CASE STUDY:
The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD
Enterprise-Level Website and Companion App
HIPAA SECURE
Timeline: ~1 Year
Role: Lead Product Designer
- User research: Market research, user personals, user journeys, user questionnaires and interviews, current and revised sitemaps.
- Ideation & Design: Page/screen sketches, wireframes, prototypes, and hi-res designs.
- Development Experience (DX): Asset exports and functionality documentation.
- Testing & iterative changes: User observation, in-person and written interviews.
- Post-launch analysis: Google Analytics, media trend tracking.
- Additional related work due to the success of the website and mobile app:
- Foundation website redesign
- Intercept web app
- Social media
- Print collateral
- Branding improvements
- Merchandise
Overview
Challenges
The Harris Center chose Drupal for their new website—a platform I quickly had to master to design effectively within its constraints while leveraging its unique features. The site required multilingual functionality and strict accessibility due to its diverse user base, and the biggest challenge was developing the companion mobile app concurrently, a task best tackled after the website launch.
Outcome
The Harris Center’s positive feedback confirmed our high-quality product—early pilot testing showed an approximate 8% increase in overall interaction. Their satisfaction led to further work, including redesigns of their fundraising website, a justice system intercept web app, and more.
Discovery
Empathize & Understand
I created User Personas for each of The Harris Center’s multiple user groups—patients, families, caregivers, press and governement.
I performed a thorough competitive Analysis of other similar heatlhcare providers nationwide.
I crafted multiple Stakeholder Questionnaires for The Harris Center’s various key user groups.
I designed a professional Research Findings Report, following the interim branding I created for the successful RFP response effort.
Early version of their sitemap, reducing complexity while adding a wealth of additional functionality.
Design & Ideation
Website Dev Workspace
App Dev Workspace
Selected Website Wireframes & Final Designs
Selected App Wireframes & Final Designs
Handoff
After mockup approval, I shared my organized and annotated design files to the developers, and collaborated closely with them to ensure the final product matched the designs and functioned as intended.
Delivery, Testing, and Listening
Post-launch, we scrutinized analytics, and conducted multiple rounds of user interviews and testing to inform ongoing iterative improvements to the website and app.
To facilitate the hand0ff of content maintenance to the client, I produced detailed documentation which stepped them through each task and took part in weekly meetings until their comfort level with handling changes themselves was established.
Learnings & Takeaways
Managing the simultaneous development of the website and mobile app proved to be an enlightening experience, teaching me the art of juggling multiple highly-intertwined projects with some degree of finesse. Pulling this off successfully required meticulous planning, seamless coordination, and adept time management to ensure each aspect received the attention it deserved.
In hindsight, a sequential integration approach would have been more effective—starting the app after the website would have allowed us to apply key lessons for smoother integration and a more cohesive user experience. Additionally, working within Drupal refined our ability to optimize assets like images, documents, and content for better performance and engagement.
Beyond technical execution, we guided stakeholders in adopting a mobile experience that went beyond simply replicating the website. By demonstrating the value of an app-like interface aligned with their goals, we helped them see its unique benefits. These insights strengthened our expertise and reinforced our commitment to continuous learning, adaptability, and delivering exceptional digital experiences.
Beyond Product Design
In addition to my role as the UI designer for the website and mobile app, my extensive marketing experience allowed me to take on additional responsibilities at the Harris Center.
Leveraging my skills in designing print and digital assets, I was able to create compelling messaging and graphics for their social media and digital advertising campaigns. This included crafting engaging content and designing visually appealing assets to enhance their online presence and reach their target audience effectively. Furthermore, my expertise extended to designing training materials at a high level, ensuring that the resources provided a seamless learning experience for staff and stakeholders.
Social Media Examples
Thank You
I’d love to chat about how my passion for product design and my experience can help bring your digital projects to life. Please feel free to email me at thomas@thomasmcauley.com, call me at (210) 347-8123, or use my contact form.