UVA Alumni Association

Enhancing file access and collaboration through User Experience Design

Transforming internal communication with an intuitive intranet solution

Project Overview

The UVA Alumni Association relied on an outdated intranet that made file access and collaboration difficult for employees. To improve efficiency, I led a UX-focused redesign , creating a streamlined, user-friendly platform using WordPress. The new system improved file organization, searchability, and remote collaboration, resulting in significant time savings and increased employee satisfaction.


Role: UX Designer | WordPress Developer | Technical Writer

Tools: WordPress, Figma, Microsoft Office, Google Suite

Timeline: 2 years

The UVA Alumni Association relied on an outdated intranet that made file access and collaboration difficult for employees. To improve efficiency, I led a UX-focused redesign , creating a streamlined, user-friendly platform using WordPress. The new system improved file organization, searchability, and remote collaboration, resulting in significant time savings and increased employee satisfaction.


  • Role: UX Designer | WordPress Developer | Technical Writer

  • Tools: WordPress, Figma, Microsoft Office, Google Suite

  • Timeline: 2 years

Disorganized files and poor searchability were slowing teams down—here’s how I fixed it.

Problem Statement

Problem

Employees faced challenges accessing and organizing internal files, leading to inefficiencies in collaboration and workflow. Without a centralized, user-friendly intranet, teams struggled to find documents quickly, particularly when working remotely.


Key Issues:

  • Disorganized file storage slowed down retrieval times

  • Lack of search functionality made it difficult to find specific files

  • No centralized collaboration space for cross-department teamwork

Designing a smarter intranet: Organized, searchable, and built for collaboration.

Goals and Objectives

Goals

Primary Goal: Design an intuitive intranet that enhances file access, searchability, and collaboration while maintaining ease of use.


Key Objectives:

  • Establish a clear and structured file organization system

  • Improve search functionality for quick document retrieval

  • Create a collaborative space where employees can share and access files effortlessly

  • Ensure the platform is scalable and easy to maintain for long-term usability

Understanding employee pain points to create a user-centered solution.

Research

To understand employee pain points and create a user-centered solution, I conducted:


  1. User Interviews – Gathered insights from staff across departments to identify common frustrations and needs

  2. Competitive Analysis – Studied best practices from industry-leading intranet solutions

  3. User Personas – Developed personas, such as:

    • Laurie (HR Admin): Needs quick access to employee records and policy documents

    • Sarah (Marketing Manager): Requires an organized space to share and manage campaign materials


Findings showed that employees needed a structured file system, strong search capabilities, and clear navigation to improve productivity.

From insights to execution: Turning research into a seamless digital experience.

Ideation

Using insights from research, I developed solutions to improve intranet usability:


  1. Information Architecture – Designed a logical file structure to simplify organization and retrieval

  2. Search & Filtering Features – Integrated keyword search and filters to speed up document discovery

  3. Wireframes & Prototypes – Created Figma prototypes to visualize navigation and test usability

  4. WordPress Development – Implemented the design with user-friendly features, ensuring a seamless experience


Next Steps: Conduct usability testing to refine the interface and optimize functionality.

A faster, more efficient intranet—empowering employees with better access and collaboration.

Results & Impact

  • 50% faster file retrieval

  • 70% improvement in employee satisfaction

  • 80% increase in team collaboration


By focusing on usability, organization, and scalability, the redesigned intranet became a powerful tool for internal communication and efficiency.

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