Due to COVID-19, Sacramento State's Design Department transitioned its annual Spring Show to a virtual format, replacing the traditional in-person portfolio showcase.

My Role

As the sole designer and a post-grad design community member, I partnered with our UX professor to create a successful virtual Spring Showcase for graduating seniors.

Research

The first step in my process was to fully understand the audience. After researching, the website needed to serve two user groups: graduating seniors showcasing their work and external viewers exploring the showcase, each with distinct goals.

Comparative Analysis

I analyzed four virtual design showcases, auditing their features to understand what made some interfaces more effective than others.

Value Proposition

I mapped the site's features on a graph, weighing impact against design effort, to prioritize key elements for the CSUS showcase.

Identity

I designed the identity to reflect spring themes with engaging motifs and creative meanings. Focusing on four words—electricity, movement, eye-catching, and rebirth—I connected these concepts to embody the essence of the Spring Show.

Final Analysis

After the various amounts of research and refinements made to the designs, the outcome of the website is strong in several senses. To verify that all of the goals were met and desired functions were created, I added the 2021 Design Spring Showcase to the competitive audit to compare the results.