Creating a needed alternative for
Université de Montréal`s dentistry program.
OVERVIEW
ORGANIZATION
University of Montreal (UdeM)
TIMELINE
2024 - 2025
ROLE
Product designer
TOOLKIT
Figma, Miro, Axure
CONTEXT
WHAT IS DENS?
Dens is a necessary overhaul of the current tool used by dentistry students and professors at the University of Montreal.
The aim of Dens is to help students and professors learn their main online tool more easily and quickly, while maintaining a high level of functionality.
I built and restructured the entire user flow + architecture in order to make the product function.
DISCOVERY
FINDINGS
Interviews with dentistry students and clinicians at UdeM revealed that several features in the tool were too complex to integrate effectively into their academic and clinical workflow.
We grouped these challenges into two categories:
Student voices
“Sometimes I just need to check tomorrow’s appointments quickly, but I have to click through three different menus before I even get there.”
“I end up using Google calendar because it takes too long to find where everything is natively.”
Professor concerns
“The layout feels like it was designed for someone who already knows the system inside out. For us, it should be faster and more intuitive.”
PROBLEM 1
THE CHALLENGE
Most faculty were used to the old tool, but the new product needed to be intuitive for both new and experienced users.
Since the tool is central to daily work, keeping all key features from the old system was essential.
Current user flow
The process a student would have to take in order to create an appointment event with a patient.
Creating a simple appointment takes 8+ steps in the current tool.
This complexity makes it hard for new students to adapt, when it should feel as intuitive as Google or Apple Calendar.
MY SOLUTION
Through a feature audit and usability testing, we identified core tasks and simplified their access while keeping advanced functions in secondary layers.
Iterating on navigation patterns allowed us to reduce complexity, making the tool easier for new users to adopt without disrupting existing faculty workflows.
PROCESS
I made the tool mobile-friendly and familiar, so students can navigate effortlessly across devices without a learning curve.
SMOOTHING THINGS OUT
A 5-item navbar so users can reach key functions in one click.
The calendar icon takes them straight to appointments, with scheduling front and center.
Before
After
RESULTS
By solving key pain points raised by students and faculty, I delivered a simpler, cleaner experience where tasks like reserving tools or viewing appointments are intuitive—no manual required.
COMPLETION RATE
100%
Up from 33%.
ERRORS
5X
Less error rate comparitively.
TIME ON TASK
6X
Improved efficiency, form 60 -> 10 seconds.