University Web Portal
& Global CMS Redesign
The Challenge
Fragmented Information &
Legacy Architecture
Sharda University, a global educational powerhouse, faced a critical issue: their digital presence was scattered across legacy systems. Information for international students was buried, and the CMS was too complex for faculty to update dynamic content regularly.
The objective was to build a scalable Enterprise CMS and a user-centric web portal that met global accreditation standards (NAAC/NIRF) while maintaining a premium brand identity.
Key Research Insights
- 85% of users struggled to find the Fee Structure within 30 seconds.
- Mobile traffic accounted for 72% but had a 60% bounce rate.
- Dynamic content like Events/News was outdated due to CMS friction.
Execution Strategy
The Design Thinking Framework
01. Empathize
Understanding User Psychology
Conducting user interviews with domestic and international students, faculty, and administrators to uncover hidden friction points in information retrieval.
02. Define
Information Scaffolding
Synthesizing research into clear problem statements. Established that the primary friction was 'Discovery Lag'—users taking >30 seconds to find basic course details.
03. Ideate
3-Click Navigation Strategy
Brainstorming a zero-depth hierarchy where critical data (admissions, courses, fees) is accessible within 3 clicks from any page.
04. Prototype
Iterative Wireframing
Developing low-fidelity blueprints to test the cognitive load of the new mega-menu system and mobile-first navigation.
05. Test
Usability Validation
Conducting A/B testing on the CMS entry points for faculty and heat-mapping the landing page to optimize conversion funnels for admissions.
Experience Architecture
Mapping the Human Element
Empathy Mapping
We identified that prospective students feel Anxious about admission deadlines andOverwhelmed by the number of courses. Our design solution focused on"Guiding not just Listing"—using intelligent filters to narrow down choices.
User Journey
Redesigned the funnel from Discovery → Evaluation → Application. Shortened the journey by removing repetitive sub-menus and introducing a 'Sticky Program Navigator' for quick switching between courses.
Information Infrastructure
Global Tagging System
Auto-organizing content for NAAC audit trails.
Atomic Design System
Reusable components for departmental consistency.
WCAG 2.1 Compliance
AA level accessibility for universal design.
Outcome & Impact
Quantifiable
Success
35%
Increase in Admissions
Direct correlation between frictionless course discovery and form submissions.
50%
Faster Updates
Decoupled Architecture allowed faculty to publish updates without IT intervention.
03
Click Rule
Achieved the benchmark of any data point accessible within 3 sequential clicks.
4.8/5
User Rating
Average usability score post-launch based on student feedback focus groups.
Refining Human Experiences
This project was not just about a website; it was about digitally transforming a legacy educational institution into a modern, accessible hub for 20,000+ users. It set the standard for institutional portals across the region.
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