MYBCA NEWS
MYBCA NEWS
Redesigning the News Section for my BCA - A Self-Service Portal For BCA’s Employees. Improving accessibility and content management on an information-dense page
Redesigning the News Section for my BCA - A Self-Service Portal For BCA’s Employees. Improving accessibility and content management on an information-dense page
ROLE
Product Design
UX Research
ROLE
Product Design
UX Research
TEAM
Working independently with supervision from 2 lead Designers
TEAM
Working independently with supervision from 2 lead Designers
TIMELINE
8 Weeks - Jul 2024 - Sept 2024
TIMELINE
8 Weeks - Jul 2024 - Sept 2024
The Problem
The Problem
myBCA portal is a self service platform for BCA’s employee to access all account information they have and collaborate with other departments using one single user ID.
myBCA portal is a self service platform for BCA’s employee to access all account information they have and collaborate with other departments using one single user ID.
The news section was developed
due to employee’s frustrations:
The news section was developed
due to employee’s frustrations:
“The portal looks very serious....it screams work, work, and work”
“The portal looks very serious....it screams work, work, and work”
News Section of myBCA Portal
News Section of myBCA Portal
Why Is It Important?
Why Is It Important?
Building
company culture & connection, fostering a sense of belonging and community.
Boosting
productivity and goal alignments across departments.
Centralizing
communications, making it easier for employees to stay informed with important updates
Timeline
Week 1-2
Week 3- 6
Week 7-8
User Research
Traffic Analysis, Observations, Surveys, Interviews
Define and Ideate
User Flows, Personas, Site Mapping, Wireframing, Prototyping
Validate
Usability Testing, Iterating, Final Presentation
Week 1-2
Week 3-6
Week 7-8
User Research
Traffic Analysis, Observations, Surveys, Interviews
Ideation
User Flows, Personas, Site Mapping, Wireframing, Prototyping
Validation
Usability Testing, Iterating, Final Presentation
Research
Research
Survey and Observation
Survey and Observation
My research began by reviewing an internal survey conducted by BCA in 2021 to evaluate the portal’s efficiency. One key finding was that 10 participants cited “too many categories in the News section,” suggesting issues with content overload and navigation.
This led me to hypothesize that the portal’s structure was not optimized for handling content-heavy workflows.
My research began by reviewing an internal survey conducted by BCA in 2021 to evaluate the portal’s efficiency. One key finding was that 10 participants cited “too many categories in the News section,” suggesting issues with content overload and navigation.
This led me to hypothesize that the portal’s structure was not optimized for handling content-heavy workflows.
Web Audit
Web Audit
I started to dig deeper and conducted a web audit of the existing myBCA portal news to test whether poor navigation and content overload were impacting user behavior. This included analyzing user session traffic, identifying broken or outdated links, and reviewing bounce rates across key sections.
I discovered that certain high-traffic pages, like 'Announcements' and 'Entertainment' had inconsistent layouts and unclear labeling. These issues aligned with survey findings and confirmed the need for a content and navigation restructuring.
*Due to internal access restrictions, I was unable to capture screenshots of specific pages.
I started to dig deeper and conducted a web audit of the existing myBCA portal news to test whether poor navigation and content overload were impacting user behavior. This included analyzing user session traffic, identifying broken or outdated links, and reviewing bounce rates across key sections.
I discovered that certain high-traffic pages, like 'Announcements' and 'Entertainment' had inconsistent layouts and unclear labeling. These issues aligned with survey findings and confirmed the need for a content and navigation restructuring.
*Due to internal access restrictions, I was unable to capture screenshots of specific pages.
What I Found
What I Found
After testing out my assumptions from the survey through web audit, here’s what I found:
After testing out my assumptions from the survey through web audit, here’s what I found:
1
Excessive hyperlinks led to unintentional page
Excessive hyperlinks led to unintentional page
2
Poor search engine - No filters and keyword mismatch
Poor search engine - No filters and keyword mismatch
3
Many unused categories remained on the site
Many unused categories remained on the site
4
Heavy data management on the admin side
Heavy data management on the admin side
Prioritizing Through Interview
Prioritizing Through Interview
To further validate these pain points, I interviewed 10 employees who regularly engage with the newsfeed. These conversations revealed key behavioral patterns, such as employees relying on memory or bookmarks to avoid navigating through cluttered sections.
Recurring themes—like inefficient search, irrelevant categories, and difficulty locating timely content—were then synthesized into an Impact-Effort Matrix, helping me prioritize solutions based on business value within the limited scope of my internship.
To further validate these pain points, I interviewed 10 employees who regularly engage with the newsfeed. These conversations revealed key behavioral patterns, such as employees relying on memory or bookmarks to avoid navigating through cluttered sections.
Recurring themes—like inefficient search, irrelevant categories, and difficulty locating timely content—were then synthesized into an Impact-Effort Matrix, helping me prioritize solutions based on business value within the limited scope of my internship.
Strategy
Strategy
Once the core issues were prioritized, I translated those insights into a new design strategy—starting with a revised sitemap to better reflect user workflows and streamline navigation.
Once the core issues were prioritized, I translated those insights into a new design strategy—starting with a revised sitemap to better reflect user workflows and streamline navigation.
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
I began by auditing outdated content, removing broken links, and consolidating redundant categories. With a cleaner content base, I restructured the information architecture to support clearer paths to content and a more intuitive user experience.
I began by auditing outdated content, removing broken links, and consolidating redundant categories. With a cleaner content base, I restructured the information architecture to support clearer paths to content and a more intuitive user experience.
Wireframe
I created some high-fidelity wireframes to get feedback on the overall structure of the newsfeed. This process included setting up a standardized visual hierarchy and layout for future features.
I created some high-fidelity wireframes to get feedback on the overall structure of the newsfeed. This process included setting up a standardized visual hierarchy and layout for future features.
Modular Grid Layout
By combining card-based modules and an F-pattern-aware structure, I made the interface more digestible while supporting editorial-style storytelling
By combining card-based modules and an F-pattern-aware structure, I made the interface more digestible while supporting editorial-style storytelling
Optimized Search Model
By implementing a categorized search result model with filters, users can quickly locate relevant content without feeling overwhelmed by dense pages.
By implementing a categorized search result model with filters, users can quickly locate relevant content without feeling overwhelmed by dense pages.
Smart Section Filtering
By implementing multi-select category filters within a homepage section using horizontally scrollable buttons, it allows quick content refinement without affecting the full page.
By implementing multi-select category filters within a homepage section using horizontally scrollable buttons, it allows quick content refinement without affecting the full page.
Modular Grid Layout
By combining card-based modules and an F-pattern-aware structure, I made the interface more digestible while supporting editorial-style storytelling
Optimized Search Model
By implementing a categorized search result model with filters, users can quickly locate relevant content without feeling overwhelmed by dense pages.
Smart Section Filtering
By implementing multi-select category filters within a homepage section using horizontally scrollable buttons, it allows quick content refinement without affecting the full page.
User Testing
User Testing
I conducted usability testing with 5 users of the newsfeed, focusing on 4 key scenarios to evaluate each feature. By observing their interactions with the prototype, I gathered valuable feedback that highlighted areas for further design refinement.
I conducted usability testing with 5 users of the newsfeed, focusing on 4 key scenarios to evaluate each feature. By observing their interactions with the prototype, I gathered valuable feedback that highlighted areas for further design refinement.
Success Rate
Success Rate
Based on 5 participants
Based on 5 participants
Scenario 1
Navigating to newsfeed from portal
Scenario 1
Navigating to newsfeed
from portal
Scenario 2
Searching Keywords
Scenario 2
Searching Keywords
Scenario 3
Finding promos
Scenario 3
Finding promos
Scenario 4
Selecting Categories
Scenario 4
Selecting Categories
Iterations
Iterations
Most participants found the process of accessing the newsfeed to be confusing. In response, I redesigned the section to be more visually clear and engaging, simplifying navigation and making it easier for users to access relevant content.
Most participants found the process of accessing the newsfeed to be confusing. In response, I redesigned the section to be more visually clear and engaging, simplifying navigation and making it easier for users to access relevant content.
Old Design
Old Design
New Design
New Design
The new design achieved a 100% success rate during testing with five different participants who are also daily users of the newsfeed—avoiding familiarity bias from repeat testers.
The new design achieved a 100% success rate during testing with five different participants who are also daily users of the newsfeed—avoiding familiarity bias from repeat testers.
Final Design
Final Design
After incorporating feedback from usability testings, I refined the prototypes and conducted another validation round. The updated design addressed previous pain points—and after presenting it to the lead designer and project director, it secured full stakeholder approval to move forward.
After incorporating feedback from usability testings, I refined the prototypes and conducted another validation round. The updated design addressed previous pain points—and after presenting it to the lead designer and project director, it secured full stakeholder approval to move forward.
01
Starting Page
Starting Page
Finding company news used to mean digging through the main portal— unclear and inconsistent. Now, by giving the newsfeed its own entry point and a structured space, employees can access updates instantly, and admins can finally manage content without the clutter.
Finding company news used to mean digging through the main portal— unclear and inconsistent. Now, by giving the newsfeed its own entry point and a structured space, employees can access updates instantly, and admins can finally manage content without the clutter.
From portal to newsfeed
Hello, I’m your
new newspaper
From portal to newsfeed
Hello, I’m your
new newspaper
From portal to newsfeed
02
02
Layout
Layout
Scrolling through updates used to feel overwhelming—long walls of text with no visual rhythm. I redesigned the experience using card-based modules and an F-pattern-aware layout, helping users scan updates while supporting more visual, editorial storytelling.
Scrolling through updates used to feel overwhelming—long walls of text with no visual rhythm. I redesigned the experience using card-based modules and an F-pattern-aware layout, helping users scan updates while supporting more visual, editorial storytelling.
03
03
Search and Recommendations
Search and Recommendations
The old search function was cluttered and slow. With filters and smart recommendations, users can now find relevant articles faster and keep exploring with ease.
The old search function was cluttered and slow. With filters and smart recommendations, users can now find relevant articles faster and keep exploring with ease.
04
04
Promo Page
Promo Page
The new promo page features a card-based layout with category tags, making it easy to scan trending deals at a glance. Each card shows key details upfront—no need to click around to find what matters.
The new promo page features a card-based layout with category tags, making it easy to scan trending deals at a glance. Each card shows key details upfront—no need to click around to find what matters.
Impact
Impact
Before development began, the final design was approved by the lead designer and project director. Final usability testing showed smoother navigation, improved readability, and a 40% boost in content retention.
Before development began, the final design was approved by the lead designer and project director. Final usability testing showed smoother navigation, improved readability, and a 40% boost in content retention.
What I Learned
What I Learned
As my first design internship in a corporate setting, I learned to stay proactive through slow feedback loops—setting self-imposed deadlines, moving forward with partial data, and validating ideas through internal usability testing.
As my first design internship in a corporate setting, I learned to stay proactive through slow feedback loops—setting self-imposed deadlines, moving forward with partial data, and validating ideas through internal usability testing.
Under the guidance of a Lead Product Designer at the team, I refined my usability testing approach—asking the right, non-leading questions to extract honest insights and iterate meaningfully.
Under the guidance of a Lead Product Designer at the team, I refined my usability testing approach—asking the right, non-leading questions to extract honest insights and iterate meaningfully.
This experience shaped how I balance autonomy with collaboration, and it deepened my appreciation for adaptability as a core part of the design process.
This experience shaped how I balance autonomy with collaboration, and it deepened my appreciation for adaptability as a core part of the design process.
Next project Next Self