flexible components for WordPress so that the site is easy to update on a regular basis with new events, projects and more.
FINAL WORK
My final work resulted in a website that embodies a clean aesthetic, delivers an impactful experience, and offers intuitive navigation while being easy to use and manage in a WordPress platform build.
The site balances beauty with function, creating an inviting space that conveys warmth and resonates with users, meeting them where they are in their career journey.
The client is going to continue to build on the WordPress site to use it as a community hub for their program and the wider design community at UW and beyond.