A student-centered focus
Objective
A clean, searchable, and engaging UC Santa Cruz student onboarding experience that supports the mission of three departments: the Office of the Registrar, Admissions, and Financial Aid.
Scope
Strategic Planning
Information Architecture (IA)
User Experience (UX)
Website Design
Website Development
The Objective
Barretto was tasked with using visual design and UX expertise to bringing cohesion to three disparate departments at UC Santa Cruz: Registration, Financial Aid, and Advising.
We were asked to modernize a highly trafficked campus resource by improving navigation, accessibility, and clarity while reducing redundant and outdated content. And as a result, it will better serve students and their families, staff, faculty, and the public
A consistent user experience
Office of the Registrar
By prioritizing quick access to essential tools like the academic calendar, class schedules, catalogs, forms, and policy guidance, the new website offers a cleaner, more searchable, and more engaging experience that supports the Registrar’s administrative mission and improves the overall student journey.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
The new site reduces clicks, consolidates scattered resources, and empowers users to self-serve through streamlined content, guided pathways, and tools like calculators, forms, and chatbot support, improving navigation and engagement—while preserving strong existing content such as appeals and summer aid pages.
Undergraduate Advising
The new site serves as a centralized, authoritative source for guidance on policies, procedures, and academic planning resources by consolidating content previously spread across multiple sites. The redesign answers common student questions within one to two clicks while encouraging deeper exploration and connection with advisors for personalized support.
