In this project, I worked in a leading UX role within a large pre-study and concept phase for AcadeMedia’s new intranet in Sitevision. The work focused on understanding employee needs, identifying organizational challenges, and creating a strategic direction for a modern, accessible, and personalized intranet experience.

My Role

I worked as the leading UX Designer with a strong focus on research, accessibility, UX strategy, and user-centered design throughout the pre-study. While my collegue helped out more with the UI. I was responsible for analyzing user behaviors, conducting research activities, facilitating workshops, and translating insights into strategic recommendations, helped with concept sketches, and UX direction.

My role included both strategic and hands-on UX work:

• Planned and led most of the UX work and activities throughout the pre-study

• Responsible for analysis of user behaviors and accessibility

• Conducted user interviews and survey analysis

• Planned and facilitated workshops

• Conducted needs analysis and insight synthesis

• Led and was responsible for accessibility

• Supporting our tech lead with decisions and requirements

• Worked with:

  • information architecture

  • navigation concepts

  • personalization strategies

  • effect goals and KPIs

  • UX/UI concepts

  • accessibility

• Developed recommendations for:

  • structure and navigation

  • communication flows

  • collaboration features

  • onboarding and editor support

• Helped with concept sketches and prototypes, as well as UX/UI direction

• Presented insights and strategic recommendations to stakeholders

• Contributed to the final pre-study report and MVP recommendations

Background

AcadeMedia’s existing intranet environment consisted of multiple fragmented systems and platforms across brands and business areas. Employees experienced difficulties finding information, navigating between systems, and understanding where to go for support, communication, and collaboration.

The organization wanted to create a shared digital workplace that could:

• simplify employees’ everyday work

• strengthen communication and collaboration

• support different brands and segments

• create a stronger sense of belonging across the organization

The new intranet would be implemented in Sitevision and needed to support both organizational flexibility and scalability.

The challenge

AcadeMedia’s existing intranet environment consisted of several fragmented systems and platforms across brands and business areas. Employees experienced difficulties finding information, navigating between systems, and understanding where to go for support and communication. And one of the biggest challenges was to find a way to find a solution for their +20 000 employees over multiple organizations and roles.

Research showed recurring challenges across the organization:

• Navigation and search were unclear and difficult to use

• Information was duplicated, outdated, and spread across multiple systems

• Communication flows felt overwhelming and irrelevant

• Employees primarily identified with their own brand rather than the organization as a whole

• Many employees worked mainly on mobile devices, while accessibility and responsiveness were lacking

Process

The project combined qualitative and quantitative research, UX strategy, accessibility, and concept development.

To gather insights, we conducted:

• User interviews (15+)

• Surveys (2)

• Workshops

• Stakeholder sessions

• Needs analysis

• Impact mapping

One key insight was how heavily employees relied on personal bookmarks, shortcuts, and alternative communication channels due to limitations in the existing intranet structure and search functionality.

Based on the research, we explored:

• Improved navigation and information architecture

• Smarter search experiences

• Personalized and role-based experiences

• Better communication and collaboration flows

• Responsive and accessible design patterns

Accessibility was integrated throughout the entire process, with a strong focus on the accessibility directive and WCAG, for example readability, mobile-first thinking, and inclusive design.