Assets — Academic Conference
Assets — Academic Conference
Assets — Academic Conference
ROLE
Product Design
TIMELINE
October 2023 - November 2024
TEAM
Suraj Goraya, Jaipreet Singh
SKILLS
UI Design
UX Research
Brand Design
Marketing
ROLE
Product Design
TIMELINE
October 2023 - November 2024
TEAM
Suraj Goraya, Jaipreet Singh
SKILLS
UI Design, UX Research, Brand Design, Marketing
ROLE
Product Design
TIMELINE
October 2023 - November 2024
TEAM
Suraj Goraya, Jaipreet Singh
SKILLS
UI Design
UX Research
Brand Design
Marketing
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
What if an academic conference website could stay clear, accessible, and up-to-date, no matter how many teams contribute to it?
ASSETS brings together researchers, practitioners, students, and policymakers who advance technology for people with disabilities. But with 18 subcommittees sharing content throughout the year, the website often became inconsistent, difficult to update, and hard for attendees to navigate. This gap between what the conference stands for, and what its digital experience delivered, became the starting point for this project.
What if an academic conference website could stay clear, accessible, and up-to-date, no matter how many teams contribute to it?
ASSETS brings together researchers, practitioners, students, and policymakers who advance technology for people with disabilities. But with 18 subcommittees sharing content throughout the year, the website often became inconsistent, difficult to update, and hard for attendees to navigate. This gap between what the conference stands for, and what its digital experience delivered, became the starting point for this project.
What if an academic conference website could stay clear, accessible, and up-to-date, no matter how many teams contribute to it?
ASSETS brings together researchers, practitioners, students, and policymakers who advance technology for people with disabilities. But with 18 subcommittees sharing content throughout the year, the website often became inconsistent, difficult to update, and hard for attendees to navigate. This gap between what the conference stands for, and what its digital experience delivered, became the starting point for this project.
SOLUTION
SOLUTION
SOLUTION
A unified conference website that prioritizes accessibility, discoverability, and effortless navigation.
A unified conference website that prioritizes accessibility, discoverability, and effortless navigation.
A unified conference website that prioritizes accessibility, discoverability, and effortless navigation.
To support a distributed team of 18 subcommittees, I created an accessibility-first framework and a set of core UI elements that allow the site to evolve smoothly over time.
To support a distributed team of 18 subcommittees, I created an accessibility-first framework and a set of core UI elements that allow the site to evolve smoothly over time.
To support a distributed team of 18 subcommittees, I created an accessibility-first framework and a set of core UI elements that allow the site to evolve smoothly over time.
This flexible system makes content updates faster, ensures information stays reliable and transparent for attendees, and reinforces ASSETS’ mission to model inclusive design.
This flexible system makes content updates faster, ensures information stays reliable and transparent for attendees, and reinforces ASSETS’ mission to model inclusive design.
This flexible system makes content updates faster, ensures information stays reliable and transparent for attendees, and reinforces ASSETS’ mission to model inclusive design.
OUTCOMES
OUTCOMES
OUTCOMES
500+ global researchers & practitioners
guided through sessions, venues, and accessibility info with clarity
120+ research contributions
showcased across papers, posters, and demos on a flexible, scalable site
95% of conference participants
reported the schedule and navigation were easy to follow
500+ global researchers & practitioners
guided through sessions, venues, and accessibility info with clarity
120+ research contributions
showcased across papers, posters, and demos on a flexible, scalable site
95% of conference participants
reported the schedule and navigation were easy to follow
500+ global researchers & practitioners
guided through sessions, venues, and accessibility info with clarity
120+ research contributions
showcased across papers, posters, and demos on a flexible, scalable site
95% of conference participants
reported the schedule and navigation were easy to follow
DISCOVERY & PRIORITIZATION
DISCOVERY & PRIORITIZATION
DISCOVERY & PRIORITIZATION
Transforming Past Friction Into a Clearer 2024 Experience
Studying previous ASSETS websites revealed what worked, what didn’t, and where the overall experience could evolve. By examining established patterns, gaps in clarity, and opportunities for improvement, I shaped a 2024 redesign that feels both intuitive and refreshingly modern.
Transforming Past Friction Into a Clearer 2024 Experience
Studying previous ASSETS websites revealed what worked, what didn’t, and where the overall experience could evolve. By examining established patterns, gaps in clarity, and opportunities for improvement, I shaped a 2024 redesign that feels both intuitive and refreshingly modern.
Transforming Past Friction Into a Clearer 2024 Experience
Studying previous ASSETS websites revealed what worked, what didn’t, and where the overall experience could evolve. By examining established patterns, gaps in clarity, and opportunities for improvement, I shaped a 2024 redesign that feels both intuitive and refreshingly modern.
Even with a familiar foundation, it became clear that attendees aren’t a single audience—they’re a network of distinct user groups, each arriving with different goals, expectations, and information needs. This insight highlighted a key challenge:
Even with a familiar foundation, it became clear that attendees aren’t a single audience—they’re a network of distinct user groups, each arriving with different goals, expectations, and information needs. This insight highlighted a key challenge:
Even with a familiar foundation, it became clear that attendees aren’t a single audience—they’re a network of distinct user groups, each arriving with different goals, expectations, and information needs. This insight highlighted a key challenge:
KEY INSIGHT
KEY INSIGHT
KEY INSIGHT
A single website tried to serve everyone, but each stakeholder had entirely different jobs to do.
A single website tried to serve everyone, but each stakeholder had entirely different jobs to do.
A single website tried to serve everyone, but each stakeholder had entirely different jobs to do.
Recognizing this mismatch helped surface where the site needed to better guide users, support planning, and express the conference’s energy and identity more fully.
Recognizing this mismatch helped surface where the site needed to better guide users, support planning, and express the conference’s energy and identity more fully.
Recognizing this mismatch helped surface where the site needed to better guide users, support planning, and express the conference’s energy and identity more fully.
PERSONAS
PERSONAS
PERSONAS
Understanding Attendee Needs
I interviewed five ASSETS attendees to learn how they navigate the site, what slows them down, and what accessibility needs shape their experience. Their goals varied, but the themes were clear:
Understanding Attendee Needs
I interviewed five ASSETS attendees to learn how they navigate the site, what slows them down, and what accessibility needs shape their experience. Their goals varied, but the themes were clear:
Understanding Attendee Needs
I interviewed five ASSETS attendees to learn how they navigate the site, what slows them down, and what accessibility needs shape their experience. Their goals varied, but the themes were clear:
1. Keep the structure familiar
2. Make website navigation faster
3. Surface key details sooner
1. Keep the structure familiar
2. Make website navigation faster
3. Surface key details sooner
1. Keep the structure familiar
2. Make website navigation faster
3. Surface key details sooner
These insights led to a set of attendee-focused personas that clarified distinct needs and guided design decisions. Organizers and sponsors were excluded since they fall outside the primary user journey.
These insights led to a set of attendee-focused personas that clarified distinct needs and guided design decisions. Organizers and sponsors were excluded since they fall outside the primary user journey.
These insights led to a set of attendee-focused personas that clarified distinct needs and guided design decisions. Organizers and sponsors were excluded since they fall outside the primary user journey.
CONTEXTUAL INQUIRY
CONTEXTUAL INQUIRY
CONTEXTUAL INQUIRY
Designing With Place in Mind
To reflect the conference location, I explored Saint John’s history, architecture, and coastal landscape. Elements inspired by Jellybean Row, the harbor, and ocean views informed a visual language that feels vibrant yet practical, bringing local character into an accessible, functional conference experience.
Designing With Place in Mind
To reflect the conference location, I explored Saint John’s history, architecture, and coastal landscape. Elements inspired by Jellybean Row, the harbor, and ocean views informed a visual language that feels vibrant yet practical, bringing local character into an accessible, functional conference experience.
Designing With Place in Mind
To reflect the conference location, I explored Saint John’s history, architecture, and coastal landscape. Elements inspired by Jellybean Row, the harbor, and ocean views informed a visual language that feels vibrant yet practical, bringing local character into an accessible, functional conference experience.
DESIGN APPROACH
DESIGN APPROACH
DESIGN APPROACH
Establishing a Unified Visual Language
To ensure consistency and support efficient iteration, I created a cohesive visual framework inspired by Saint John’s character. Reusable components, clear patterns, and accessible color choices helped maintain visual harmony while allowing the site to scale smoothly as content evolved.
Establishing a Unified Visual Language
To ensure consistency and support efficient iteration, I created a cohesive visual framework inspired by Saint John’s character. Reusable components, clear patterns, and accessible color choices helped maintain visual harmony while allowing the site to scale smoothly as content evolved.
Establishing a Unified Visual Language
To ensure consistency and support efficient iteration, I created a cohesive visual framework inspired by Saint John’s character. Reusable components, clear patterns, and accessible color choices helped maintain visual harmony while allowing the site to scale smoothly as content evolved.
Structuring Information for Clarity and Discovery
With dozens of interconnected pages, clear organization was essential. I mapped the full information architecture to understand content depth, identify simplification opportunities, and improve discoverability. Consistent hierarchy and balanced layouts help users scan quickly and navigate complex information with confidence.
Structuring Information for Clarity and Discovery
With dozens of interconnected pages, clear organization was essential. I mapped the full information architecture to understand content depth, identify simplification opportunities, and improve discoverability. Consistent hierarchy and balanced layouts help users scan quickly and navigate complex information with confidence.
Structuring Information for Clarity and Discovery
With dozens of interconnected pages, clear organization was essential. I mapped the full information architecture to understand content depth, identify simplification opportunities, and improve discoverability. Consistent hierarchy and balanced layouts help users scan quickly and navigate complex information with confidence.
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS
ACCESSIBILITY CONSIDERATIONS
Designing for Inclusive Access
I used semantic HTML and logical heading structures to ensure content is clearly organized and navigable for assistive technologies.
Designing for Inclusive Access
I used semantic HTML and logical heading structures to ensure content is clearly organized and navigable for assistive technologies.
Designing for Inclusive Access
I used semantic HTML and logical heading structures to ensure content is clearly organized and navigable for assistive technologies.
Screen reader testing and manual audits helped validate that pages could be understood and navigated without visual cues.
Screen reader testing and manual audits helped validate that pages could be understood and navigated without visual cues.
Screen reader testing and manual audits helped validate that pages could be understood and navigated without visual cues.
Color contrast and visual hierarchy were carefully considered to maintain readability and meet accessibility standards across the site.
Color contrast and visual hierarchy were carefully considered to maintain readability and meet accessibility standards across the site.
Color contrast and visual hierarchy were carefully considered to maintain readability and meet accessibility standards across the site.
FINAL DESIGN
FINAL DESIGN
FINAL DESIGN
A Unified Conference Web Experience
The final experience brings together an accessibility-first framework, clear information hierarchy, and a visual language inspired by Saint John. Consistent layouts, structured navigation, and expressive details work together to create a conference website that feels cohesive, approachable, and easy to explore.
A Unified Conference Web Experience
The final experience brings together an accessibility-first framework, clear information hierarchy, and a visual language inspired by Saint John. Consistent layouts, structured navigation, and expressive details work together to create a conference website that feels cohesive, approachable, and easy to explore.
A Unified Conference Web Experience
The final experience brings together an accessibility-first framework, clear information hierarchy, and a visual language inspired by Saint John. Consistent layouts, structured navigation, and expressive details work together to create a conference website that feels cohesive, approachable, and easy to explore.
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
What I learned
What I learned
What I learned
Accessibility requires more than automation.
Automated tools catch compliance issues, but manual screen reader testing revealed usability gaps they missed. This reinforced my view of accessibility as a holistic practice that combines tools, hands-on testing, and user feedback.
Figma as a system, not just a design canvas.
This project pushed my Figma skills beyond visual design, helping me build clearer documentation and smoother handoff workflows between design and development.
Accessibility requires more than automation.
Automated tools catch compliance issues, but manual screen reader testing revealed usability gaps they missed. This reinforced my view of accessibility as a holistic practice that combines tools, hands-on testing, and user feedback.
Figma as a system, not just a design canvas.
This project pushed my Figma skills beyond visual design, helping me build clearer documentation and smoother handoff workflows between design and development.
Accessibility requires more than automation.
Automated tools catch compliance issues, but manual screen reader testing revealed usability gaps they missed. This reinforced my view of accessibility as a holistic practice that combines tools, hands-on testing, and user feedback.
Figma as a system, not just a design canvas.
This project pushed my Figma skills beyond visual design, helping me build clearer documentation and smoother handoff workflows between design and development.
Early alignment drives better outcomes.
Aligning design decisions with development constraints early reduced friction and improved collaboration across a multi-stakeholder team.
Early alignment drives better outcomes.
Aligning design decisions with development constraints early reduced friction and improved collaboration across a multi-stakeholder team.
Early alignment drives better outcomes.
Aligning design decisions with development constraints early reduced friction and improved collaboration across a multi-stakeholder team.