Resource Center Redesign: Merit

Client: Merit International
Project: Resource Center Redesign
Timeline: 3 weeks
Role: Lead UI/UX Designer
Tools: Figma, Hubspot

Merit International's Resource Center serves as a comprehensive hub for clients exploring their interoperable digital credentialing platform, which empowers individuals with secure, verified credentials that simplify everyday life. The resource center houses case studies, reports, white papers, blog posts, and additional materials that demonstrate how this innovative platform addresses real-world credentialing challenges. The existing platform required a visual refresh and improved user experience to better serve their client base.

The Challenge

The Merit International Resource Center faced several critical usability issues:

  • Outdated visual design that no longer aligned with the company's evolved brand identity

  • Poor content discoverability due to the diverse range of resource types (case studies, reports, white papers, blog posts, and more)

  • Inefficient user journey preventing clients from quickly locating relevant resources

  • Lack of clear information hierarchy causing valuable content to get lost in the interface

The primary goal was to create a modern, simple, and intuitive resource center that would help clients efficiently find and access comprehensive information about Merit's interoperable digital credentialing platform while maintaining strong brand alignment.

Design Process

  • Research and Discovery

    • Analyzed existing user flows and identified pain points in resource discovery

    • Reviewed current brand guidelines and visual identity standards

    • Assessed content types and categorization needs across diverse resource formats

  • Wireframing

    • Developed low-fidelity wireframes to establish improved information architecture

    • Focused on creating clear content hierarchies and intuitive navigation patterns

    • Prioritized quick resource discovery and filtering capabilities

  • Prototyping & Design Exploration

    • Created multiple high-fidelity prototypes in Figma, each with unique characteristics

    • Developed rich, feature-complete prototypes to demonstrate full user interactions

    • Ensured all design variations maintained strict adherence to Merit International's brand identity

    • Presented diverse options to C-suite for strategic decision-making

  • Brand Alignment

    • Integrated updated visual elements consistent with Merit International's current brand standards

    • Maintained professional aesthetics appropriate for B2B digital identity management audience

    • Balanced visual appeal with functional clarity for digital credentialing platform resources

Key Design Solutions

  • Information Architecture Redesign

    • Implemented clear categorization system for different resource types

    • Created intuitive filtering and search functionality

    • Established visual hierarchy to highlight most relevant content

  • Enhanced User Experience

    • Streamlined user journey from landing to resource access

    • Improved content discoverability through strategic layout and navigation

    • Designed responsive interface optimized for various device types

  • Brand-Consistent Visual Design

    • Updated color palette, typography, and visual elements to match current brand standards

    • Created cohesive design system applicable across all resource types

    • Maintained professional appearance suitable for enterprise clients

Design Deliverables

  • Multiple prototype variations showcasing different approaches to the resource center redesign

  • Interactive Figma prototypes demonstrating full user flows and interactions

  • Brand-aligned design system ensuring consistency across all interface elements

  • Comprehensive design documentation for development team implementation

Project Constraints & Solutions

Time Limitation: 3-week project timeline required efficient design iteration and decision-making processes.

Content Variety Challenge: The diverse range of resource types (case studies, reports, white papers, blog posts) needed unified presentation without losing individual content value.

Solution: Developed flexible content template system that maintained consistency while accommodating different resource formats and information needs.

Results & Impact

The redesigned Merit International Resource Center successfully addressed the core challenges through:

  • Improved visual cohesion with updated brand-aligned interface design

  • Enhanced content discoverability through strategic information architecture

  • Streamlined user experience enabling faster resource location and access

  • Professional presentation reinforcing Merit International's position as a leader in interoperable digital credentialing solutions

The C-suite selection process benefited from having multiple well-developed prototype options, allowing for strategic choice-making based on business priorities and user needs.

Skills Demonstrated

  • User Experience Design: Information architecture, user flow optimization, usability problem-solving

  • User Interface Design: Visual design, brand alignment, responsive design principles

  • Prototyping: High-fidelity interactive prototypes, user testing preparation

  • Design Systems: Consistent component creation, scalable design documentation

  • Stakeholder Communication: C-suite presentation, option development, strategic design thinking