UBG Case Study

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This case study features a digital solution based on UBG’s 6 Phase User-Centered Design Process — NextUX.
 
Background

Murphy & Associates is a leading consulting firm based in the Seattle area. Founded in 1980, they recruit and place hundreds of high-end IT and business professionals.


launch website

 


 

Joel and Eric Murphy's vision was to significantly improve their online presence to effectively serve both the business managers and IT consultants they brought together on IT contracts.

Strategic

  • Focus on the user experience
  • Convey clear message of quality
  • Bring highest value to users

Creative + Technical

  • Relaunch a modern Website
  • Integrate with back-end systems
  • Simplify future development

 

Challenges

Murphy & Associates had developed its own internal management systems, some of which were made available online to their IT consultants. These systems lost their value when integrated with their existing, ineffective front-ends.

The key challenges were to identify the user types, know their wants and needs, and design an elegant yet cost-effective digital solution for them using current Web technologies including ASP, CSS, Flash and Flash video.

Key Issues

  • Define user wants and needs
  • Project cost management
  • Manage technology compatibility
UBG Provided
Solution
  • Initial meetings focused on understanding Murphy's user profiles, business objectives and Web-specific goals. The information helped define the user experience and how it would inspire desired user actions.
 solution
  • With the user data in hand, wireframes and design comps of user interface designs and rich media content were created to simulate integration with Murphy's server based applications.
 solution
  • Functional UI elements and Flash based content were then developed for the front-end of the public and password protected Murphy Websites.
 solution
  • Video interviews of consultants and managers were filmed and edited. They were then built into an interactive FAQ covering a range of specific concerns in working with an IT staffing firm.
solution
See this solution at:
   www.murphyandassoc.com
Takeaway

A thorough understanding of its users and a multi-phased, user-centered design process for their Website redesign helped Murphy & Associates to be voted NWJobs People's Pick for Favorite Temp/Recruitment Agency in 2008 and 2009 and also Favorite Eastside (Seattle) Company in 2009.

Joel Murphy had this to say when the project was done: "We wanted someone who could think through the larger implications of how our Website integrates with our business, our clients and our internal systems. UBG fit the bill perfectly, and we couldn’t be happier with the results."

Key Lessons

  • Establishing an optimal user experience has high rewards
  • Peer-based video FAQs can
    be very effective
 
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