National Institute of Education Sri Lanka (NIE) – Website Redesign

A complete redesign of one of Sri Lanka’s primary education websites, enhancing usability and aesthetics.

Role

UI/UX Designer

Industry

Education

Duration

3 months

Stage 1: User Research

During the user research phase, I analyzed the existing NIE website to understand its shortcomings in terms of user experience and design. I conducted interviews with educators, students, and website users to gather insights into their frustrations and expectations. This research also involved examining modern web design trends and usability standards to ensure the redesign would meet current user needs. The main focus was to improve navigation, make the site more visually appealing, and ensure the content was accessible for all types of users.

Stage 2: Ideation & Conceptualization

With the research insights in hand, I began ideating solutions to modernize the NIE website. The core focus was on creating a clean, user-friendly interface that would make information easy to find for users such as teachers, students, and parents. I conceptualized a more structured layout, improved information hierarchy, and the inclusion of high-quality images to enhance visual appeal. The goal was to present the information in a clear and engaging manner while ensuring that the site remained accessible and responsive across devices.

Stage 3: Design Execution

  • Wireframing: Created detailed wireframes that mapped out the new structure of the website, focusing on logical navigation paths and improved user flow.

  • Prototyping: Developed interactive prototypes to simulate user interactions with the new design, allowing stakeholders to experience the revamped interface.

  • UI Design: Crafted a modern, visually appealing interface with vibrant colors and high-quality images, ensuring the design aligned with the national education brand while improving usability.

Stage 1: User Research

During the user research phase, I analyzed the existing NIE website to understand its shortcomings in terms of user experience and design. I conducted interviews with educators, students, and website users to gather insights into their frustrations and expectations. This research also involved examining modern web design trends and usability standards to ensure the redesign would meet current user needs. The main focus was to improve navigation, make the site more visually appealing, and ensure the content was accessible for all types of users.

Stage 2: Ideation & Conceptualization

With the research insights in hand, I began ideating solutions to modernize the NIE website. The core focus was on creating a clean, user-friendly interface that would make information easy to find for users such as teachers, students, and parents. I conceptualized a more structured layout, improved information hierarchy, and the inclusion of high-quality images to enhance visual appeal. The goal was to present the information in a clear and engaging manner while ensuring that the site remained accessible and responsive across devices.

Stage 3: Design Execution

  • Wireframing: Created detailed wireframes that mapped out the new structure of the website, focusing on logical navigation paths and improved user flow.

  • Prototyping: Developed interactive prototypes to simulate user interactions with the new design, allowing stakeholders to experience the revamped interface.

  • UI Design: Crafted a modern, visually appealing interface with vibrant colors and high-quality images, ensuring the design aligned with the national education brand while improving usability.

Stage 4: User Testing & Iterations

After prototyping, I conducted user testing sessions to gather feedback on the redesigned site’s usability and visual appeal. These tests helped identify any friction points in the navigation and overall user experience. Based on the feedback, several iterations were made to enhance ease of use, particularly for first-time users and non-tech-savvy visitors. The iterative process ensured that the final design was both functional and aesthetically pleasing, meeting the needs of a diverse user base.

Stage 5: Final Presentation and Documentation

In the final stage, I presented the new design to the stakeholders at NIE, demonstrating how it improved user experience, enhanced the visual design, and brought the site in line with modern web standards. The presentation showcased the design's impact on improving accessibility and usability. Detailed documentation was prepared to outline the redesign process, ensuring that future updates could maintain the design consistency and functionality improvements introduced.

Reflections


Redesigning the NIE website was an exciting challenge, as it allowed me to modernize a crucial national platform for education. It was particularly rewarding to see how a user-centered approach could transform a dated website into a vibrant, accessible, and functional platform that better serves the educational community.

Reflections


Redesigning the NIE website was an exciting challenge, as it allowed me to modernize a crucial national platform for education. It was particularly rewarding to see how a user-centered approach could transform a dated website into a vibrant, accessible, and functional platform that better serves the educational community.

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