User-centered design to inspire young people to choose science subjects
Background
The National Center for Science Recruitment (NSR), under the Ministry of Education and Research and located at NTNU in Trondheim, aims to increase interest in STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) in Norway. This is a key part of the work to ensure a competitive, sustainable and equal society. To achieve this goal, the center needed an updated digital presence that could inform and inspire both students, teachers and parents, and build a bridge between education and working life.
Design option
How can we modernize NSR's digital platform to improve the user experience and make information more accessible to different target groups, while inspiring young people to choose science and linking education to working life?
My role
Project Manager with UX Contribution – TRY Dig
Methods
Workshops (mapping customer journey and problem areas), information architecture, wireframing and prototyping, functionality design, scrum, iterative testing, technical guidance, planning and project management, customer communication
Solution
The project resulted in three interconnected websites:
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STEM Education : An information portal that guides users about opportunities in science.
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X-factor : A TikTok-inspired video universe aimed at youth, designed to make science inspiring and relevant.
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STEM Work : A platform to connect role models from work with students, with functionality such as registration, filtering and booking.
These sites were developed with a user-centric approach, focusing on easy navigation and modern design. The solution includes an improved information architecture, integration of videos via Vimeo, and a system that allows users to easily post and manage content.
I was the client's main point of contact and had full responsibility for the final delivery. I supported workshops, coordinated cross-functional teams, and was closely involved in the design process. This included everything from mapping the customer journey and developing wireframes to testing, launching, and follow-up.
Design process
Insight and problem definition
NSR's previous digital platform was outdated and not user-friendly. The information was fragmented, with overlapping content that created confusion. In addition, the website was visually outdated and lacked functionality that engaged younger audiences. Through workshops, we mapped the customer journey and identified challenges, including navigation issues and inefficient information structure. We defined user needs for three target groups: students, teachers/parents and advisors. This insight formed the basis for developing three distinct but coherent solutions: STEM Education , X-factor and STEM Work .
Information Architecture for STEM Education and X-Factor
This diagram illustrates the overall information architecture for STEM Education and X-Factor. The content is structured to address different target groups, including students, teachers, and counselors, with a clear distinction between informative content and engaging videos aimed at youth.
Information Architecture for STEM Work Life
This information architecture shows how the website's various elements and functions are structured to meet the needs of users. The focus was on easy navigation, clear division of content, and functionality that makes it easy to connect students and teachers with relevant role models and career resources.
Design and development
From start to finish, I was deeply involved in the design and development phase. I supported the work of developing wireframes and helped plan the website's functionality in detail.
This included:
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Design of registration flow and search filters for STEM Work, where users could easily find relevant role models.
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Planning the booking flow, including how the user was guided through the process.
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Development of functionality to allow users to register with filtering, keywords and categorization.
Working closely with the UX designer, I developed hand-drawn wireframes to communicate the flow and functionality based on insights from customer meetings. This helped guide the design process and ensure that the solution met the customer's needs. I was also responsible for delegating and prioritizing tasks through the scrum board, coordinating the developers, and ensuring that the design met both technical and user-oriented requirements.
The progress plans provide an overview of the different phases and activities that were carried out in parallel in the project. The plans illustrate how we balanced the design, development and testing of the three websites – STEM Education, X-factor and STEM Work – while ensuring effective project management and coordination.
Progress Plan for STEM Education and X-Factor
Progress plan for STEM Working Life
Launch and follow-up
I actively participated in testing the websites to identify and correct errors before launch. I also acted as a liaison between the client and the team, ensuring that technical solutions were communicated in a way that was understandable to the client. During and after launch, I provided training in the CMS, so that the client could manage content independently, and followed up to ensure a smooth transition.
Result:
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An engaging video platform ( X-factor ) that captured the attention of a younger target audience.
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An information portal ( STEM Education ) that guided and inspired users.
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A tool ( STEM Work ) that linked education to working life through role models and user-friendly features.
Mockups
Lesson and value
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Combined design, strategy and technical understanding to develop a solution that creates value for both the customer and end users.
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Strengthened my skills in balancing user-centricity with technical constraints.
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Showed how structured project management can result in innovative solutions.