Tangerine Site Redesign

Tangerine is an electronic data collection software. Its primary use is to capture students' responses in oral early grade reading and mathematics skills assessments.

RTI International engaged me to conduct a heuristics review and lead the redesign of the Tangerine website — restructuring its information architecture, resolving brand inconsistencies, and paring down superfluous content to better serve its global user base.

View the Live Site

Tangerine site redesign — redesigned homepage

Project Overview

Background

Tangerine is used by educators and researchers across more than 60 countries to assess early literacy and numeracy skills in children. Despite its global reach, the website struggled to communicate the software's value clearly and consistently.

Problem Space

Disorganized sitemap made it difficult for users to find relevant information
Brand inconsistencies across pages created a fragmented visual experience
Superfluous language obscured key messaging and overwhelmed users

Key Accomplishments

Conducted a heuristics review using Nielsen's 10 usability heuristics
Restructured the information architecture and rebuilt the sitemap
Refreshed the brand for visual consistency across all pages
Reduced and clarified copy to improve scannability and comprehension

Before Redesign

Tangerine website before redesign — navigation structure

Heuristics Review

Needs work

Visibility of System Status

The site provided little feedback on where users were within the navigation hierarchy, leaving users uncertain of their location.
Needs work

Match Between System and the Real World

Technical terminology and jargon were used without explanation, creating barriers for non-expert users and international audiences.
Pass

User Control and Freedom

Navigation remained accessible throughout the site, allowing users to move freely between sections without dead ends.
Needs work

Consistency and Standards

Visual inconsistencies — varying type styles, colors, and component treatments — created a fragmented experience across pages.
Needs work

Aesthetic and Minimalist Design

Pages contained dense blocks of text and redundant content, making it difficult for users to identify key information quickly.
Needs work

Help and Documentation

Support resources were buried within the site structure and not prominently surfaced for users who needed guidance.

Sitemap

Final Design

Affinity Clustering & Design Updates

After initial design work, I presented the website to my team for feedback. We conducted an affinity clustering session in order to understand what could be improved. This included 3 sections where fellow designers and project managers could leave comments or suggestions. After organizing the clusters, teammates also voted on top priorities for updating the site.