Macromolecular Science and Engineering Department

Description The Macromolecular Science and Engineering Department at the University of Michigan is primarily a graduate program offering a Ph. D. and a Master’s with research opportunities for undergraduate students as well. Their website used an outdated WordPress theme managed by the University. The theme was quite strict: it only allowed 4 pre-determined colors, restricted CSS customization, and didn’t highlight the current events of the department. I approached the director, Professor Jinsang Kim, with an interest in redesigning the website and he agreed to purchase a WordPress account for the department to create a more custom experience for prospective students. My work I spearheaded the redesign of the Macromolecular Science and Engineering Department's digital presence, successfully delivering a high-fidelity prototype and a customized WordPress site to enhance visibility for prospective graduate students. Initiating the project in March, I meticulously crafted the prototype using Figma, actively seeking input from the department administration team in March and April, incorporating their feedback on aspects such as color schemes, fonts, and imagery. By April's end, I finalized the design, demonstrating a responsive and polished user interface. Throughout the summer, I diligently translated the prototype into a fully functional WordPress site, ensuring seamless adaptability across various devices. Biweekly meetings with the administration facilitated ongoing feedback and progress discussions. Upon completing the site, I transitioned it to the Macro Department's existing University of Michigan domain, enhancing brand coherence. This endeavor showcased my ability to independently manage a comprehensive design project, combining technical expertise in WordPress and CSS with effective collaboration and responsive design principles. Final Work and Impact The revamped website now serves as a dynamic showcase of research innovations and events, aligning with the department's goals and attracting prospective graduate students. As of November 2023, there have been 1500 page views with almost 300 visitors and these numbers are only going to increase as the graduate program application season reaches its peak.