My uw
App redesign
Context
COURSE: Introduction to Informatics, UX Design coursework
TIMELINE: March - June 2023
TOOLS: Figma & FigJam
ASSIGNMENT:
Envision an information system or an improvement to an existing system. You will not actually build your system feature this quarter, but you will describe it in detail, and doing so may require some mockups or prototypes to communicate your design.
Meet The Team
Olivia Cowan
Functionality & Design
Chloe C
Architecture
Kristina A
App Benefits
Terianno R
App Harms
Hannah S
UW Policies
PROBLEM
Many UW students face stress and frustration during the course registration process due to system inefficiencies, scattered platforms, and academic pressures, leading to a need for a more streamlined, centralized solution.
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Implement a platform to consolidate registration resources
Streamlining Course Search and Recommendations
Enhancing the Visual Schedule
Improving NotifyUW
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To maximize the perspectives considered, we reached out to a diverse group of survey participants
UW Students
MyUW App Designers
UW Faculty & Staff
User Research
Executed Survey on Google Forms - 40+ Responses
Overall Frustration
90% of students reported feeling frustrated with the course registration process.
Students described the process as "burdensome" and a significant source of stress.
Mobile Usability Issues
Many students reported that MyUW and MyPlan were not optimized for mobile devices.
Navigation on mobile was described as frustrating due to poor functionality and design.
App Complexity and Inconvenience
Stakeholders revealed they rarely used the mobile app because of its complexity and lack of user-friendliness.
External links in the app often required multiple logins to access UW accounts, making the process cumbersome.
Shared Stress Among Participants
Students highlighted a collective sense of stress stemming from the system's complexity, compounded by its poor design and inefficient user experience.
FUnctionality
Throughout this process, I learned the importance of prioritizing high-impact changes. Although there were many areas to improve, focusing on registration allowed us to address users' most pressing pain points. Balancing user needs with technical feasibility was another critical consideration. For example, integrating DARS into the app required collaboration with technical teams and careful planning to ensure the recommendations were accurate and personalized.
I also realized the value of visual cues and streamlined workflows. Features like green checkmarks and expanded visual schedule were simple but effective solutions that resonated with users during usability testing.
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When a user clicks on “class registration,” they are taken to a page where they can register for classes through the app. On this page, the user has access to a visual schedule, their selected classes, and links to many other resources that will also be accessible within the app.
When the user clicks on “find courses,” they are directed to a screen that shows them class suggestions. In this new version of registration, the user’s intended major is connected to the course search to meet user needs through adding more ease to the process. Through working with Degree Audit (DARS) the app tells the user the classes that are highly recommended for their major path in order of possible completion and importance.
Design outcome
Design outcome
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Implement a platform to consolidate registration resources
In choosing to implement a redesign for the MyUW app, I consciously acknowledged that a localized platform for registration and other UW processes would be a good option for redesign.
Choosing to redesign the home page of the MyUW app provides the user with a positive registration experience upon entry into the application.
Streamlining Course Search and Recommendations
We leveraged Degree Audit (DARS) to connect users’ intended majors to the course search. This allows the app to recommend classes based on the user’s academic plan, prioritizing courses in order of completion and importance.
To visualize progress, I decided completed courses should now display a green checkmark, providing users with a clear sense of accomplishment and motivation.
Enhancing the Visual Schedule
Users can now scroll through and expand their visual schedule for better readability and usability.
I chose this feature because it addresses concerns from users who struggled to manage overlapping classes or understand how their choices fit into a weekly schedule.
Improving NotifyUW
Stakeholders emphasized the inefficiency of the existing NotifyUW feature. In the new version, I made it so users can join a waiting list for closed classes. If a spot becomes available, the system automatically registers them, reducing the stress of constant monitoring.
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The redesigned MyUW app aims to reduce the stress associated with academic planning, making routine tasks more accessible and intuitive. While this version addresses the primary concerns of integration and registration, our next steps include gathering post-launch feedback through user-testing to identify additional areas for improvement.
As this project was my first in the UX design world, I gained valuable insights into my future in design through this project. I now implement prioritization of high-impact changes, streamlined workflows, and effective collaboration in all of my design projects.
Takeaways
This project provided me with valuable experience in understanding the key aspects of functionality, design, and wireframing processes within UX Design. It challenged me to think critically about user needs, integrate feedback, and ensure that our solutions aligned with real-world usability expectations.
THINGS I LEARNED
Through this project, I gained hands-on experience in creating a user flow informed by data that we collected as a team. This process taught me how to interpret user insights and translate them into actionable design elements, helping bridge the gap between user research and design implementation.
REVISITING THIS DESIGN
If I could revisit this project, I would focus on fostering stronger collaboration with my team to ensure a deeper understanding of the motivations behind our redesign decisions. Miscommunications during the research and design phases occasionally led to inconsistencies, which underscored the importance of having a cohesive team dynamic.
Moving forward, I aim to prioritize clear communication and alignment within teams to create a smoother workflow and more impactful outcomes. This experience helped me realize that strong teamwork is as critical to the success of a project as the technical skills involved.