Website URL
Summary
I’ve been managing the overall web presence of Bellevue College for most of my time there. The ‘Homesite’ is essentially the college home page and a few hundred pages that represent the main website of the college.
I’ve been deeply involved with this website and have designed and developed most of what you see there, minus some of the copy and the images and text that rotate on the home page.
This website has evolved over the years and is the first project where my team embraced iterative design practices to make small changes that become large changes over time.
Quick note about Bellevue College
Bellevue College is the 3rd largest institution of higher ed in the State of Washington.
Screenshots
Style & Color
What I did
- Responsible for all the design done that was launched since 2007. This includes wireframes, style guide, final design, presenting design work upper administration (when needed), planning all design iterations (including some not launched yet)
- Responsible for all Information Architecture changes since 2007, including url name space, navigation, shared files
- Responsible for all Front-end development since 2003, including CSS, HTML, JavaScript, Browser testing, etc. In some cases, I did not code some sections, but led the work
- Responsible for coordinating all aspects of content, including home page and navigation pages
- Planned and analyzed studies via usability testing, card sorting, tree testing and focus groups
- Analyze web analytics reports and user comments to respond to potential issues and make decisions on improving content and services
- Lead the Web Specialist and student workers in updating content on college website
- Update content on website, particularly the home page, high-liability content and communication campaigns for new services
- Foster relationships with subject matter experts, content owners and upper management
Tools used
- Design methods: analytics (google analytics, netInsight, google Webmaster tools, SiteImprove), content inventory, card sorting and card sort analysis, first-click analysis, surveys, focus groups, usability testing, road maps, SWOT analysis, competitive analysis, stakeholder interviews, sketching, whiteboarding, taxonomies, navigation structure
- Design tools: pen/paper, whiteboards, balsamiq, fireworks, illustrator, photoshop, balsamic
- Dev tools: Sublime Text, Dreamweaver, Firebug
Iterative Design
In 2009 I adopted iterative design practices on the Bellevue College website. This cut completely removed design-by-committee and slow approval processes on the main website while, at the same time allowed the website to take on needed changes over time. Adjustments included: larger wider design, modular design, template (back end) improvements, tweak to global navigation, mobile-first responsive design. Thought the process, small UI changes were made to make the next change less noticeable to users so they didn’t feel like the website was redesigned.
Website over time
There are a few missing screenshots for 2008 and 2011. If I find them, I’ll add them.
By the time I left the college, efforts were underway to migrate the entire homesite to the mobile-first WordPress theme I had designed.