Client
Academic Project
Branding
Role
Year
2025
UX Researcher & Designer
UX Researcher & Designer
Re-Designing CNN Website for improved scanning
Re-Designing CNN Website for improved scanning
Re-Designing CNN Website for improved scanning
Deliverables
Wireframes
Prototypes
Design System
Course: HCI 457
News Without Noise
News
Without
Noise
News Without Noise
Redefining the original CNN Experience with the ultimate- clarity over distraction layout
Redefining the original CNN Experience with the ultimate- clarity over distraction layout
How it started
How it Started
How it started
As a design student, I’ve noticed that CNN often prioritizes content volume over clarity, creating a barrier for newer users or younger target audience
As a design student, I’ve noticed that CNN often prioritizes content volume over clarity, creating a barrier for newer users or younger target audience
CNN was chosen because it represents the ultimate stress test for Information Architecture. We wanted to challenge myself to take a massive, deep library of content and make it feel accessible rather than overwhelming.
CNN was chosen because it represents the ultimate stress test for Information Architecture. We wanted to challenge myself to take a massive, deep library of content and make it feel accessible rather than overwhelming.
CNN was chosen because it represents the ultimate stress test for Information Architecture. We wanted to challenge myself to take a massive, deep library of content and make it feel accessible rather than overwhelming.
Approach
Approach
Approach
We used a mix of research methods to understand why the current site is confusing and to test if our new structure actually works better for users.
We used a mix of research methods to understand why the current site is confusing and to test if our new structure actually works better for users.
Heuristic Analysis: Evaluated the current interface to identify critical usability friction, specifically discovering layout overload and hidden features like "Saved Stories."
Card Sorting: We asked users to group news topics into categories that made sense to them, rather than just following CNN’s old structure.
Site Mapping: Restructured the architecture into six streamlined top-level pillars—including specific hubs for Multimedia and Resources—to create a clear, centralized hierarchy.
Tree testing: Validated the new structure with 27 users, effectively doubling success rates for key tasks by streamlining menu labels and navigation paths.
Heuristic Analysis: Evaluated the current interface to identify critical usability friction, specifically discovering layout overload and hidden features like "Saved Stories."
Card Sorting: We asked users to group news topics into categories that made sense to them, rather than just following CNN’s old structure.
Site Mapping: Restructured the architecture into six streamlined top-level pillars—including specific hubs for Multimedia and Resources—to create a clear, centralized hierarchy.
Tree testing: Validated the new structure with 27 users, effectively doubling success rates for key tasks by streamlining menu labels and navigation paths.
Heuristic Analysis
Heuristic Analysis
Heuristic Analysis
We Identified layout overload, hidden features (e.g. Saved Stories), and slow-loading sections.
A couple of tasks performed by users gave us clarity about the speed-bumps:
A couple of tasks performed by users gave us clarity about the speed-bumps:
A couple of tasks performed by users gave us clarity about the speed-bumps:
It was apparent that :
Business section hard to find in navigation/homepage
Articles mixed with general news → harder to filter
Suggest: dedicated Business shortcut/featured section
Saved Stories lacks visibility, takes too many clicks
No clear feedback when saving articles
Suggest: prominent Saved Stories button + visual indicators
It was apparent that :
Business section hard to find in navigation/homepage
Articles mixed with general news → harder to filter
Suggest: dedicated Business shortcut/featured section
Saved Stories lacks visibility, takes too many clicks
No clear feedback when saving articles
Suggest: prominent Saved Stories button + visual indicators
It was apparent that :
Business section hard to find in navigation/homepage
Articles mixed with general news → harder to filter
Suggest: dedicated Business shortcut/featured section
Saved Stories lacks visibility, takes too many clicks
No clear feedback when saving articles
Suggest: prominent Saved Stories button + visual indicators
Feedback based Sort
Feedback based Sort
Feedback based Sort
Engaged 16 participants to validate category labels—revealed strong consensus on core news categories but confusion around multimedia, personalization, and community features.
Pilot test: 46 cards, 6 sections, 5 participants
Round 1: 35 cards, 4 participants
Round 2: 35 cards, 7 participants
Engaged 16 participants to validate category labels. This revealed strong consensus on core news categories but confusion around multimedia, personalization, and community features
Engaged 16 participants to validate category labels—revealed strong consensus on core news categories but confusion around multimedia, personalization, and community features.
Pilot test: 46 cards, 6 sections, 5 participants
Round 1: 35 cards, 4 participants
Round 2: 35 cards, 7 participants
Our Understanding:
Clear agreement on core news, multimedia, and corporate/legal
Confusion on specialized/interactive features & site maps
Some user-specific inconsistencies
Our Understanding:
Clear agreement on core news, multimedia, and corporate/legal
Confusion on specialized/interactive features & site maps
Some user-specific inconsistencies
Sensibility of our existing design caused dissent at first
Strong agreement: News, Sports, Multimedia
Agreement: Business, Entertainment, Sports
Disagreement: Opinion Polls, User Reports, Reader Comments
Confusion: VR, personalization, user-generated content, International Trade, Economy Reports, Weather
Varied mental models across users
Ambiguity: Press Conferences, Opinion content
Clear Politics vs. Entertainment, blurred News categories
Sensibility of our existing design caused dissent at first
Strong agreement: News, Sports, Multimedia
Agreement: Business, Entertainment, Sports
Disagreement: Opinion Polls, User Reports, Reader Comments
Confusion: VR, personalization, user-generated content, International Trade, Economy Reports, Weather
Varied mental models across users
Ambiguity: Press Conferences, Opinion content
Clear Politics vs. Entertainment, blurred News categories
Card sorts to make sense of pathing
Pilot Card Sort - Findings:
Clear agreement on core news, multimedia, and corporate/legal
Confusion on specialized/interactive features & site maps
Some user-specific inconsistencies
Round 2 - Findings:
Agreement: Business, Entertainment, Sports
Confusion: International Trade, Economy Reports, Weather
Ambiguity: Press Conferences, Opinion content
Clear Politics vs. Entertainment, blurred News categories
Round 1 - Findings:
Strong agreement: News, Sports, Multimedia
Disagreement: Opinion Polls, User Reports, Reader Comments
Confusion: VR, personalization, user-generated content
Varied mental models across users
Tree Testing
Tree Testing
Tested 27 users on key tasks (finding business news, subscribing to newsletters, locating documentaries).
Early round showed success rates as low as 20–30%; final round improved to 40–60% by streamlining menu labels and paths.
Pilot test: 2 tasks, 7 participants
Round 1: 2 tasks, 10 participants
Round 2: 2 tasks, 10 participants
Tested 27 users on key tasks (finding business news, subscribing to newsletters, locating documentaries).
Early round showed success rates as low as 20–30%; final round improved to 40–60% by streamlining menu labels and paths.
Pilot test: 2 tasks, 7 participants
Round 1: 2 tasks, 10 participants
Round 2: 2 tasks, 10 participants
Tested 27 users on key tasks (finding business news, subscribing to newsletters, locating documentaries).
Early round showed success rates as low as 20–30%; final round improved to 40–60% by streamlining menu labels and paths.
Pilot test: 2 tasks, 7 participants
Round 1: 2 tasks, 10 participants
Round 2: 2 tasks, 10 participants
Pilot, Round 1, Round 2 (from left to right)
Pilot, Round 1, Round 2 (from left to right)
Site Mapping
Site Mapping
Site Mapping
We redesigned the sitemap of the CNN website to improve user navigation by organizing content into clear, structured categories.
We redesigned the sitemap of the CNN website to improve user navigation by organizing content into clear, structured categories.
Homepage branches into six key sections:
Health & Science
Breaking News
Business
Entertainment & Lifestyle
Multimedia
Resources & Information
Wireframes (Task)
Wireframes (Task)
Wireframes (Task)
We came up with Wireframes Following a Contrasty Bento Layout for clearer navigation. The Font and Contrast with a darker background make sure it passes Visual WCAG standards for Web Accessibility.
We came up with Wireframes Following a Contrasty Bento Layout for clearer navigation. The Font and Contrast with a darker background make sure it passes Visual WCAG standards for Web Accessibility.
We came up with Wireframes Following a Contrasty Bento Layout for clearer navigation. The Font and Contrast with a darker background make sure it passes Visual WCAG standards for Web Accessibility.
We came up with Wireframes Following a Contrasty Bento Layout for clearer navigation. The Font and Contrast with a darker background make sure it passes Visual WCAG standards for Web Accessibility.
Final Design
Final Design
Final Design
Tested 27 users on key tasks (finding business news, subscribing to newsletters, locating documentaries).
Early round showed success rates as low as 20–30%; final round improved to 40–60% by streamlining menu labels and paths.
Pilot test: 2 tasks, 7 participants
Round 1: 2 tasks, 10 participants
Round 2: 2 tasks, 10 participants
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© 2025 Sanketh Verma
Made with Care and Coffee
1:05:17 AM
© 2025 Sanketh Verma
Made with Care and Coffee
1:05:17 AM
Resume
Linked In
Let's Talk?
sankethverma07@gmail.com
I'm here for you.
© 2025 Sanketh Verma
Made with Care and Coffee
2/15/2026
© 2025 Sanketh Verma
Made with Care and Coffee
2/15/2026
Resume
Linked In
Let's Talk?
Sankethverma07@gmail.com
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