UMIACS
Driving impact through design, marketing, and accessibility.
Disclaimer: Details in this case study have been modified to protect confidentiality. The insights and work shared are based on my personal contributions and do not represent the official practices or policies of UMIACS.
Overview
As the main designer on the Communications Team at UMIACS (University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies), I led the redesign of the institute’s website from discovery to launch, while supporting visual and brand design needs across 15+ affiliated research centers.
My work spanned UX design, digital marketing, illustration, and visual storytelling, helping shape a cohesive digital presence for one of UMD's most research-intensive institutes.
Goal
To design a cohesive, accessible, and modern visual and web presence for UMIACS and its affiliated institutes improving user experience, strengthening brand identity, and making the institute’s groundbreaking research more discoverable.
Role
Lead Designer and Digital Marketer
Tools
Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Notion, Miro, HTML
Team
Tom Ventsias (Director of Communications)
Maria Herd (Manager)
Timeline
February 2024 - May 2025
Me with the UMIACS Communications Team
CORE RESPONSIBILITY 1
Redesign, Accessibility, Scalable Design Systems
I worked closely with developers, stakeholders, and institute leadership to understand content needs, define the information architecture, and design a modular, accessible web system that could scale across affiliated labs.
PROBLEM
A Website That Fell Behind Its Research
The original UMIACS website was visually outdated and structurally inconsistent. Despite being a major research hub at the University of Maryland, the site failed to communicate the scale and quality of its academic output. It also lacked accessibility, responsiveness, and a clear content hierarchy, making it hard for prospective students, collaborators, and researchers to find value.
Old Website Problems
DESIGN OPPORTUNITY
Diverging Before Converging
I facilitated a brainstorming session to unpack the core issues with the existing site. We identified opportunities that went beyond visual fixes—touching on accessibility, storytelling, content hierarchy, scalability, and user needs. This divergent thinking phase helped shape clear design priorities and set the foundation for a more intentional and system-oriented redesign.
How Might We Questions
How might we redesign the UMIACS website to better reflect its research excellence, improve accessibility, and scale across its affiliated labs?
UNDERSTANDING THE USERS
Designing for a diverse, research-driven community
While I didn't conduct formal user interviews, I collaborated closely with the team and stakeholders to identify and better understand the primary audiences of the UMIACS website. Recognizing the unique needs of each group was crucial in shaping an information architecture that is intuitive, scalable, and aligned with UMIACS' mission.
User Interviews
KEY INSIGHTS
Key takeaways from user needs
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Redefining how content is organized and accessed
The original site buried key information under vague or redundant labels. I reorganized the content into clear, intuitive categories, making it easier for users to find what they need quickly. This new hierarchy also laid the foundation for consistency across affiliated labs.
Information Hierarchy
IDEATING SOLUTIONS 1.1
Cleaning Up the Chaos, One Component at a Time
To address navigation issues, content sprawl, and accessibility gaps, I collaborated with the team to design key interface components that brought structure and ease of use to the site. My focus was on designing modular solutions like accordion menus for content-heavy pages, filters for research directories, a simplified global nav, and accessible UI patterns that could scale.
The early menu explorations
IDEATING SOLUTIONS 1.2
Collaborating with developers to make accessibility a core part
While redesigning key components, I realized the site wasn’t usable for screen readers or keyboard navigation. Using tools like WAVE and ANDI, I collaborated with developers to fix contrast issues, add alt text, and make sure elements like accordions were fully accessible. Every fix aligned with WCAG standards, helping ensure the site was inclusive and navigable for all users.
Report of the accessibility issues noticed and resolved
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
Designed, Built, and Live
These screens offer a snapshot of the final website design—live, shipped, and in use. For a deeper look into the full system across other pages and use cases, you can explore the live site here.
Variations of Itinerary Generation
CORE RESPONSIBILITY 2
Shaping the UMIACS Visual Voice
I supported the UMIACS marketing team in creating engaging graphics for events, social media campaigns, and newsletters, ensuring that branding was consistent across platforms. These efforts were critical in promoting events and initiatives for the diverse institutes under UMIACS. Beyond this, I contributed to event management and coordination, helping execute campaigns that reached a broad academic and research audience. My work not only enhanced the team’s digital outreach but also strengthened the UMIACS brand’s visual identity.
Newsletter, Illustrations and Social Media Campaigns
CORE RESPONSIBILITY 3
Storytelling Behind the Lens
I collaborated with reporters and photographers from CBS News and Fox News to coordinate photoshoots and videoshoots, ensuring visuals aligned with the narrative we aimed to convey. From planning shoots to editing images, I focused on crafting cohesive, story-driven content that resonated with diverse audiences. This experience sharpened my attention to detail, storytelling skills, and ability to translate abstract ideas into engaging visuals—skills that directly inform my approach to UX design.
Behind the Scenes
15% faster navigation, 36% higher engagement, and 23% more traffic after launch.
Learnings
My time at UMIACS deepened my approach to UX as more than just interface design—it’s about creating clarity within complexity. Moving forward, I’m focused on designing modular, scalable systems that serve a wide range of users, embedding accessibility into every layer, and translating dense, technical content into experiences that feel intuitive and human. This role shaped how I collaborate across disciplines and align design decisions with both user needs and organizational goals—something I’m excited to carry into future work.
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