HOME
RESUME
Village is a system which aims to help and connect oversea students together, in order to improve the whole Master experience.
Considering the flexibility of the platform it can adapt to the different stages that students will face, from the very beginning until the graduation. Taking into consideration many critical aspects such as housing, socializing, lifestyle and adapting to the new culture.
Village can provide the right help whenever needed thanks to the rich database of information and experiences provided by students from past years.
User Research, Interviews, Mind Map, Contextual Inquiry, AEIOU, Graffiti Wall, Experience Map, Card Sorting, Wireframes, Task Flow, Behavioral Prototype, Balsamiq, Appearance Prototype
SKILLS
Interviews and Mind Map
At this early stage of the project I needed a broader understanding of the context, students living in Hong Kong. I conducted face to face interviews with 10 of them.
I found extremely useful to brainstorm using a big sheet of paper. Afterwards I built a Mind Map, reflecting not just my understanding but also the experience of each interviewed.
Contextual Inquiry and AEIOU methodologies
I didn't only interview students, but I also asked them to visit their shared apartment and show me relevant habits, critical aspects and describe me typical situations.
In this case Think Aloud and AEIOU methodologies have been extremely useful to acquire informations and analyze them.
Graffiti Wall
Meanwhile I also conducted an experiment on how students communicate thoughts with each other.
I started a Graffiti Wall in order to understand which kind of written communication really obtains attention and what is not perceived as compelling.
In-depth Interviews
I narrowed down my area of interest to oversea students only.
For them the whole Master experience abroad presents different problematics. Many different needs, and therefore design opportunities, throughout the studies.
I decided to talk again with foreign students, defining common problems and frustrations.
I analyzed with them 4 crucial steps they all went through:
BEFORE
DEPARTURE
-
FIRST
WEEKS
-
THROUGH
THE YEAR
-
END OF STUDIES
x
FINDINGS AND INSIGHTS
With the insights collected I created an Experience map (click on the picture for full screen size).
CONCEPT
Village is a system which aims to help and connect oversea students in Hong Kong.
I wanted to create a comprehensive design, that offers different answers to different needs, in a complete system of solutions. Following the development of the Master experience, to help and connect the students who find themselves in a new environment.
Village
The idea of a Village slowly grew in my head during the project.
In fact, my intention was to recreate for the oversea students in Hong Kong a familiar environment, where it is extremely easy to reach important information and communicate with other students.
Just like in a Village.
PROTOTYPE
Card Sorting and Wireframes
Asking my users to tell my which kind of help they would have appreciated and at which step, I could organize the informations in a certain order.
At this point I knew the content of my system, it was only a matter of displaying it. Providing different Wireframes on paper.
Key aspect of the layout was the Timeline, that indicates at which point of the Master experience the student is.
Behavioral Prototype and Testing
With the help of tools such as Balsamiq and Adobe Muse, I was able to build low fidelity prototype to test with the users. Giving precise tasks to achieve I could observe which information were well delivered and which not, adjusting the final prototype.
Appearance Prototype
This is The Village, with its interface that adapts for the different steps of the experience which the student is facing.
Extra
Clicking here you can visualize additional material, such as the SYSTEM MAP with the POSTER or even the entire DESIGN REPORT.
THAT'S ALL FOLKS!
