I spent Summer 2021 interning for IEEE. The bulk of my work was iterating wireframes in preparation of a website migration and redesign.
Skills
UX/UI Design
Wireframing
Tools
Figma
Adobe XD
Duration
4 months (May - Aug 2021)
Overview
The most significant work I provided to the team were my 30+ wireframes iterated for the redesign of the IEEE SA website. I had joined the team when they were preparing to migrate the website, and they were looking for a new set of eyes to assist with creating a new modern design.
To start off brainstorming new designs for the website, it was important to understand what industry trends were current at the time, as well as see what features other companies' websites who were in the same business boasted. After a substantial amount of research, I created a document worth over 100 pages of analysis and research on competitors' websites. Seeing what works and what didn't gave my team a stronger idea of what would integrate better for our website, and gave me a stronger base to wireframe from.
When my internship ended, I left the team with the wireframes I had designed, though the updated website had not yet been completed. A year later, while interviewing for a full-time position with the same team, I was informed that the website had been successfully migrated. I immediately recognized key elements from my wireframes integrated throughout the site, particularly on the home page. Seeing my designs come to life reaffirmed my passion for this work, and solidified my desire to pursue it as a career, driven by the fulfillment of bringing ideas to reality.
When I first viewed the website, I noticed right away that it had a slightly outdated design. Current web design trends are seen in the form of rounder corners, softer edges, and the use of more images and doodles. The website redesign would have to not only clean up the appearance, but also modernize it to fit current trends.
After I accepted a full-time role with the company post graduation, my role included continuing to maintain the website so it was accordant with modern website designs. This was how the website looked as of August 2024, where I worked behind the scenes to continue improving and make the site as user-friendly and intuitive as possible.
Cleaner and more concise, only high priority items remain, more modern look and feel, less text and more images/iconography
I started this internship the day after I finished the prior one, but already it was such a different experience. I interacted with my team members more, took on bigger roles, had ownership over my designs, and had the responsibility of creating wireframes that met my team's expectations. I had been interested in UI/UX design after my previous internship, and was able to hone in on my interests during this internship.
It was during this internship where I understood the importance of adhering to established company design guidelines and aligning with the visions of various stakeholders. Design is a collaborative process where compromise and adaptability are essential. Not every design I propose will align with the project's goals or the stakeholders' expectations. This helped me keep an open mind to feedback and refine my designs to align with the project's needs while still providing value.