Website Redesign
Help implement a gradual redesign of Cornerstone University’s website.
My Role
Research, UX/UI, Testing, Prototyping, Dev handoff
Tools
Figma, Asana, Unbounce
Team
2 contract UX/UI designers, Assistant Vice President of Digital Marketing, Executive Director of Acquisitions & Content Marketing, Digital Marketing Technologist
Timeline
August 2022 – September 2023
The Challenge
When Cornerstone University brought me and another designer on board, we were given the task of assessing their current site architecture and recommending a solution to redesign the site gradually, as to not have a jarring impact on current users.
In my time working with the University, I helped complete a full site audit (see below) to inform a plan for simplifying and implementing a redesign moving forward. My teammate and I proposed a new navigational structure for the site and helped make a plan for incremental changes. We started with updating the UI for their program pages. Additionally, we worked on redesigns for their lead generation landing pages.
Eventually Cornerstone was able to hire full time designers who took over the project after nearly a year of our involvement. Before our departure, we were able to see the implementation of the new program pages, as well as the new lead generation pages. We’d also begun work on an updated home page and navigation and passed that along to the new internal team to wrap up.
Notes regarding updated navigation from our kickoff meeting
The Goals
1. Audit existing site architecture and propose a simplified solution.
2. Redesign specified sections of the site and provide templates that work with diverse content.
3. Redesign lead generation landing pages.
Audit of existing site: The existing architecture of the site was quite overwhelming. Our audit revealed broken links, duplicate information, confusing page structure, and dead ends.
Site Redesign
It was requested that we first tackle the program pages. With nearly 80 existing program pages all containing varying content, it was important that we provide development with a template that could be flexible enough to accommodate the differences.
In our approach to the redesign, our primary focus was on maintaining a prominent presence of the brand while streamlining the overall page layout. We eliminated unnecessary elements and refined the color palette, resulting in a cleaner page structure with better hierarchy.
We started with wireframes and made sure all necessary stakeholders were in agreement with our proposed changes before moving forward with visuals. After several rounds of design and content updates from the business, we landed on a design and were able to create a template to pass off to development.
Sample of new program page
Sample program pages
Lead Generation Pages
Cornerstone heavily relies on lead generation pages for potential applicants to submit their information to request additional details about programs of interest. After using the same page design for years, they desired a visual refresh.
We tested five different page designs with our target audience. After getting results, we made refinements and adjusted the layout so the page could be built in Unbounce, a software the university had very recently adopted.
Options for testing
I have only highlighted a couple of the projects I was a part of in my time with Cornerstone University here. I also had the chance to work on visuals for a new marketing campaign, as well as a full redesign of the website for one of their sister programs, Asia Biblical Theological Seminary. If you would like to see the work for either of these projects, just let me know!