UMN PEAK Initiative

A University of Minnesota initiative to centralize common services across five campuses to become more efficient, agile and increase positive user experiences

Role

Web architecture and development
Project management and process generation
SaaS research and testing for finance central services
Communications via Salesforce systemwide
Building low fidelity mockups with style guide
Generating high fidelity prototypes with priority guidelines for stakeholder approvals and SaaS developers
Creating accessible design assets for multichannel distribution using existing systemwide brand guidelines

Tools

Google Forms, Documents, Sheets & Slides for content strategies, surveys and presentations
Adobe Creative Suite for design, branding and mockups
Figma for personas, collaboration, design, wireframing, user flows, prototypes and testing

Prompt

Use simplicity, authenticity and empathy as core content considerations to help improve trust, understanding and adoption systemwide of the PEAK Initiative service model changes through multimedia communications distributed across the university systemwide.
Redesign the website to align better with the university staff and shift from project-based to people-based using the Drupal 10 platform. Provide transparent content that aligns all touch points, eliminates user pain points and advances project goals.
Create a new site architecture that is flexible, include each stage of the change management process used by all units as they progress through a transformation of shared finance, human resources and marcom services.
Conduct user testing with low fidelity mockups for new finance service request SaaS model adoption. Include results, analysis and design recommendations.
Create improved high fidelity prototypes for key stakeholders’ approvals with priority guidelines for developers to finalize new SaaS model and deploy.

Website & New SaaS Model

Project Details included:

Website redesign that is more perceivable, operable, understandable and robust with a concentration on people instead of heavily project based.
More accessible, equitable and inclusive designs for digital communications, in person events and web experiences.
Use of existing university branded assets with more plain language to improve understanding and retention of information distributed systemwide.
User testing, wireframing and well designed finance SaaS model for systemwide distribution created with an empathic lens, mindful of new user needs and validates the added value to the university.

Challenges & Opportunities

More People Focus
Less Project Focus

Provide a more human centered design approach at all multimedia touch points. Create consistent patterns for navigating changes to campuses, colleges and people on an organization level and a personal level. Use branded storytelling to visual provide interesting and relevant content to connect with people. Check peak.umn.edu

Create Consistent Navigation Patterns that are Reliable

Create content that is clear, consistent and transparent with each project milestone that communicates accurate information to people. Distinguish service areas and articulate the information across five campuses efficiently to enable a small, agile team to provide positive user experiences during each milestone.

Conduct User Testing for
New SaaS Models

Run usability tests with SME’s to find knowledge gaps and refine designs to create a new finance service request model for staff. Share test results to use for proof of concept to generate high fidelity mockups. Provide final design with priority guidelines to developers for deployment by target date systemwide.