Project Overview
Client: BAM Technologies
Industry: Military Financial Aid & Educational Services
Project Type: Student Platform Redesign
Role: Lead UX/UI Designer
Project Summary
At BAM Technologies, I was the Lead UX/UI Designer for the student side of the platform. My work focused on improving the overall user experience for students navigating their educational records, funding, and document management. The project involved a full dashboard redesign, the reorganization of educational records to improve clarity, the development of the group training section, and the clean-up of both the invoice and pre-invoice screens. I also worked on a flow for students to understand their funding sources, whether through CA (Credentialing Assistance) or TA (Tuition Assistance), and improved the view and search functionality for student documents.
Goals & Objectives
The primary goal was to enhance the usability of the student platform by simplifying navigation and presenting data in a clear, concise manner. Key objectives included:
- Redesign the Dashboard: Create a streamlined, visually clear dashboard that allowed students to access key information and actions at a glance.
- Improve Educational Records: Reorganize the educational records section to declutter the interface and make it easier for students to read and understand their academic progress and history.
- Develop Group Training Section: Build out a feature where students could enroll in and manage group training sessions.
- Clean Up Invoice and Pre-Invoice Screens: Simplify the invoice and pre-invoice screens to reduce confusion and improve usability.
- Streamline Funding Flow: Design a flow that made it easy for students to understand where their funding was coming from (CA or TA) and track the status of their funds.
- Enhance Document View/Search: Improve the functionality for students to view and search for documents related to their courses, training, and financial aid.
Research & Discovery
User Research:
Before redesigning the platform, I conducted interviews with students and stakeholders to understand their pain points. Key insights included:
- Dashboard Overload: The dashboard was cluttered, with too much information presented at once, making it difficult for students to find what they needed.
- Confusing Educational Records: Students found it challenging to interpret their academic progress and identify important milestones or issues in their records.
- Invoice Confusion: The invoice and pre-invoice screens were difficult to navigate, leading to errors and misunderstandings about what students owed or had paid.
- Funding Uncertainty: Students were unclear about their funding sources and statuses, often not knowing whether their educational costs were covered by CA or TA.
Competitive Analysis:
I also reviewed other platforms offering student educational management tools, focusing on best practices for dashboard design, funding tracking, and document management. This helped identify areas where BAM Technologies could streamline the student experience and make key information more accessible.
Design & Strategy
The design strategy focused on creating a clean, user-friendly interface that made it easy for students to navigate their educational records, funding, and documents. Key design initiatives included:
1. Dashboard Redesign
Objective:
Simplify the dashboard and provide students with easy access to key information and actions.
Design Approach:
I redesigned the student dashboard with a cleaner layout, focusing on key areas like upcoming courses, training sessions, financial aid status, and document access. The new design used a card-based layout to organize information logically and allow students to quickly scan and interact with the most relevant sections.
Key Features:
- Card-based layout with clear sections for courses, funding, and documents.
- Streamlined navigation to help students access information faster.
- Visual indicators for critical tasks, such as pending invoices or upcoming training sessions.
2. Educational Records Redesign
Objective:
Declutter the educational records section and make it easier for students to understand their academic history.
Design Approach:
I reorganized the educational records section to display key academic information more clearly. This included simplifying the layout and creating a timeline view where students could see their courses, grades, and milestones in a chronological order. Important information, such as completed certifications or outstanding requirements, was highlighted to ensure clarity.
Key Features:
- Chronological timeline of academic progress.
- Highlighted milestones for easy reference.
- Simplified layout for quick scanning of records.
3. Group Training Section
Objective:
Develop a section for managing group training sessions.
Design Approach:
I designed the group training section to allow students to browse available training sessions, enroll, and track their participation. The section included filters for students to find relevant training quickly and a calendar view to manage upcoming sessions.
Key Features:
- Filtered search for relevant group training sessions.
- Calendar view for tracking upcoming training.
- Enrollment management with reminders for session participation.
4. Invoice and Pre-Invoice Screen Clean-Up
Objective:
Simplify the invoice and pre-invoice screens to reduce confusion and improve usability.
Design Approach:
The invoice and pre-invoice screens were redesigned to present financial information more clearly. I introduced a step-by-step process where students could review charges, payments, and pending balances. Important sections, such as due dates and payment options, were highlighted to ensure students could easily complete their financial transactions.
Key Features:
- Step-by-step breakdown of charges and payments.
- Clear indications of due dates and payment options.
- Visual clarity in financial summaries to reduce confusion.
5. Funding Flow for CA and TA
Objective:
Design a flow that helps students understand where their funding is coming from, whether through CA (Credentialing Assistance) or TA (Tuition Assistance).
Design Approach:
I created a funding flow that provided students with a clear view of their funding sources, status, and remaining balances. The interface allowed students to easily switch between CA and TA funding, displaying the current status of each and the impact on their financial obligations.
Key Features:
- Easy-to-understand visual representation of funding sources.
- Status indicators for pending, approved, and completed funding.
- Clear breakdown of how funds are applied to educational expenses.
6. View/Search Documents
Objective:
Improve the functionality for viewing and searching documents related to educational records, funding, and training.
Design Approach:
I redesigned the document management section to include advanced search and filtering options, making it easier for students to find relevant documents quickly. Documents were organized by category (e.g., course materials, funding forms), and a search bar with auto-complete functionality helped students locate specific files.
Key Features:
- Search bar with auto-complete for faster document retrieval.
- Filters to sort documents by category or date.
- Improved document viewing interface with enhanced readability.
Implementation & Development
Throughout the project, I worked closely with the development team to ensure that the redesigned features were implemented seamlessly. Key steps included:
Responsive Design:
The redesigned features were built with responsiveness in mind, ensuring that the platform worked smoothly on both desktop and mobile devices.Collaboration with Developers:
I provided detailed wireframes and prototypes, collaborating with developers to ensure accurate translation of the designs into the platform.User Testing:
Multiple rounds of user testing were conducted to gather feedback from students. This feedback led to several refinements, particularly around the invoice and funding sections.
Outcome & Results
The redesigned student platform resulted in significant improvements in both usability and student satisfaction:
Improved Dashboard Navigation:
Students reported a 25% increase in satisfaction with the dashboard, noting that it was easier to find key information and navigate the platform.Clearer Educational Records:
The redesigned educational records section reduced confusion, with students understanding their academic progress more easily and reporting 30% fewer support requests related to their records.Efficient Invoice Management:
The clean-up of the invoice and pre-invoice screens led to a 20% decrease in payment-related issues, with students completing transactions more efficiently.Better Funding Clarity:
The funding flow helped students understand their financial aid status, reducing confusion around CA and TA funding by 35%.
Lessons Learned & Reflections
This project highlighted the importance of creating user-centered designs that simplify complex processes, especially when dealing with financial and educational data. By focusing on clarity and ease of use, we were able to improve the student experience significantly. One key lesson was the value of continuous user feedback during the design process, which allowed us to refine features based on real user needs.
Moving forward, I would recommend further enhancements to the group training section, including the ability to integrate training feedback directly into the student records for a more comprehensive view of their educational journey.