Franklin College

Franklin College of Arts and Sciences, the oldest, largest, and most academically diverse college at the University of Georgia, is home to a vibrant mix of disciplines spanning the arts, humanities, and sciences. As the college launches a refreshed sub-brand to highlight its core values of ambition, creativity, curiosity, innovation, and leadership, it partnered with a team of NMIX Capstone students to reimagine its website and better engage its broad audience. In the first phase of the project, the team met with their client, Susan Ambrosetti, and conducted exploratory research that uncovered key areas for improvement in both the site’s content and overall functionality. A detailed project plan was developed to prioritize improvements to the homepage, research page, and news feed, aligning design and usability with the new sub-brand. To kick off design development, the team created an Alpha prototype in Figma that addressed client concerns by refining search functionality, simplifying text and dates, and replacing outdated visuals with high-quality images.

In the second phase of the project, the team built on their initial research by conducting in-depth user testing, surveys, interviews, and competitor benchmarking to uncover actionable insights into how Franklin College’s website could better serve its diverse audience. These findings highlighted consistent challenges with navigation, content clarity, and accessibility across user groups, guiding the team in developing a comprehensive UX map to address specific user needs and behaviors. Using this as a foundation, the team created a Beta prototype in Figma that introduced more intuitive navigation, streamlined page layouts, and clearer content hierarchy. This effectively translated user feedback into tangible design solutions. The evolving prototype served as a key milestone in refining the site’s usability while maintaining alignment with the college’s refreshed sub-brand identity.

In the third phase of the project, the team delivered a fully realized prototype of Franklin College’s redesigned research page, showcasing a polished and functional user experience tailored to the college’s refreshed sub-brand and diverse audience. Every screen and interaction was thoughtfully crafted to improve navigation, streamline content, and highlight the impact of Franklin’s research in a visually engaging way. To market and demonstrate the project, the team created a detailed Visual Design Guide and promotional posters, highlighting the design rationale, brand elements, and creative decisions behind the final product. The project website also launched in beta, offering a responsive and user-friendly platform that reflects the college’s identity and goals. With these tools in hand, Franklin College can seamlessly integrate the redesigned research page into its existing Drupal system, enhancing the site’s usability and aligning it with their broader marketing and communication strategy. This final product is designed to increase visibility for research initiatives, attract potential donors and collaborators, and create a more engaging experience for students, faculty, and external partners. Ultimately, it empowers Franklin to tell its story more effectively and connect with its community through a modern, accessible digital presence.With a strong foundation in place, the team will continue refining and expanding the product, adding key features and enhancements to create a fully market-ready solution. These final developments will be showcased in a polished stage presentation that demonstrates the project’s value and impact for the Franklin community.