Apply Idaho -
College Application Platform
Client:
Office of the Idaho State Board of Education (OSBE)
Roles:
Product Designer
Project Overview:
OSBE sought to revamp the user experience of Apply Idaho, the state’s centralized application platform for up to 10 in-state colleges. The goal was to develop a user-centric front-end design for various screens, ensuring flexibility for future user types and scalability.
Design Approach:
I collaborated closely with OSBE, leveraging provided content such as application questions and initial briefs. For the State board of Education, my role was multifaceted and dynamic. I played a pivotal role in defining the visual language of our interface, streamlining the information architecture, and guiding products from conception to their handoff to the internal dev team. The designs prioritized flexibility, allowing easy addition of questions during the application process and adaptation to future user types, facilitating a seamless transition from concept to implementation.
Key Features & Outcomes:
User profiles and dashboards designed for clarity and ease of access.
Institution and program selection tailored to HS seniors.
Detailed institutional and program management screens supporting comprehensive data views.
A cohesive style guide promoting brand consistency and easy future updates.
An automated, branded email template ensuring professional communication.
Developer-ready designs and documentation.
Impact:
This redesign enables OSBE to deliver a more intuitive and scalable application experience. The detailed, developer-ready designs streamline the development process, reduce implementation time, and improve user satisfaction for prospective students and institutional administrators alike.
The web-based platform features secure logins for both students and school administrators, enabling streamlined application completion and management.
The pre-design phase. Information Architecture.
This information architecture we created defines the structural foundation for the Apply Idaho platform, mapping out the core user pathways, permissions, and feature sets by role. The system is organized around three primary user groups:
Institutions (highlighted in red) – administrative users managing application intake, program configuration, and reporting tools.
Students (highlighted in blue) – applicants engaging with the system to create profiles, apply to multiple colleges, and track submission status.
Program Managers (highlighted in green) – system-level administrators overseeing workflows, user permissions, and statewide data insights.
Each user type is supported by a dedicated dashboard and tailored navigation, ensuring a role-specific experience that reflects their distinct needs and responsibilities within the ecosystem.
Getting Inspired.
Great design begins with effective, deliberate research—the kind that uncovers unexpected insights, fuels bold creative choices, and lays the groundwork for a product that’s not just beautiful, but brilliantly aligned with real human needs. The importance of finding and gathering these insights from not only the internet but those around you cannot be understated!
