https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies daily 0.75 2026-06-19 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/opus-a8wmk monthly 0.5 2026-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/f7deca52-c072-4190-b996-fe23a8579973/monster-emerging-from-frameworks.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out The complexity monster can emerge from a simple framework. (AI image created by Microsoft CoPilot) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/8ad862d9-7d08-4f8e-918a-2d65655f9c44/cat.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out Does it satisfy the cat? (Concept by John Boykin, YouTube video) The client is not a cat. We are not a cat. We cannot compel the cat to do what we want. If the cat won’t eat the food, nothing else really matters! And in this case, cats meant faculty members. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/dcf61899-843c-4a93-9440-43394cec8595/Screenshot+2026-06-18+at+10.52.12%E2%80%AFAM.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out A diagram of how our system interacted with the other university systems. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1d7f66ea-fd37-4ca1-bc0d-054eb66eda9e/turbo+tax Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out The complex was simplified using the TurboTax model: asking the user a series of questions and only displaying the relevant information. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/4bc7e73a-096b-497e-bef4-313f1e186f21/Screenshot+2026-06-18+at+2.39.06%E2%80%AFPM.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out A modal that guides the user on the right path as they’re starting an academic review case. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/aec9edf5-65b0-48fe-ba65-033c14e05962/a+report+showing+some+salary+calculations Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out This report calculated things that computers should have been doing the whole time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/ca74ecc1-402a-402f-90d3-47ec5966e9e5/cases-redacted.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out The table design copied mental models from the users existing spreadsheets (names redacted) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/e1c1c95f-a5e3-4ebf-a27d-c871d3ec3933/longestcaseflow.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out A task flow diagram showing the academic review process https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/8ab6b118-b991-426e-bf98-17ae4e6027b0/sketch.jpg Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out An early whiteboard sketch of the home page https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/c4321548-75d5-436b-807d-03d8057d469d/style+board.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out Our Pinterest board https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/596af63e-ab3d-4135-836a-7be8103f6918/post+its.jpg Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out Card sorting exercise https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/14012d6a-8519-44a3-8d0c-684eccfe56e9/sitemap.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out The site map developed out of the card sorting exercise https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/e0f79a1e-4cc3-4662-be33-7d77c7b5fc37/Screenshot+2026-06-18+at+10.30.09%E2%80%AFAM.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out The two sidebar patterns we tested, and the one we ended up with after user testing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1474677101302-EGD4TLMOSVSTIUIPN58R/image-asset.jpeg Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - An eligibility calculator needed some tweaking after the first year An eligibility calculator needed some tweaking after the first year https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/dfe6fbbf-10b6-46b1-a22c-45eca281c6d4/Opus+Site+Map.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out An early mental model of the different users and the tasks they needed to accomplish. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1781738508026-KXWSRD15YBRAUKH9QFBR/sketch2.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out A sketch of the Cases page. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/f5306bf0-a2cb-4a3c-95d8-1951098e2e81/Screen+Shot+2016-09-24+at+5.51.15+PM.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out Trying to figure out the filters for the tables. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/791afa82-053d-4c7a-bac1-688cafa64c8c/flowchart Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out A flowchart describing the business logic of a form. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/39c9b4ff-6996-4eeb-9862-296b9112648b/wireframes Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out An early wireframe of the Cases page. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/ca74ecc1-402a-402f-90d3-47ec5966e9e5/cases-redacted.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out A screenshot of the actual page (names redacted) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1475441341588-L6R47EPEJYVQXTWDB1NJ/Asset+0 Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out We did a wireframe / task flow of a voting user interface that would mirror the current paper system. When we calculated the hours it would cost to build the voting user interface, our stakeholders agreed that this very simple voting tally would do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477692307837-TKRXJQ6TOR659B3IR0FK/image-asset.png Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out The solution we arrived at. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1475533028520-HZJX1WOUPQIC13UZQHYT/image-asset.gif Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out Interactive prototypes helped the team and stakeholders intuitively understand the design. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/d73d8f1f-d0c5-4dbd-ada0-4e7c5338a239/Opus+log-on+screen Case Studies - Dealing with complexity: the Opus Project - Make it stand out The Opus logon screen captured our goal: to make the academic review process easier for everyone. https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/identity monthly 0.5 2026-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/0ecbfe49-1dfc-46d8-bc91-304fe28e9250/Screenshot+2026-05-31+at+1.18.46%E2%80%AFPM.png Case Studies - Building an identity system for a university-wide WordPress rollout - Make it stand out A vibrant home page for an academic division. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/b2d6e91d-a11b-4f24-90a9-101b5e4234ef/Screenshot+2026-05-31+at+1.39.23%E2%80%AFPM.png Case Studies - Building an identity system for a university-wide WordPress rollout - Make it stand out Typography https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/42fb88f9-d325-4250-98fa-80249d45474c/Screenshot+2026-05-31+at+1.39.31%E2%80%AFPM.png Case Studies - Building an identity system for a university-wide WordPress rollout - Make it stand out Color pallette https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/blog-post-title-three-y3peb-4lwnz-b3f48 monthly 0.5 2026-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/30874e9f-ec96-4234-84f5-337ecf8d5ff8/sloth+computer Case Studies - Using AI to interpret user research - Make it stand out Using AI can greatly speed up research analysis. Image made by Microsoft Copilot. https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/2026/6/14/whats-the-best-way-to-get-someone-to-fill-out-a-form monthly 0.5 2026-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1474758187319-SNHF0JMZI56QYC2MLIKW/image-asset.png Case Studies - What's the best way to get someone to fill out a form? - Make it stand out The app rewarded the user every time they put in some information. Here they learn how many tech jobs are in the area after setting their location. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1474758411713-H22A8J618ZWCS3BBV5R1/sliding+bar+for+minimum+salary Case Studies - What's the best way to get someone to fill out a form? - Make it stand out We provided context to make it easier to answer the questions. When asking what salary people wanted, we provided a graph of the average salary of the job and location.Instead of typing in numbers, they adjusted the slider bar. https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/2026/6/14/using-illustration-as-points-of-delightnbsp monthly 0.5 2026-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1475528158628-3U23UXXCMBOHC0OAXNQW/image-asset.gif Case Studies - Using Illustration as Points of Delight - Make it stand out The “woooo!” modal. We all like a little validation sometimes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1475527921009-DNAGYYYQNXDWPPKQW3EA/unhappy+folder Case Studies - Using Illustration as Points of Delight - Make it stand out An unhappy path modal. https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/2026/6/14/2cvnqdew1nalu9fpqncka0yqemmyjp monthly 0.5 2026-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477685557748-BSK5Z4CY4J3VWKA4JL3C/comic2piece.jpg Case Studies - Using storytelling and comics to persuade - Make it stand out Comics open up unexpected doors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1474672085063-2GYEEL21S6LKW4KX3TOR/image-asset.jpeg Case Studies - Using storytelling and comics to persuade - Make it stand out Reconstituting the Committee, an exercise in administrative horror. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/79bbe637-fa9d-4e12-9c3f-d7ca896c2071/image-asset.jpg Case Studies - Using storytelling and comics to persuade - Make it stand out Applying for Fellowships, the old fashioned way. https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/blog-post-title-four-lr658-tcthp-484k3 monthly 0.5 2026-06-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/0a2de6cf-f5a9-4e20-83ab-eb76ca4fa362/DXLand_Full_Poster.png Case Studies - DX Land: The Game of Digital Transformation or Stagnation - Make it stand out High resolution file. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/f9411e54-25a5-45ed-a94f-4ba22841dab7/Screenshot+2026-05-28+at+8.31.53%E2%80%AFAM.png Case Studies - DX Land: The Game of Digital Transformation or Stagnation - Make it stand out Choose your player… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/5c67d22e-7f44-4761-abb3-2c2f8a22aa3e/Screenshot+2026-05-29+at+7.15.11%E2%80%AFAM.png Case Studies - DX Land: The Game of Digital Transformation or Stagnation - Make it stand out The “Game Over” square: a project graveyard with server tombstones. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/6a270c71-e992-4df7-8bcd-380a7dde619f/Screenshot+2026-05-28+at+11.55.34%E2%80%AFAM.png Case Studies - DX Land: The Game of Digital Transformation or Stagnation - Make it stand out As in life, sometimes you land on a day filled entirely with meetings and lose your turn. https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/category/home monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/tag/Forms monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/tag/Identity+System monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/tag/Illustration monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/tag/Board+Games monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/tag/Stakeholder+Alignment monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/tag/branding monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/tag/AI monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/tag/Digital+Transformation monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/tag/User+Research monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/tag/Interaction+Design monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/tag/App+Design monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/tag/Storytelling monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/casestudies/tag/Strategy monthly 0.5 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/about daily 0.75 2026-06-15 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/hamburger-box daily 0.75 2026-05-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477855225638-TBP0NULNU8CHF7T2WPQ7/hamburger.jpg Hamburger Box https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1474688788618-18U70Z8Z618SI7SVOHGI/image-asset.jpeg Hamburger Box https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1474688788618-18U70Z8Z618SI7SVOHGI/image-asset.jpeg Hamburger Box https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/home daily 1.0 2026-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/654e21a7-4b0b-4968-a223-e85281396d73/Screenshot+2026-05-28+at+8.14.45%E2%80%AFAM.png https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/skyline daily 0.75 2026-06-09 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/404 daily 0.75 2026-06-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/63824017-e81a-4250-99f7-85ccfca17a4f/folderdoh.jpg https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/store daily 0.75 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/work-avenue daily 0.75 2026-06-09 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/art daily 0.75 2026-06-13 https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/art/jazz-musician-kenny-burrells-tribute-booklet-rtj9y monthly 0.5 2026-06-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1474689378025-WVLZDD0WYG5PS2XJH8DC/image-asset.jpeg Art Projects - Jazz musician Kenny Burrell's tribute booklet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1474689423244-NJKUMUUYOIGM3CH4ACZN/image-asset.jpeg Art Projects - Jazz musician Kenny Burrell's tribute booklet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1474689396124-6I2R7E5EXKH0L9WBI2CJ/image-asset.png Art Projects - Jazz musician Kenny Burrell's tribute booklet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1474689453518-P0HHRB25DZZX99R8TB0W/image-asset.jpeg Art Projects - Jazz musician Kenny Burrell's tribute booklet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477848911491-ZQ9YAX2B5947OVX9Y7QJ/kenny2.jpg Art Projects - Jazz musician Kenny Burrell's tribute booklet https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/art/fontune-the-fortune-telling-font-deck-lgzdw monthly 0.5 2026-06-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477691475550-EIE8751O65B31GE8QP76/image-asset.jpeg Art Projects - Fontune: The Fortune Telling Font Deck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1474688670693-631PM5O9JRNFD5NVFGGX/fontune-garamond.jpg Art Projects - Fontune: The Fortune Telling Font Deck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1474688672802-8IFF08S9LVN17S1K7409/futura.jpg Art Projects - Fontune: The Fortune Telling Font Deck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477689868259-DZURBQU4S2QIIPSJNHYE/Screen+Shot+2016-09-26+at+9.47.06+AM.png Art Projects - Fontune: The Fortune Telling Font Deck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477689766928-6KVGZYB472V3A4EYF8XN/card2.jpg Art Projects - Fontune: The Fortune Telling Font Deck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477689801366-OY6CGA8V35K4MKKJTPYF/Screen+Shot+2016-09-26+at+9.47.06+AM.png Art Projects - Fontune: The Fortune Telling Font Deck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477689836111-KLVMTNQXZIDDWWJPEQ5L/card2.jpg Art Projects - Fontune: The Fortune Telling Font Deck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477692995345-T6ZWN3B547SV7HXF6C8V/Parisian.jpg Art Projects - Fontune: The Fortune Telling Font Deck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477693010233-5E4LXDOWM92TFJ4Q6QH8/whimsey.jpg Art Projects - Fontune: The Fortune Telling Font Deck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477693019674-MD6ZXTWGLX2WEU31UPOJ/Univers.jpg Art Projects - Fontune: The Fortune Telling Font Deck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477693093137-P2KP9AH867AHQFAI4AHS/Helvetica.jpg Art Projects - Fontune: The Fortune Telling Font Deck https://www.marywatkinsdesign.com/art/satisfaction-the-mick-jagger-board-game-pd6d9 monthly 0.5 2026-06-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477694795019-42IT2FDJFN0N4BO39ATE/mickboard.jpg Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1474687202973-PTOHH3VLM3672ARCUX2M/image-asset.jpeg Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477856495914-7IBUYZT3PHT4DCP4ZUP4/image-asset.jpeg Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477856847471-2ESRIKEXL24F8GCN0VUI/image-asset.jpeg Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game Day of Reckoning https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477857273173-BD5U80FF61WFNKDF58C2/IMG_3306.JPG Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game - Start here https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477858023700-2JWZRSP3IF103ERXU0MY/bowie.jpg Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game - David Bowie Illustration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477857294828-DX8ZMPLMDW2OTLBRPYCH/IMG_3300.JPG Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game - Avoid Groupie Swamp! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477855465611-A0BSL9VB9H849TPX5YSP/IMG_3310.JPG Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game - Here's a shortcut.... https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477858045875-70KIYJQN7CHQE05QUSQ9/micboard.png Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game - Box Cover https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477858163085-MQDIC7CT98V5VBJV5V35/mickmoney.jpg Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game - Mick Money https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477859146553-8KAEM4F3MMBZH1FX4N61/IMG_3307.jpeg Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game - Go on tour! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477855446746-30L0UMO72T1HKL2QKAPG/IMG_3308.JPG Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477855486469-SSPNEIRZ1C4Y8M6OJ1LR/IMG_3311.JPG Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477857357305-T5YTG87CFKLU8F7YK1IN/IMG_3312.JPG Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game - Avoid Keith's castle https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477858307330-OEISHGAR3002ALGD4XLY/charactersheet.jpg Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game Character Sheet https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/57e1dac5b8a79b2526a1f208/1477858490702-5ZAXG8N5RFAC6KP3EKXX/image-asset.jpeg Art Projects - Satisfaction - The Mick Jagger board game Instructions