ZIU
ZIU (Zintegrowany Interfejs Użytkownika, or “Integrated User Interface”) is a digital platform enabling Polish students to access their exam results quickly and reliably. Connected to the Ministry of Education’s systems, it serves both immediate results and historical exam data.
Team:
CEO, External stakeholders, 6 Frontend engineers, Illustrator
Role:
UX Designer
Time:
3 months
The challenge
Confusing login process with two separate database paths (“quick” and “heavy”) creating user errors.
Stakeholder bias towards print-style layouts cluttered with non-essential information.
Strict accessibility requirements (WCAG AA) within a tight timeline.
Technical limitations preventing changes to database logic or structure.
My role
Owned the UX strategy from onboarding flow to final interface polish.
Facilitated alignment between stakeholders, engineers, and the illustrator.
Advocated for user-centered decisions despite technical and political constraints.
Managed design deliverables, style guides, and accessibility compliance checks.
Process and approach
Understanding the problem
Reviewed stakeholder requirements, technical constraints, and legacy workflows.
Analysed login process from teacher credential distribution to student access.
Conducted informal user validation by reviewing teacher feedback, internal demos, and support ticket patterns.
Defining priorities
Simplify login into a single entry point to remove confusion.
Optimize for speed and clarity during peak traffic (result release days).
Remove unnecessary data from primary view to focus on the exam results themselves.
Apply progressive exposure approach to less-frequently accessed data and functionalities.
Designing solutions
Created a single login flow that automatically routes users to the fastest available database, with fallback to the heavy database if needed.
Proposed a minimalist, dashboard-like layout prioritising key results and accessibility.
Collaborated with illustrator to introduce friendly visuals for whitespace areas and loading screens.
Selected Nunito and Nunito Sans for legibility, paired with a restrained colour palette for WCAG AA compliance.
Stakeholder management
Addressed resistance to removing historical print-style layouts through workshops and side-by-side comparisons.
Negotiated the single-login implementation after multiple review cycles and technical feasibility discussions.
Impact
Simplified login and refocused UI improved usability, reduced confusion, and ensured accessibility compliance.
+28%
-38%
-57%
+26%
WCAG AA accessibility score (internal audit)
Qualitative wins
Stakeholders noted smoother rollout during national result days.
Positive feedback on the app’s friendlier, less intimidating interface.
Lessons learned
Early mapping of technical constraints prevents mid-project rework.
Even in government-driven projects, small interface changes can significantly reduce support burden.
Accessibility considerations should be integrated from the first wireframes — retrofitting is slower and costlier.
