Contributions
My contributions included:
- Defining and executing the UX research methodologies
- Exploring account and social login best practices
- Designing visual interfaces, crafting application flows, and writing copy
- Implementing pixel-perfect frontend solution that meets accessibility standards; testing performance and functionality
- Collaborating with university-wide stakeholders to transition to the new service
- Creating documentation for developers, support, and end users
Goals
Ordered by importance, the goals for this project were:
- Seamless creation processes for email- and social-based accounts
- Streamlined IU branding and utilization of new design system
- Improved account management features, including account linking
- Forward-looking adoption of social login providers
- Strategic alignment with account lifecycle vision
Results
By embracing the usability testing findings and comparing the vended solution with our commitments, I convinced key decision-makers that building our own solution was the only way to reach our goals.
While this decision pushed back the target release, it enabled us to create a far superior solution that affords an exceptional user experience and future account flexibility.
Indiana University has applicants from around the world that rely on guest accounts to apply for admission. The university also supports a wide range of educational programs—from high school classes to lifelong learning courses—through guest accounts. However, the existing account creation and management service was woefully outdated and a poor first impression. In addition to adding social login options, the IU Guest application needed a top-to-bottom makeover.
However, before I was assigned to the project, it was decided that a vended product would provide the account creation and management solution. This approach would be challenged through usability testing, and the long-term account goals at IU would be explored.
Through testing and research that advocated for the user while complimenting the identity team's desired future, we pivoted and created a custom solution that alleviated all the identified pain points and positioned the service to bolster the comprehensive IU account lifecycle.
