The UT Dallas website redesign project was a comprehensive effort to modernize and improve the university’s digital presence. As the Director of Web Services, I led the project and worked closely with an external vendor, VisionPoint Marketing, as well as internal stakeholders from executive leadership, faculty, staff, and both current and prospective students.
The process began with focus groups to gather feedback and identify areas of improvement for the website. From there, we developed a website strategy that focused on creating a more user-friendly and intuitive experience for visitors. This included a redesign of the information architecture to better organize content and make it easier to find.
The UX design process was a collaborative effort, with input from all stakeholders to ensure that the new website met the needs of everyone who would be using it. The development process also involved close collaboration with VisionPoint Marketing to ensure that the website was built to the highest standards.
One of the key upgrades we made was to the campus event calendar, which was custom-built and had become outdated. We replaced it with a new platform, Localist, which offered a more robust set of features and improved functionality. This upgrade has made it easier for students, faculty, and staff to find and attend events on campus.
Another major upgrade was to the campus map, which we replaced with a new interactive platform, Concept3D. This has significantly improved wayfinding on campus and has made it easier for visitors to navigate the university’s physical spaces.
To ensure that the website was secure and reliable, we evaluated and chose a new hosting provider, CampusPress. We also implemented a testing platform, SilkTide, which we use to identify and correct bugs, accessibility issues, and marketing opportunities such as SEO.
The new UT Dallas website has transformed the university’s digital ecosystem, resulting in increased student applications and overall site traffic. The website is now more user-friendly, intuitive and accessible, making it easier for visitors to find the information they need and engage with the university.
