2022
As part of a university course, we conducted a usability-focused project evaluating the student information system Sisu. The goal was to assess the existing service, identify usability issues, and propose redesign solutions to improve the overall user experience.
The project was done in teams of two. We both did the usability evaluation, and divided the redesign work so that I was responsible for streamlining the course registration process and designing low and high fidelity wireframes for it.
Usability evaluation
Outcome
Based on our usability evaluation, we focused on improving the course registration process on desktop and the Sisu Calendar on mobile, as these presented the most significant usability issues. We redesigned the registration flow and proposed targeted improvements for the calendar interface.
We proposed and designed the following improvements to the course registration:
Dedicated registration section
We introduced a separate section for course registration. Previously, registration was accessed via Study Structure or Calendar, which did not clearly reflect this purpose and led to confusion, as both sections serve other primary functions.
Stepper for process visibility
We added a stepper to indicate the length and stages of the registration process. This improves user control and awareness, while allowing users to navigate back easily, addressing the lack of progress visibility in the current system.
Clear separation of actions
We separated teaching method selection from course registration. In the existing system, these were intertwined, which could mislead users into thinking they had already registered. We introduced two distinct actions: one for selecting the teaching method and another for proceeding with registration.
Clear confirmation of success
We added a confirmation pop-up to clearly inform users when registration is successfully completed. Previously, the lack of feedback left users uncertain about whether the process had been finalised.
Key learnings
This project deepened my understanding of how usability principles are applied in web services and further strengthened my collaboration and teamwork skills. As one of my first redesign projects, it also broadened my perspective on approaching design by working with and improving an existing service.