Website for the Department of Surgery Research
The Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) Research Surgery Department needed a user-friendly website to serve as an information hub for researchers, collaborators, and patients. The goal was to improve accessibility, streamline navigation, and present complex medical information in a clear and engaging way.
Strategy
The project began with stakeholder interviews to identify key user needs. Personas were developed to represent the diverse audience, including researchers, medical professionals, and patients. The strategy emphasized clarity and ease of navigation, with a focus on mobile optimization and responsive design.
Development Process
- Wireframes and Prototypes: Initial wireframes mapped out a streamlined user journey, prioritizing high-traffic areas like research publications and contact information. Prototypes allowed stakeholders to provide feedback before development.
- Content Organization: A logical hierarchy was established to make information easy to find. Complex data was broken into digestible segments, and visuals like charts and infographics were incorporated.
- Technical Features: The website was equipped with search functionality, interactive tools for clinical trials, and multimedia capabilities to highlight research milestones.
Design Highlights
- Visual Themes: Clean, professional design elements were used, including a modern color scheme that aligned with BWH branding.
- Accessibility: The design adhered to ADA standards, ensuring the site was usable for individuals with disabilities.
- User Engagement: Interactive elements, such as clickable timelines and video integrations, brought the research stories to life.
The redesigned website improved engagement metrics, including longer session durations and increased inquiries from collaborators. Feedback from users highlighted the ease of finding information and the professional appearance of the site. The new platform better supported BWH’s mission of advancing surgical research and patient care.
