Footer Design
Secure Site Redesign
Role: Lead Product Designer
The Secure Site serves as the primary dashboard for accessing all National Student Clearinghouse products, used by both internal and external users. The objective was to modernize the dashboard while maintaining its intuitive and user-friendly navigation, especially as we implemented significant updates to our design system. This initiative aimed not only to enhance usability but also to ensure visual and functional consistency across all NSC products, creating a cohesive and unified brand experience.
Methods
I conducted a series of user interviews to gather feedback on the new dashboard designs, presenting a live prototype to both internal and external users. Approximately 15 participants were interviewed, each session lasting about an hour. During these interviews, users were asked to walk through specific tasks within the dashboard, allowing us to assess how well key elements functioned and identify any areas of confusion. Overall, the feedback was positive, with users finding the new design intuitive. As a result, only minor adjustments were needed before moving forward with development.
I also conducted interviews with external users to identify pain points in the previous dashboard UI. A common challenge users faced was distinguishing between the Account Management page for their organization and their individual profile management page. To address this, I introduced a dedicated Account Management tab exclusively for external users, making it easier for them to differentiate between managing organizational settings and updating their personal profile information.
Solutions
As part of this project, a new footer design was created, which has since been implemented across all Clearinghouse products for a consistent user experience. Our user interviews revealed a preference for a lighter-colored footer design. To maintain a clean and minimal aesthetic, we ensured that only relevant, up-to-date information was included. The final design featured our logo, company contact details, essential legal links, copyright information, and select badge links, creating a streamlined and user-friendly experience.
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Old My Account Page
Student Reporting
The Student Reporting page of our Secure Site serves as the landing page for all users upon login, providing access to most Clearinghouse products. One of the key updates to this interface was enhancing the top-right menu, as many users had difficulty locating their personal My Account page when it was previously placed under the toolbar. Additionally, I integrated the newly designed footer and reorganized product links for better balance across the page, all while maintaining a clean, minimal, and streamlined aesthetic.
My Account
The My Account page is accessible via the "Jane Doe" username button located in the top-right corner of the Main Navigation page. After reviewing the form field content, our product team confirmed that all existing information remained relevant, so it was retained from the original design. Additionally, I introduced a toolbar to provide users with enhanced account control options.
The My Account page was also integrated directly into the Secure Site interface, replacing the previous design that redirected users away from the platform. In the old version, users had to click a back arrow to return, which disrupted navigation. By embedding My Account within the Secure Site, I created a more seamless and intuitive user experience, allowing for easier access and reducing unnecessary steps.
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Login
In addition to aligning the brand style with our new design system standards, I reorganized key links by moving them from the login page to the Secure Site Student Reporting page. Research showed that many of these links were already accessible on our company website and were rarely used on the login page. To enhance convenience, I also introduced login options for Google and LinkedIn. Throughout this process, I prioritized a clear and intuitive layout for optimal organization.
