For Oregon State

Overview

Oregon State University partnered with Affirma to merge two independent websites — the OSU Foundation (focused on giving) and the OSU Alumni Association (focused on engagement) — into a single, unified experience.

As the UX Designer, I was responsible for:

• Conducting content and IA audits
• Developing user personas
• Designing responsive wireframes and prototypes (desktop, tablet, mobile)
• Creating modular templates for scalable content

The final solution strengthened OSU’s digital presence, aligning design, content, and structure under one consistent, accessible system.

Role: UX Designer
Deliverables: Personas, Wireframes, IA Recommendations

Personas

I created several personas for this client. There were several personas for internal users and external users. It was very helpful to consider the needs, goals, and pain points of each of these users to be able to deliver a product that catered to each one.

In the end, I really wanted everyone felt seen and heard and to feel as though their lives are a little bit easier when they come to visit the new Alumni and Foundation site.

Information Architecture

I had to consider a LOT of existing pages because I was combining two very large websites together. I curated a new navigation/IA that helped cater to all user types.

The client liked the "action" Level-1 names, so you can see that most of them are very action/task-oriented. 

• Get Involved
• Make a Gift
• Stay Connected

User Research → Wireframes

To guide development in Sitefinity, I took a mobile-first approach (then tablet, then desktop) and built out wireframes that defined key user flows — including events, staff directories, and search results — ensuring clarity and consistency across all devices.

The research phase included content audits, stakeholder interviews, and persona mapping to uncover usability challenges that impacted both internal staff and external visitors. Each wireframe iteration aimed to simplify complex navigation patterns and highlight clear entry points for engagement — “Make a Gift,” “Get Involved,” and “Stay Connected.”

To streamline the design-to-development handoff, I created a widget library within Sitefinity, allowing developers to assemble pages quickly from reusable modules. This system not only ensured visual consistency but also made future content updates easier for the OSU Foundation team to manage independently.

Outcome

The new Oregon State University Foundation website successfully united two previously separate platforms into a cohesive, audience-centered experience. By grounding every design decision in user research and persona insights, we created an interface that feels intuitive for alumni, donors, staff, and prospective employees alike.

The updated information architecture made it easier for users to find what matters most — from making a gift and attending events to exploring impact stories and opportunities to connect. Clear visual hierarchy and modular layouts reduced friction while maintaining Oregon State’s strong brand presence.

Collaborating closely with developers, I built a widget library in Sitefinity that allowed the team to assemble new pages from reusable modules. This scalable system ensured long-term maintainability and brand consistency across the Foundation and Alumni sites.

Since launch, the redesign has been celebrated internally for its usability, accessibility, and flexible design framework — empowering the OSU Foundation team to tell their story and engage their audiences more effectively than ever before.

See final page desgins in PDF form:

• Desktop
• Tablet
• Mobile