Phd Hub Tandon Website
Developed a website for the NYU Tandon PhD Hub integrating all their resources in a cohesive platform.
Developed a website for the NYU Tandon PhD Hub integrating all their resources in a cohesive platform.
CLIENT
CLIENT
PhD Hub,
NYU Tandon School of Engineering
MY ROLE & TOOLS
MY ROLE & TOOLS
UX Designer & Web Developer
Figma, HTML, CSS, JavaScripts, PhP, Google Analytics
TEAM & DURATION
TEAM & DURATION
3 designers, 2 managers, NYU websites team
2 years
3 designers, 2 managers, NYU websites team
2 years
Design an accessible map on the Eclipse Soundscape website (desktop version) for participants to view eclipse information.
Design an accessible map on the Eclipse Soundscape website (desktop version) for participants to view eclipse information.
The challenge
The challenge
The challenge
A one-stop solution for PhD students at NYU Tandon School Of Engineering to find information on academic resources, events, workshops, fellowships, etc.
A one-stop solution for PhD students at NYU Tandon School Of Engineering to find information on academic resources, events, workshops, fellowships, etc.
A one-stop solution for PhD students at NYU Tandon School Of Engineering to find information on academic resources, events, workshops, fellowships, etc.
The Phd Hub at NYU Tandon is a comprehensive resource support for PhD students community
The Phd Hub at NYU Tandon is a comprehensive resource support for PhD students community
The Phd Hub at NYU Tandon is a comprehensive resource support for PhD students community
I joined the PhD Hub at Tandon in August 2022 as a part-time Graduate Assistant. The other Graduate Assistant at the time was already working on developing a website to provide all resources for PhD students at one place.
I joined the PhD Hub at Tandon in August 2022 as a part-time Graduate Assistant. The other Graduate Assistant at the time was already working on developing a website to provide all resources for PhD students at one place.
I joined the PhD Hub at Tandon in August 2022 as a part-time Graduate Assistant. The other Graduate Assistant at the time was already working on developing a website to provide all resources for PhD students at one place.
Before I joined the team
Before I joined the team
Before I joined the team
Before I joined, there were external resources that phd students had access to and a site map was created after meeting with the heads of the committee.
A basic draft of the site was made using PHP, HTML, CSS, and Javascript with a landing page, a navigation bar leading students to different resources. After integrating the existing resources, more research was needed to be done to understand what information to place where.
Before I joined, there were external resources that phd students had access to and a site map was created after meeting with the heads of the committee.
A basic draft of the site was made using PHP, HTML, CSS, and Javascript with a landing page, a navigation bar leading students to different resources. After integrating the existing resources, more research was needed to be done to understand what information to place where.
Before I joined, there were external resources that phd students had access to and a site map was created after meeting with the heads of the committee.
A basic draft of the site was made using PHP, HTML, CSS, and Javascript with a landing page, a navigation bar leading students to different resources. After integrating the existing resources, more research was needed to be done to understand what information to place where.
To understand students' needs, we conducted two Student Focus Groups and a Lunch and Learn workshop
To understand students' needs, we conducted two Student Focus Groups and a Lunch and Learn workshop
To understand students' needs, we conducted two Student Focus Groups and a Lunch and Learn workshop
The focus groups lasted for one hour each consisting of 4 Phd students from different programs. Questions were asked to students on four categories:
The focus groups lasted for one hour each consisting of 4 Phd students from different programs. Questions were asked to students on four categories:
The focus groups lasted for one hour each consisting of 4 Phd students from different programs. Questions were asked to students on four categories:
Dissertation and Advisement
Dissertation and Advisement
Dissertation and Advisement
Experience at NYU/Tandon
Experience at NYU/Tandon
Experience at NYU/Tandon
Finances
Finances
Finances
Health and Wellness/Community and Belonging
Health and Wellness/Community and Belonging
Health and Wellness/Community and Belonging
These focus groups were followed by Lunch and Learn sessions later with PhD administratives at Tandon where we discussed findings from the focus groups. Their inputs along with students' suggestions led us to coming up with the following requirements for the website:
These focus groups were followed by Lunch and Learn sessions later with PhD administratives at Tandon where we discussed findings from the focus groups. Their inputs along with students' suggestions led us to coming up with the following requirements for the website:
Offer early summer orientation for "life in New York" advice on housing and banking on the site.
Offer early summer orientation for "life in New York" advice on housing and banking on the site.
Offer early summer orientation for "life in New York" advice on housing and banking on the site.
Provide checklists for paperwork, deadlines, and housing, especially for international students, with contact info for help.
Provide checklists for paperwork, deadlines, and housing, especially for international students, with contact info for help.
Provide checklists for paperwork, deadlines, and housing, especially for international students, with contact info for help.
List academic roadmaps and to-do lists online.
List academic roadmaps and to-do lists online.
List academic roadmaps and to-do lists online.
Outline PhD student expectations on the website.
Outline PhD student expectations on the website.
Outline PhD student expectations on the website.
Add Faculty Mentoring Guide to Brightspace and the site.
Add Faculty Mentoring Guide to Brightspace and the site.
Add Faculty Mentoring Guide to Brightspace and the site.
Suggest a standard working schedule online.
Suggest a standard working schedule online.
Suggest a standard working schedule online.
Share campus resting area info online.
Share campus resting area info online.
Share campus resting area info online.
Post social event details online.
Post social event details online.
Post social event details online.
Include minimum stipend details online.
Include minimum stipend details online.
Include minimum stipend details online.
Summarize class enrollment processes, deadlines, and permission codes online.
Summarize class enrollment processes, deadlines, and permission codes online.
Summarize class enrollment processes, deadlines, and permission codes online.
Investigate and clarify waitlist enrollment procedures and issues.
Investigate and clarify waitlist enrollment procedures and issues.
Investigate and clarify waitlist enrollment procedures and issues.
Create a FAQ page for academic and administrative queries.
Create a FAQ page for academic and administrative queries.
Create a FAQ page for academic and administrative queries.
Continuing with the website development
Continuing with the website development
Continuing with the website development
To the existing website, the other graduate assistant and I started adding the other requirements or resources that we understood that students needed. Jamie, the Assistant Director at PhD Hub worked with the other graduate assistant and I to build the content, combine existing resources, and add new ones to the site. We had multiple meetings with her as well as the Director of the PhD Hub to show our progress and design decisions.
To the existing website, the other graduate assistant and I started adding the other requirements or resources that we understood that students needed. Jamie, the Assistant Director at PhD Hub worked with the other graduate assistant and I to build the content, combine existing resources, and add new ones to the site. We had multiple meetings with her as well as the Director of the PhD Hub to show our progress and design decisions.
To the existing website, the other graduate assistant and I started adding the other requirements or resources that we understood that students needed. Jamie, the Assistant Director at PhD Hub worked with the other graduate assistant and I to build the content, combine existing resources, and add new ones to the site. We had multiple meetings with her as well as the Director of the PhD Hub to show our progress and design decisions.
Usability Testing
Usability Testing
A few rounds of usability testing was conducted with PhD students, faculty, and staff members to understand different pain points, requirements, and needs. The testing had 3 rounds :
A few rounds of usability testing was conducted with PhD students, faculty, and staff members to understand different pain points, requirements, and needs. The testing had 3 rounds :
A few rounds of usability testing was conducted with PhD students, faculty, and staff members to understand different pain points, requirements, and needs. The testing had 3 rounds :
1/
Pre-test questions
Pre-test questions
Questions about their current resources for getting information, their pain points, etc. were gathered in a group setting.
Questions about their current resources for getting information, their pain points, etc. were gathered in a group setting.
Questions about their current resources for getting information, their pain points, etc. were gathered in a group setting.
2/
'Think-aloud' tasks
'Think-aloud' tasks
Different tasks on using the website were given to them individually where they had to think out loud while they performed the task.
Different tasks on using the website were given to them individually where they had to think out loud while they performed the task.
Different tasks on using the website were given to them individually where they had to think out loud while they performed the task.
3/
Post-test questions
Post-test questions
Follow-up questions on their opinions on the appearance, navigation, information architecture, etc. were asked individually.
Follow-up questions on their opinions on the appearance, navigation, information architecture, etc. were asked individually.
Follow-up questions on their opinions on the appearance, navigation, information architecture, etc. were asked individually.
Final Design
Final Design
We now have the PhD Hub website up and running, it is being used by PhD students at NYU Tandon, and we are still making changes and updating it with new resources.
We now have the PhD Hub website up and running, it is being used by PhD students at NYU Tandon, and we are still making changes and updating it with new resources.
We now have the PhD Hub website up and running, it is being used by PhD students at NYU Tandon, and we are still making changes and updating it with new resources.
Next Steps
Next Steps
Going forward, we would like to:
1. Conduct usability testing, especially with screen readers.
2. Have a better integration of keyboard accessibility instructions.
3. Provide a multilingual option.
Going forward, we would like to:
1. Conduct usability testing, especially with screen readers.
2. Have a better integration of keyboard accessibility instructions.
3. Provide a multilingual option.
Going forward, we would like to:
1. Conduct usability testing, especially with screen readers.
2. Have a better integration of keyboard accessibility instructions.
3. Provide a multilingual option.
CLIENT
PhD Hub,
NYU Tandon School of Engineering
MY ROLE & TOOLS
UX Designer, Web Developer
Figma, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Google Analytics
TEAM & DURATION
3 designers, 2 managers, NYU Websites team
2 years
Design an accessible map on the Eclipse Soundscape website (desktop version) for participants to view eclipse information.