Case Study

MICHR Website: Information Architecture, Search, and Governance

Redesigning navigation and search so researchers reach the right offering in fewer clicks—paired with content governance and leader-friendly analytics.

Role: Lead UX Researcher & Designer Org: MICHR, Michigan Medicine Timeframe: 2024–2025 Focus: IA, Search, Content Strategy, Analytics Methods: Card/Tree tests, Usability tests, GA4 & GSC Team: UX, Comms, Dev, Stakeholders

Context & Problem

MICHR supports researchers with offerings across training, engagement, and study support. Analytics + feedback showed users landing on news/events instead of offerings, and key tasks buried under broad categories.

We needed a task-first IA, clearer labels, and search that prefers offerings over announcements.

Goals

  • Help researchers reach the right offering in ≤ 2–3 clicks.
  • Reduce confusion between Offerings vs. News/Events.
  • Stand up governance (owners, cadence, intake).
  • Ship a GA4/GSC dashboard leaders can skim monthly.

Approach

Research

  • Open/closed card sorts for category language.
  • Tree tests on top tasks (e.g., “Request study support”).
  • Usability tests on navigation labels & CTAs.
  • Stakeholder workshops to align terminology.

Data & Content

  • GA4 paths + GSC queries to find dead ends/missed intent.
  • Content audit → merge duplicates, task-first intros.
  • Governance model: owners, review cadence, intake form.
  • Performance dashboard: traffic, queries, conversions.

Key Decisions

  • Task-first nav: Offerings up front; News/Events secondary.
  • Labels: From generic “Resources” → verb-first + audience paths.
  • Search: Boost offering pages; add synonyms/redirects for top queries.
  • Governance: Simple intake + owners + quarterly content review.

Outcomes

  • Faster time-to-task on top 5 offerings.
  • Search results now land on offerings vs. announcements.
  • Leaders review site health monthly without new tools.
Note: Swap in your numbers once ready (e.g., +18% task completion, −27% exits on offering pages).

What I’d Do Next

  • Iterate synonyms/redirects as queries evolve.
  • Extend governance to microsites; standardize intake templates.
  • Add click-map tracking on top offering pages.