Objectives

Our mission was clear: to transform HÍ’s website into a more accessible, engaging, and reflective platform that truly embodied the essence of the institution. Here's a breakdown of our key objectives:

Comprehensive Information Delivery:

Establish the website as the central information hub, effectively communicating the HÍ’s offerings.

Increased Accessibility:

Ensure inclusivity by implementing features for seamless access to information, catering to users of all abilities.

Improved User Engagement:

Foster a captivating browsing experience, engaging users and keeping them invested in the diverse offerings of HÍ.

Brand Enhancement:

Strengthen HÍ’s identity through visually appealing design and branding, reflecting its esteemed reputation.

Stakeholder Satisfaction:

Prioritize the overall satisfaction by meeting the diverse needs of students, faculty, alumni, media, government bodies, and the public.

Visual Design

The redesign of HÍ’s website wasn't just a facelift – it was a complete reimagination of its digital presence. We introduced a fresh visual narrative, building upon the existing aesthetic while elevating it to new heights. This decision was motivated by a desire to differentiate HÍ from other institutions that shared similar color schemes, fostering a unique and recognizable brand presence. As part of this transformation, we introduced a single emphasis color, Deep Pink, and implemented a new typeface to enhance readability and ensure visual consistency across the site

The deliberate introduction of Deep Pink was a strategic decision rooted in color theory. In this context, pink symbolizes friendliness, warmth, and approachability, creating an inviting atmosphere for users. Paired with blue, which embodies trust, stability, and professionalism, it reflects the school's inclusive ethos while maintaining authority and reliability.

Our approach to visual design goes beyond aesthetics, enhancing the user experience with colors that evoke trust and friendliness. This cohesive visual identity strengthens the school's reputation and fosters positive associations with its brand.

Design System

Using user research insights and wireframes provided by Mennsk, our team crafted a user-centric interface experience. We aimed to strike a balance between aesthetic appeal and functional efficacy, given the diverse needs of HÍ’s audience.

As we redesigned the interface, we also developed a comprehensive design system to ensure consistency and responsiveness across various devices. The system encompasses flexible components and all necessary states, reflecting our commitment to a seamless user experience. Collaborating closely with the HÍ development team, we strategically navigated the complexities of this undertaking.

To achieve this, we designed components to be modular, facilitating easy mixing and matching to create diverse page layouts. This approach not only enhances usability but also provides HÍ with the flexibility to construct additional tailored interfaces effortlessly. Ultimately, our goal was to adapt to HÍ’s evolving requirements and needs, and successfully serve its diverse range of users.

ACCESSIBILITY

Ensuring accessibility was at the forefront of our redesign efforts. We meticulously curated every element with diverse user needs in mind, prioritizing enhanced legibility and usability. A pivotal decision was the adoption of the Atkinson Hyperlegible typeface, specifically chosen to improve readability, particularly for visually impaired users.

The Atkinson Hyperlegible typeface stands out for its unique features, such as distinct letter differentiations and subtle enhancements to improve readability. It effectively tackles common challenges like distinguishing similar-looking characters, ensuring a more accessible reading experience for all users.

We ensured a universally inclusive design by addressing key accessibility aspects such as type size, color contrast, focus states, reading order and skip navigation link. Additionally, we implemented a feature often overlooked: a pause button for carousels. This seemingly small detail can significantly enhance the user experience for individuals who may need more time to interact with content.

CONCLUSION

The collaboration between the University of Iceland and Jökulá has resulted in a reimagined website that embodies modernity and accessibility, reflecting HÍ’s commitment to innovation and inclusivity. With streamlined content and intuitive design, the platform effectively engages diverse stakeholders, reaffirming the HÍ leadership in Icelandic education. Moving forward, the redesigned platform is poised to foster greater connectivity and engagement, ushering in a new era of digital excellence for HÍ and its community.