Dalhousie University
During 2020-2021, I had the privilege of collaborating with Dalhousie University in a partnership initiated by Domain7. My role involved leading the Experience Design of their forthcoming University Website. Regrettably, circumstances beyond our control led to the project's discontinuation. Consequently, the work undertaken for Dalhousie University remains in a conceptual stage, a testament to the creative potential and vision that was developed but not realized in its final form.
Role
Visual Design Lead, User Experience Design
Agency
Domain7
Client
Dalhousie University
Year
2020
Situated in Nova Scotia, Canada, with four campuses in Halifax and Truro, along with satellite facilities in Yarmouth and Saint John, New Brunswick, Dalhousie University boasts a diverse array of academic programs that consistently draw and retain a vibrant community of exceptional students, scholars, researchers, and dedicated staff.
Recognizing the need for a digital transformation, Dalhousie University sought out Domain7 to spearhead the creation and implementation of a fresh web experience that would seamlessly align with their ongoing identity refresh.
The existing web system posed significant limitations for Dalhousie. Editors and content contributors had minimal autonomy to empower their respective departments with a voice on the website. Additionally, the current site presented hurdles such as poor mobile navigation and non-compliance with accessibility standards.
A significant challenge arose during the integration of the new visual identity system. To tackle this, I took an active role from the outset, participating in discussions with Dalhousie's selected brand agency to offer insights into color and typography choices. This collaborative effort aimed to ensure a seamless transition of the brand into the digital sphere while avoiding any potential accessibility issues.
By engaging in these early discussions and contributions, we rapidly aligned the Agency, Dalhousie, and Domain7 teams on a unified vision for the website design, facilitated by a style tile exercise.
I paid meticulous attention to the intricate interplay between shades of grey and yellow, trying to avoiding accessibility concerns. This approach resulted in a design that artfully combined high-contrast typography, vibrant color schemes, and impactful imagery, all set against a backdrop of generous white space. This intentional design strategy allowed the website's content to shine and effectively communicate its message to users.
I crafted a robust, scalable design system that empowers content authors to construct new sections and pages effortlessly. This system was composed of on-brand components that would undergo rigorous code reviews and accessibility testing.
A substantial portion of my effort was dedicated to collaborating closely with both the Dalhousie team and our in-house content strategist. Together, we ensured that the content blocks I was developing were adaptable to present and future usage scenarios.
Whether it's was a minor iteration required today, a potential future enhancement, or the incorporation of an entirely new department, our design system possessed the inherent capacity to expand while upholding the elevated standards set by the web team at Dalhousie. This adaptability ensured the website's sustained excellence in meeting evolving needs and expectations.
Navigating the diverse and deeply engaged group of stakeholders within the team proved to be a significant challenge.
To address this, I collaborated closely with various members of their staff, including Researchers, IT Specialists, Department Heads, and Content Editors. Together, we conducted extensive workshops to strategize on content placement and language, functionality enhancements, and overall user experience. These collaborative efforts facilitated an open forum for presenting ideas and receiving valuable feedback through a series of internal sessions.
This collaborative approach ensured that the website's design and functionality resonated effectively with the perspectives and needs of the entire stakeholder group.
