>> Several Improvement Suggestions and a Proposed Case Study for Ongoing Evaluation of the Information Architecture (#IA and #Wireframes) to Improve #Navigation and Overall User Experience at the SJSU iSchool Website...
"There is beauty when something works and works intuitively." ― Jonathon Ive
Here is my attempt at highlighting the card sorting aggregate results from Prospective Students in forming a creative insight into the Journey Mapping of User Flow for finding information on high priority information needs -- particularly striving for a better understanding of the users’ navigation and “click-through journey” for the basic career trajectories with potential job titles and income expectations out in the field for the various SJSU #iSchool Programs.
Improvement Suggestions:
>> Looking at improving consistency of intuitive #nomenclature for key navigational links.
>> Consolidating some redundancy of multiple reiterative page offerings for a more streamlined user interface.
>> Incorporating more rich #multimedia assets throughout the page offerings to include colorful graphs/charts, as well as engaging Alumni videos highlighting inspirational success stories out in the field.
>> Making the cycling of the individual Alumni portraits become instantly clickable with rich multimedia assets for providing more #engaging "Calls-to-Action."
>> Looking at the Case Study from the "#Drexel Homepage” to consider adding four key user groups as prominent hotlinks at the footer of the Homepage <<as well as more clearly articulated header hotlinks and intuitive menu options>> to help customize a more delightful user experience.
>> Updating #PDF downloadable files with lots of colorful graphs/charts and rich #multimedia assets for more user engagement.
>> Adding some customized icons for downloading key PDF documents and making "One-on-One Student Counseling" virtual appointments through the SJSU #iSchool Career Center with Kim Dority and/or Carrie McKnight.
Case Study of Drexel Homepage:
>> Here are my initial suggestions for a new re-working of the Information Architecture for the SJSU #iSchool Website based on these investigative activities-- looking to the newly revamped “Drexel Homepage” for inspiration...
The newly overhauled, visually-stunning #Drexel website has recently been updated in order to stay in line with the university's missions and goals. The school video is embedded in a custom package "video-wrapper" for an engaging user experience with an animated splash landing page to encourage the user to pause for a little aspirational reflection – followed by very clear "Calls-To-Action" to stimulate click through rates in the compelling online journey. This "animated hero" introduction to the school's digital presence provides a clear trajectory for a sophisticated consistency of marketing and branding throughout the well-organized site. In addition, the very clearly defined "#narrative arc" storyline compels the user to want to aspire towards projecting themselves into this richly immersive environment.
The navigation options are very well executed with attractive header and footer menu buttons. The Information Architectural (#IA) structure provides custom grid layouts for primary navigation with several cogent top and sub-levels of functionality. Furthermore, the user experience may be customized for four key user groups: "Students; Families; Alumni; and Faculty/Professional Staff'' -- giving the user more autonomous control in their motivating online discovery process. Even the search bar features desirable algorithms which adjust to these respective user group preferences. In addition, the Drexel website is remarkably handheld friendly and mobile optimized for even more ideal #user-centric receptivity. Looking under the hood, the custom coding for the site utilizes the latest JavaScripting, Google tag management, Twitter embeds, XML, YouTube APIs, custom CSS stylesheets, hamburger menus for site responsiveness, and JS clickable cards. As a very important consideration for students, the “Career Champions” project aims to provide ongoing support to students throughout their evolving academic and professional lifecycle with the school. And furthermore, the "Future of Work: Building Connections'' downloadable PDF file gives excellent tips for collaborative networking and co-op programs for ongoing professional development at the school's #Steinbright Career Development Center.
>> "I KNOW THE WORLD IS GOING TO #CHANGE, AND THEREFORE, THE UNIVERSITY MUST CHANGE WITH IT..."
— Anthony J. Drexel, Founder
>> Electronic Correspondence from Drexel: "A university's website is often viewed as its virtual "front door." For many students, it's the first step in getting to know what a school is all about and a great way to find the information you need as you consider your next steps. With this in mind, we are delighted to present the new Drexel.edu!
Designed to better serve the needs of students like you and to more vividly showcase what makes Drexel such a unique learning environment, this new website will give a clearer picture of the opportunities available here and how our unique model of learning can help you to achieve your goals. By combining important information regarding the admissions process, clear explanations of Drexel's approach to academics and cooperative education, overviews of student life at the University, news and upcoming events, and more into one seamless Web experience, we feel our site is now more reflective and representative of the innovation and forward thinking for which we are known for.
So, we invite you to take a look around the new Drexel.edu to get a better sense of who we are and everything you can accomplish here. We hope you like it!"
>> Here is a more in-depth look at my Drexel Case Study Analysis:
>> Here is my PDF file link for the Card Sorting Activities that Informed the Sketching/Storyboarding of the “New Illustrative User Journey Mapping”: