Designing clarity for complex research systems in higher ed
A self-initiated framework that turned scattered insights into a strategic model—helping universities map, assess, and evolve their research ecosystems.
At West Arete, we often worked at the intersection of information design, product thinking, and systems strategy—building research information ecosystems for universities that prioritized transparency, data integrity, and cultural alignment. But in early 2023, I noticed something: we had the language to describe what we believed in—but no clear way to visualize it.
While reviewing internal documents, team notes, and presentation decks, I kept seeing the same pattern: we were describing a layered, evolving ecosystem—one that brought together people, systems, and data in pursuit of institutional insight and research excellence. But we had no visual model to help universities see what that meant, or where they were within it.
So I started digging.
✳ THE CHALLENGE
Creating clarity when others had stalled.
The challenge wasn’t that the ideas weren’t there—they were. West Arete had previously identified three foundational pillars of a healthy, connected research environment:
Data Governance (People)
Research Information Management (Technological Systems)
Research Intelligence (Impact)
But an early attempt to build an assessment model had stalled. The ideas were strong—but the complexity of the space, and the variety of institutional pain points, made it hard to create something that was both strategic and usable.
Universities knew they were struggling, but they couldn’t always articulate why. Stakeholders were often hyper-focused on a single pain point—poor data, siloed systems, unclear roles—without seeing how it fit into the broader research ecosystem. That lack of shared understanding made it hard to build momentum or leadership buy-in.
I didn’t have a formal assignment, but I had curiosity and a strong interest in systems thinking. So I initiated my own research process to create the thing I felt we needed: a visual, conceptual framework that could clarify the mess, and help teams start the right conversations.
✳ THE SOLUTION
To help clarify West Arete’s positioning and better support partner institutions, I led the development of a conceptual framework that made the invisible visible—helping people see how all the pieces of their research environment connected, and where to begin.
Mapping meaning, not just information
I began by immersing myself in every resource I could find—internal presentations, previous research attempts, academic literature, and transcripts from stakeholder conversations. I listened for themes, pain points, and patterns. I wanted to understand not just what people were saying, but why they were stuck.
To accelerate my synthesis process, I used advanced prompt engineering and AI tools to analyze and categorize data from these sources. This surfaced hundreds of specific pain points that institutions were experiencing. I then grouped those into 49 key challenge areas, organized within the three primary categories: Data Governance, Research Information Management, and Research Intelligence.
But the work wasn’t just analytical, it was visual and strategic.
I designed a circular, non-hierarchical conceptual framework that reflected how these systems work in real life: not in layers or silos, but in balance and relationship. Each of the three primary categories were equally weighted, with subcategories orbiting them in equal measure—signaling that while universities may fixate on a single issue, true insight requires addressing the whole ecosystem.
The shape of the framework mattered. It invited dialogue instead of directives. It helped people see the whole picture without overwhelming them.
This wasn’t a marketing diagram, it was a tool.
For internal clarity
For partner communication
And eventually, for assessment and maturity modeling
It also helped bring new relevance to West Arete’s philosophy: sustainable change arises from aligning technical solutions with organizational collaboration, where ecosystems flourish through the integration of people, technology, and purpose.
✳ THE OUTCOME
What began as a self-initiated project became a core strategic artifact—used to align internal teams, explain complex challenges to partners, and spark the next generation of solutions.
The final framework:
Helped crystallize West Arete’s unique position in the market
Supported university conversations with clarity and credibility
Became the basis for a future maturity model and diagnostic assessment
More than just a communication tool, it was a reflection of the company’s core philosophy: that meaningful, sustainable change in higher education happens when people, systems, and purpose are brought into alignment.
It brought life to their tagline—Organizing research for good—and made abstract values like data ethics, human-centered design, and long-term trust feel real and actionable.
A strategic foundation that invites progress.
“Your contributions to shaping our RIM product offerings, refining our value proposition, and exploring how we fit into the market competitively… represent remarkable initiative and commitment to the company and our vision.”
This work wasn’t about simplifying a message, it was about making complexity useful.
By combining strategic synthesis with intentional information design, I helped transform a stuck idea into a meaningful, adaptable tool for dialogue, assessment, and forward movement.
✳ Want to learn more?
Due to the proprietary nature of this framework, I’ve kept the content high-level here. But I’m happy to walk through the visual design approach, structure, or strategic thinking behind it in more detail—just reach out.