10,000+ pages. A whole heap of random page designs. Over 13,000 broken links. 400+ different fonts. At the beginning of 2020, the Macquarie University website was in need of some serious love and care.
Enter Customer Experience Manager Kevin Raccani and Group Marketing’s Digital Team, who embarked on the ambitious task to significantly improve the user experience and operational efficiency of the site through a new design system tool called GEM (Global Experience Macquarie).
GEM provides University staff with consistent and easy-to-use design templates and web elements, as well as clear guidelines for creating and maintaining webpage content (including tips on writing for the web)
Working closely with stakeholders, the Digital Team have now successfully ‘GEM-ified’ the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Science and Engineering and MQ Health sites, with the existing ‘Connect’ section and the ‘About’, ‘Study’ and ‘Research’ sections planned to follow in 2021.
1) In a nutshell, my job is to…
Lead a team of UX and UI Designers to constantly improve the user experience for visitors to the Macquarie University website, and assist with guidance for similar improvements to our staff and student portals as well.
2) My definition of success is…
Successfully spreading the GEM Design System across the public-facing website. As our teams introduce the new designs onto more areas of the site, engagement will increase and our productivity will too.
3) This year I want to…
Stay safe from the Covid-iocy, maintain a productive team and GEMify as many parts of the website as possible.
4) The scariest thing I’ve ever done is…
Sing in a band. Performing in front of a live audience for the first time would rank up there as one of the scariest things I’ve done. Luckily a large contingent of the audience were friends.
5) As a kid, I was…
Short for my age. After leaving year 12, I grew 15cm. It certainly gave me a different perspective on people, being the smallest person in those formative years.
6) My guilty pleasure is…
Australian Rules Football. My wife is also a fanatic, which has certainly helped our marriage. Our holidays interstate almost organise themselves around the football fixture. This season has been an exception, of course.
7) The most important thing I’ve learned this year is…
How resilient and agile Australians are. Most of our people have responded so well to this pandemic that I can see a promising light at the end of the tunnel.
8) I’m happiest when…
I am surrounded by friends and family, relaxing with their jokes and stories.
9) If I had the day off today, you would find me…
Taking a day trip to a scenic venue around Sydney (we have so many to choose from), and enjoying a lovely take away or dine-in meal.
10) To me, the best thing about the Macquarie community is…
The friendly atmosphere. I felt really welcomed here when I joined nearly two years ago, and you still experience that feeling when you meet new people in each area of the University. Best of all is the collaborative approach we have in the Digital Team, which makes working an enjoyable experience.
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