Institution
Indiana University
Project
CCore
My role & skills
Lead UX designer
UX design
UI design
User research
Background
Content can be one of the most valuable business assets of an organization and trustworthy content is at the core of delivering a high quality user experience through digital communications. Thus, Indiana University introduced Content Core (CCore) — an extensible content management platform built to provide a source of accurate information. It’s a repository for vetted content, and it’s built so that anyone can access and reuse that content. In other words, teams at IU can use CCore to standardize their content.
Apps
Currently, the CCore suite is made up of three unique apps. These apps include:
CCore Services, the canonical directory of Indiana University technical services offered by, or in partnership with, University Information Technology Services. CCore Services listings can be consumed by other platforms at IU through the open API.
CCore People, The canonical directory of people doing or supporting information technology (IT) work at Indiana University. CCore People units and people can be consumed by other platforms at IU through the open API.
CCore Assets, a rich-media asset management microservice. It can be used stand-alone, or as a component within CCore Knowledge, CCore People, and other applications.
Eventually, CCore will contain eight or more applications that teams at Indiana University can use to standardize their content.
Research
Before beginning the design on any of the CCore apps, I conducted extensive user research and consulted with the development team throughout their planning processes. In order to conduct research, I first had to identify the target audiences for each proposed app. It was quickly found that each app would typically have at least two audiences: users and admins. Then, I began interviewing prospective users and gathering data around the proposed app ideas. I compiled this research into findings reports for each app, then for CCore as a whole. My team used my findings to shape the entire CCore suite in all aspects.
My research was also used in presentations and widely shared reports for upper level stakeholders to review. Part of this process included having consultation type meetings with the product manager to ensure that my findings were accurately portrayed in their presentations. I also created a set of infographic type visuals to aid in presentations and management reports.
Design
In addition to being the UX researcher for CCore, I also tackled the visual design of each application and worked towards creating a universal experience across the CCore suite. First, I laid out a groundwork for how CCore would function for each user type and created “minimal viable product” plans for each app. Then, I began working on the user interfaces. Throughout the design process, I worked closely with the development team and product manager to ensure that we were all on the same page moving forward. I also created prototypes for stakeholders and consistently used their feedback to shape the CCore suite.
