Embedded Files
Designed a centralized digital guide for Berkeley Lab guest house visitors to reduce friction and improve orientation
UX Design • Information Architecture • Google Sites • 2025-2026
1
1
Centralized site replacing scattered resources
80-85%
80-85%
Personally designed and built
Live
Live
Actively used by real visitors and employees
The Berkeley Lab Guest House Digital Directory homepage
Overview
Overview
During my time as a Front Desk Assistant at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, specifically the Berkeley Lab Guest House, I identified a gap in how guest house visitors accessed information during their stay. Frequently requested information was scattered across multiple places, and guests had no self-service resource and staff repeatedly answered the same questions. I proposed and led the creation of the centralized digital directory using Google Sites to consolidate everything into a single accessible site.
The Problem
The Problem
Berkeley Lab Guest House visitiors, including parents of UC Berkeley students, alumni, and visiting researchers, had no single place to find practical information such as amenities, dining options, local transit, and additional booking details. This created a problem for first-time and returning guests, and created unnecessary problems for staff working at the front desk.
How do we give Guest House visitors an easy way to find the information they need, without requiring staff intervention each and every time?
My Role
My Role
I proposed the project, structured the content architecture, and designed and built approximately 80-85% of the site. My manager contributed to select sections during development. This was my initiative from the ground up. I identified the need, pitched the solution, and executed the majority of the site creation.
Process
Process
Identified recurring guest pain points by observing front desk interactions. The same questions about amenities, dining, booking, and requests came up frequently.
Structured the content architecture around how guests think about their stay. These included: amenities, dining, getting around, visitor requests, and lab merchandise.
Built the main directory in Google Sites with streamlined navigation, embedded highly requested forms as well as direct booking links into the site.
Created a curated dining options guide in Google Docs with local restaurant recommendations, linked directly from the directory for easy accessibility.
Published and deployed the full build as an active resource for Berkeley Lab guest house visitors. Can be viewed via QR code that is found on guests keycards for their rooms.
Interior content page showing navigation structure
Key Decisions
Key Decisions
Utilized Google Sites, Forms, and Docs to allow for easy future maintenance.
Embedded request forms directly into the directory rather than linking externally, which reduced friction for guests submitting multiple requests.
Prioritized a welcoming homepage to help orient first-time and returning guests.
Compressed and optimized image file sizes prior to uploading to ensure fast page load times for visitors accessing the site on any connection speed.
Sourced Imagery from owned photos as well as Unsplash to maintain a professional visual aesthetic while avoiding copyright issues.
Outcome
Outcome
The system launched and is actively used by Berkeley Lab guest house visitors alongside affiliates and employees. It consolidated frequently requested information into a single accessible hub, embedded self-service request forms directly into the guest experience, and provided a curated local dining resource, all reducing the need for repetitive staff responses.
Reflection
Reflection
This project taught my that identifying a problem is just as important as solving it. Nobody asked me to build this, I noticed the pain points from guests, proposed a solution, and executed it across multiple interconnected tools. Thinking about the guest experience, from finding information to submitting multiple requests has pushed me to consider UX beyond this role. I hope in the future, I am able to further develop this type of systems-level thinking in formal research work.
ⓘ Tools used: Google Sites, Google Forms, Google Docs
Google Sites
Report abuse