Challenge
Understand the needs of the Kalamazoo College campus community and create a digital solution that cultivates connection among students.
Project Overview
Project Ideation
Topics considered for this project included communication on campus about events and student organizations and networking between first-years and seniors. The topic explored was Study Abroad and Away (SAA) resources and preparation.
Research Phase I
Prospective and former SAA students completed the campus community survey which asked them about their experiences during the SAA preparation process.
Survey Synthesis
Participants are unsure about the SAA process, what to expect when arriving in their host destination, what to pack, the current COVID-19 restrictions, and how to connect with those who have already studied abroad and know the details of this information.
Participants feel that many resources in place such as guidebooks, Hornet Passport, CIP events, CIP staff, and former SAA students are helpful.
Research Phase II
A focus group with the Executive Director and Operations Manager of the Center for International Programs (CIP) was conducted to learn more about their end of the SAA process as well as common challenges they help SAA students with.
Focus Group Synthesis
The focus group with the CIP discovered that SAA students at Kalamazoo College have a range of needs that shift throughout their SAA process. In the beginning, students are concerned with the basics of their program. However, as students approach their departure date to their host destination, they think about how their identity will change and what the experience might be like.
Pain points that SAA students experience include managing expectations vs. reality, concerns about financial aid, and the uncertainty about which program is best for them.
The CIP offers an array of resources to SAA students including informational events, peer-to-peer programs, and other informational resources.
Key Insights
Generate Session
Ways to better prepare and connect prospective SAA students were questioned and discovered.
Design + Prototype
Next Steps
With more time, I'd like to conduct usability tests, synthesize that feedback, and improve the app design.
Presentation
Watch me present this project as part of my UX Design Independent Study for Kalamazoo College!
Learning Outcomes
This project taught me how to manage a large scale UX design project on my own. I also gained more in depth experience with creating surveys and conducting focus groups, analyzing responses, and extracting insights. I feel I really got to empathize with the user through focus groups with the Center for International Programs, ultimately leading to a clear understanding of what K students need. In the future, I'd like to improve the app design to be more intuitive as well as follow Apple's Human Interface Guidelines.
