United Nations

Duration

Mar 2020 - Jan 2022

Company

United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Role

UI / UX Designer, Web Designer, Graphic Designer

Description

This is my full-time job at the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) which is part of United Nations Secretariat. I started as a web design intern and then moved into a design consultant role.

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Over the course of nearly two years, I have redesigned and developed the UN DESA website by revamping the information architecture and applying new UN web design systems and the UN DESA ecosystem, resulting in a 15.2% increase in website traffic over the last year.

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I supported 4 different internal groups and cooperated with 5 engineers and 3 product managers to create new web pages to showcase and promote UN DESA's work with clarity and efficiency. I owned the end-to-end process of defining the scope, analyzing and organizing webpage structure, and creating wireframes and high fidelity prototypes.

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This case study showcases the work of around 2 months.

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Check out the websites here:

• UN DESA website

• Global Policy Dialogue

• UN DESA Highlights Report

• UN DESA Voices

• Policy Briefs

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Problem

Context

The UN DESA website is an information portal that publishes updates about International updates, global conferences and summits, intergovernmental support, economic, social and environmental statistics, cutting-edge analytical products, sustainable development objectives, etc.

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As time goes by, the old version of the website no longer met the current needs. Also, United Nations has released a new design system. Therefore we decided to redesign the website and make changes accordingly.

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Solution

Goals

Based on the results of the research, I proposed solutions from 3 aspects to improve the overall user experience.

Information Architecture‍

It organize and structure content in a way that makes it easy for users to find and understand. This includes creating clear and concise navigation, using appropriate labels and categories, and organizing content in a logical way.

We used card sorting and conducted multiple rounds of review with the 9 divisions under our department throughout the process.

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Design System & Responsiveness

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Localization

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Other Works

Except the work presented above, I also created 5 new web pages to showcase and promote UN DESA's work.

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Designed the layout and data visualizations of 35+ reports, policy briefs, thematic briefs, and working papers.

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Set up templates for briefs, flyers, and social media cards by using a range of technologies and tools to eliminate repetitive development and ensure consistency between design and development, streamlining weekly issues by 50%.

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Fulfilled 100+ internal requests for conceptual, typographical and photographic directions for all print and digital collaterals, including designing logos, images, banners, etc.

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Check out the Reports here:

• UN DESA Highlights Report 2019-2020

• UN DESA Highlights Report 2020-2021

• UN DESA Climate Review

• 2020 Voluntary National Reviews Synthesis Report

• Responding to COVID-19 and Recovering Better

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Check out the briefs and papers here:

• Policy Brief

• Working Paper

• Thematic Brief

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Takeaways

Pay attention to detail

The United Nations is the world’s largest intergovernmental organization, with considerable influence among global leaders. Precision is essential—elements such as color usage, map accuracy, and the capitalization of letters must be handled with care to maintain professionalism and credibility. Allocate sufficient time for a thorough review before submission; meticulous attention to detail ensures the highest quality of work.

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Working with multicultural cross-functional teams

This experience has taught me how to collaborate effectively with individuals from diverse cultural and functional backgrounds. Despite our differences, everyone shares a genuine commitment to achieving the best outcomes. Mutual respect and clear communication are what truly unify the team.

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Gather Feedback

Feedback from cross-functional teams not only helped me refine my designs but also strengthened my growth as a T-shaped designer. I developed a deeper understanding of the responsibilities and priorities of other roles, enabling more effective collaboration. Through hands-on experience in real-world projects, I further advanced my professional skills and design maturity.

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