Harvard Graduate School of Education
Website

brief
The existing site had grown fragmented over time, with overlapping content, unclear navigation, and inconsistent visual presentation. HGSE needed a unified digital experience that would simplify discovery, reflect its academic rigor, and support both short-term usability improvements and long-term scalability.

my Role
As Lead UI/UX Designer at Bluecadet, I guided the design process from discovery through launch. I led the creation of the site architecture, wireframes, and visual design system.

Visit the website

Discovery & Strategy

We began with a comprehensive audit of the existing site and stakeholder workshops to understand audience behaviors, content priorities, and institutional goals. Insights from this phase informed a restructured site architecture that clarified pathways for prospective students, professional learners, and educators.

Wireframing 

In the wireframing phase, I focused on improving content structure and discoverability. By defining clear page hierarchies, I created layouts that surfaced key information at the right moments and guided visitors toward relevant programs and stories.

Visual Design

Building on Harvard’s brand foundation, I developed a modern, pattern-based visual system that balanced academic authority with approachability. The flexible component-based design supports rich storytelling, varied content types, and ongoing site expansion. Accessibility was prioritized throughout, ensuring compliance with WCAG 2.1 standards.

PPE Finder Redesign

A key UX initiative was the redesign of the Professional and Programs in Education (PPE) Finder, an interactive filtering tool that allows users to quickly explore HGSE’s wide range of programs by topic, format, and audience. This tool became a central organizing feature for the site, driving engagement and simplifying user journeys.

Final Outcome

The new HGSE website delivers a streamlined, intuitive experience for visitors and a more efficient authoring environment for internal teams. With its flexible design system, optimized content structure, and improved accessibility, the platform now serves as a dynamic hub for learning and connection.

Team

Creative Director – Troy Lachance
Lead UI/UX Designer – Emily Lin
Designer – Xinran Zhou
Developers – Mark Llobera, Pete Inge
Content Strategist – Caitlin Chase
Producer – Hillary Cleary