University Intranet Re-design based on UX Insights

A research-led intranet redesign for a large university intranet that led to a clearer information architecture, task-focused navigation, and interfaces shaped by staff and researcher needs.

Project Summary

I led UX research and interface design for a university intranet used daily by staff and researchers. The work translated interviews, workshops, and usability findings into a redesigned structure and UI鈥攊mproving findability for key tasks, reducing cognitive load, and aligning the experience with how people actually use the intranet. As part of the project, we also developed Grants at SDU, a funding database created to replace inefficient Excel sheets and Word documents. The tool made it easier for staff and researchers to find relevant grants through intuitive filtering and navigation. This new redesign led to 5x more engagement with the intranet, with users spending 10x more time on the site.

馃嚛馃嚢 University of Southern Denmark (SDU)

A large public university where the intranet supports teaching, research, and administration. The platform needed to surface the right tools and information for diverse roles while staying consistent, accessible, and maintainable at scale.

Role
UX Designer (research and UI)
Team
Senior Designer, Development Team, Web Communication Team,Research Support Team and SDU stakeholders.
Methods
User interviews 路 Workshops 路 Usability testing 路 Presenting User Insights 路 Information architecture 路 Wireframes 路 High-fidelity UI
Tools
Figma, Miro, and collaboration tools for research synthesis and handoff.

"The project demonstrated Octavia's UX professional know-how regarding user research (interviews and workshops), translating user insights, designing prototypes, and visual design. The resulting web intranet portal is today a widely accepted reference project at SDU among reserchers and staff."

Esben Flindt