You don’t need a big team, flashy budget, or perfect tools to construct better digital experiences. This session shares 9 actionable UX building blocks learned from 9 years of navigating difficult web challenges at a community college. Learn how to stack small wins, build trust, bridge silos, and make UX design click—one brick at a time.
Links, References & Notes
UX, Higher Education, Etc.
- “Higher education needs a user experience overhaul” (Times Higher Education)
- UX Maturity Scale (Nielsen Norman Group)
- UX Maturity Quiz (Nielsen Norman Group)
#1 Test to See What Clicks: Usability Testing
- Download my 2018 TACCM presentation: “You Are Not Your User: How to Test (and Improve) the Usability of Your Website (with Zero Budget)” (PDF)
- Usability (User) Testing 101 – (Nielsen Norman Group)
- Prototypes: Lo-fidelity to Hi-fidelity (Nielsen Norman Group)
- UX Cookbook: Usability Testing (University of Arizona)
#2 Make Sense of the Pieces: Sensemaking
#3 Build Together to Go Farther: Collaboration
- Watch my 2020 HighEdWeb Presentation: “Empathy and Design Thinking” about this program page redesign project
#4 Move Without Instructions: Navigating Ambiguity
- Read my case study on the Dallas College Homepage Redesign
#5 Shape Systems That Stack: Design Systems
- PEGASUS Design System (Dallas College)
- PEGASUS Design System Case Study (Luis Merino)
- LinkedIn post/link: Design System in 90 Days Canvas (Vitaly Friedman)
- Atomic Design (Brad Frost)
#6 Workshop for Fast Alignment: Facilitation
- Student Resource Directory (Dallas College)
- Student Support [Intro page] (Dallas College)
- Read my case study “Improving Access to Student Services”
- Google Ventures Design Sprint – Solve Problems in 5 Days
- A Very Comprehensive Checklist for Running Design Workshops (Smashing Magazine)
- Playbook for Universal Design (DTU Skylab)
#7 Invite Allies into the Build: Engaged Allies
- LinkedIn post: Formats and guidelines to make meetings better (for collaboration) (Vitaly Friedman)
- LinkedIn post: “How to Work With Me” templates (Vitaly Friedman)