Abstract
MSU’s Translation Center is a newly founded initiative offering high-quality and affordable translation and interpreting services in over 20 languages to the MSU community and beyond. In addition to these services, the Center also provides language training, proficiency testing, and specialized workshops. When I joined the project, my role was to improve the website’s usability, enhance its visual appeal, and increase overall user engagement.
The Challenge
The core objective was to create an inclusive, responsive, and user-friendly website that effectively serves individuals from a variety of linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The platform needed to be visually appealing, easy to navigate, and capable of supporting complex language needs for sensitive documents and events.
Some primary focus areas included:
Designing a responsive experience across all devices.
Ensuring usability for people with varying degrees of digital literacy.
Creating a research-based platform that meets the unique needs of a multilingual audience.
Constraints
Several limitations shaped the scope and timeline of this project:
Timeframe: Balancing this work with summer coursework required tight time management and prioritization.
Data Gaps: The original website lacked user analytics, making it necessary to gather fresh feedback through surveys and interviews.
Language Familiarity: Although I had experience with two foreign languages, designing for more than 20 required extra diligence and a commitment to research and collaboration.
My Role
I served as the sole UX researcher, designer, and media assistant for the website revamp. This meant managing the entire design process from discovery to implementation while also maintaining direct contact with leadership. Weekly meetings ensured alignment with the Translation Center’s vision and goals.
Defining Project Goals
Through discovery sessions and user interviews, we outlined several key objectives:
Improve Usability: Redesign the site to make navigation more intuitive for users from diverse backgrounds.
Modernize the Visual Design: Replace the outdated, hard-to-navigate layout with something cleaner and more inviting.
Ensure Accessibility: Implement WCAG 2.1 standards to support all users, including those with impairments.
Expand Visibility: Create a new LinkedIn page to build awareness and extend the center’s reach.
Research and Discovery
My research involved examining multilingual websites and reviewing university-affiliated platforms to maintain consistency with MSU’s broader digital ecosystem. I also conducted competitive analysis to evaluate how similar institutions handle translation services online.
Additionally, input from the Center's staff clarified internal goals and surfaced common pain points among current users. One recurring theme was the lack of accessibility tools and on-page translation functionality—critical for the Center's mission.
Information Architecture
Before jumping into design, I created a site map to lay out the content structure and ensure we addressed every user and administrative need. Sharing this map with the Translation Center team allowed for early feedback and avoided surprises during development.
Design Process
Mid-Fidelity Wireframes
Using data collected during research and feedback sessions, I designed wireframes that aligned with our goals:
Simplicity: Pages followed a clean, reproducible layout compatible with WordPress.
Accessibility: Design elements supported ease of translation and screen reader compatibility.
Clarity: Key actions were emphasized to reduce confusion and guide users to essential services.
High-Fidelity Design
The final interface incorporated a clean, readable layout with improved color contrast and intuitive navigation. Homepage sections were broken into clear blocks to help users quickly find what they need. Translation options were integrated throughout the site to ensure usability for a wide demographic.
Accessible Web Design: Users can translate any page to their preferred language. All internal pages were reviewed for consistency and correctness.
UI Design: Improved readability, better hierarchy, and a clearer information structure helped streamline the user journey.
Visual Appeal: The aesthetic direction was aimed at creating a positive first impression and elevating the Translation Center's credibility.
Usability Testing
To validate our design, we conducted testing with five participants, including:
Four non-native English speakers
One linguist familiar with translation workflows
Testing focused on the desktop version, reflecting how students and staff would most likely interact with the site. Tasks involved locating key services, understanding how to request translations, and verifying translated content.
Key Findings
Discovery Delay: 3 of 5 users took over a minute to locate the translation request section from the homepage.
Pricing Confusion: Users were unsure where to find cost information for services.
Navigation Friction: 2 of 5 users tried to request a translation from the services page but were not clear on the next step.
Improvements Made
Made all service blocks clickable and linked directly to the translation request form.
Added clear callouts for pricing details.
Refined homepage structure for faster content discovery.
Post-testing, 4 of 5 users were able to complete core tasks efficiently and noted increased clarity and ease of use.
Final Designs
The final mockups reflected all learnings from testing and iterations. Each element was carefully crafted to support users with varying technical abilities and linguistic needs.
Closing Thoughts
This project was a turning point in my design career. Working with MSU’s Translation Center challenged me to think critically about accessibility and inclusivity in digital spaces. Designing for a multilingual audience expanded my perspective and forced me to approach UX through a more global lens.
Special thanks to Tony Grubbs for trusting me with this opportunity and for his consistent support and guidance throughout the process.
Next Steps
I continue to work with the Translation Center, overseeing ongoing updates to the website and managing the center’s LinkedIn presence. This allows me to keep evolving the digital experience while helping the center grow its outreach.
What I Learned
Account for Everything: Overlooking even the smallest details, like translation toggles or visual cues, can disrupt the entire user experience. A consistent design process helped me stay organized and detail-oriented.
No Perfect Design: With such a diverse user base, it’s impossible to satisfy everyone. The key is to listen, iterate, and find a balance.
Creative Risk Pays Off: I was encouraged to step outside of my comfort zone, and that freedom helped me grow as a designer. Taking bold, thoughtful risks led to some of the most impactful outcomes.
