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UniVerse

UniVerse is a social networking platform designed specifically for students and young adults to connect digitally, offering tailored features to facilitate academic, social, and community interactions.

Background

UniVerse is a specialized social networking platform designed to address the unique needs of students and young adults, providing a digital space for academic, social, and community interactions. With a focus on fostering meaningful connections before, during, and outside the academic school year, UniVerse offers tailored features to facilitate networking, collaboration, and engagement among its users. As the UX/UI designer for UniVerse, my role encompassed the entire project lifecycle, from researching and ideating to prototyping and iteration. I conducted scholarly and user research to understand user behaviors and needs, which informed the development of user personas, storyboards, user journey maps, and experience maps. Using these insights, I generated low-fidelity prototypes and iterated on designs based on feedback and testing. Collaborating with my professor, I implemented suggestions to enhance user engagement, such as the introduction of a rewards system. Throughout the process, I ensured alignment with project objectives and user needs, delivering a tailored social networking platform for students and young adults.

Course

Experience Design Studio 1

Team

Tara Farzin

Date

September. 2023 -
Dec. 2023

Tools

Figma
Miro
InVision

PROCESS

Project Overview

A

The Problem

Despite the abundance of social media platforms available, there remains a distinct lack of digital spaces specifically tailored to the needs of students and young adults seeking meaningful connections before, during, and outside the academic school year. Existing platforms do not adequately address the unique challenges and opportunities students face in building academic and social networks.

B

The Solution

UniVerse seeks to bridge this gap by providing a specialized social networking platform designed exclusively for students and non-students alike. By offering a digital space where users can connect based on shared interests, academic schedules, and neighborhood proximity, UniVerse aims to facilitate holistic community-building experiences.

C

My Role as UX/UI Designer

As the UX/UI designer for UniVerse, my role encompassed the entire project lifecycle, from researching and ideating to prototyping and iteration.I conducted scholarly and user research to understand user behaviors and needs, which informed the development of user personas, storyboards, user journey maps, and experience maps. Throughout the process, I ensured alignment with project objectives and user needs, delivering a tailored social networking platform for students and young adults.

i

PROCESS

Ideation

Brainstorming

EXECUTION OF IDEATION

Who

UniVerse aims to create a platform for young adults, students and non-students alike, to connect in various ways.

What

A multi-use social media platform which focuses on the various different ways students and non-students can connect, such as by purchasing furniture, meeting neighboring friends, and connecting through similar class schedules.

Why

There are currently no applications designed specifically for the social connections that students make daily, but there are plenty of general ones.

How

By creating a specified multi-use social media platform, we can optimize the way young adults are able to create their social networks.

Research

My research process entailed a thorough investigation into user behaviors and preferences through both surveys and scholarly research. The survey garnered responses from Northeastern undergraduate and graduate students, revealing that while 44% did not engage in online efforts to make friends at the university, 55% did. Among the latter group, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp were commonly utilized.

Additionally, scholarly articles explored social networking's role in education, indicating that platforms like Facebook groups facilitate collaborative learning experiences among students. Another article focused on the importance of social media in students' adjustment to college, suggesting that student-focused online communities can positively impact their sense of belonging. Lastly, the research highlighted the networking patterns of international students, emphasizing their preference for connections within their cultural groups. These insights guided the development of UniVerse, addressing the need for a specialized social networking platform tailored to students' academic and social needs.

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Research Findings

Persona and User Scenario

To gain deeper insights into our users' goals, needs, experiences, and behaviors, I developed two personas with a scenario to represent the user group. These personas were crafted based on insights gathered from user interviews and surveys, using direct quotes from my survey and interview responses. Whenever I needed to gain perspective and reassess our initial ideas, we referred to these personas, allowing me to step outside of my perspective and better understand the needs of my users.

v

Visualization
Low-Fidelity Prototyping, Testing, & Iteration 

During the visualization stage, I crafted six rough sketches of the eight main screens required for our final deliverable. These sketches served as a preliminary visualization of the app's layout and functionality. Afterward, I implemented iterations and notes to refine the original rough designs following a critique session during studio with my course professor. 

She suggested incorporating a rewards system to increase user return and longevity of use. This primary iteration aimed to incentivize users to create more connections and engage with community features by earning points, which could then be used to customize their avatars within the app. This enhancement not only encouraged user engagement but also differentiated UniVerse from becoming solely a social media platform, aligning it more closely with its intended purpose of facilitating meaningful connections among students and young adults.

d

Design
Final Design and Reflection

Throughout the process of conceptualizing and developing UniVerse, I've gained invaluable insights and experiences that have significantly enriched my understanding of user-centered design and product development. From conducting extensive research to crafting personas, storyboards, and prototypes, each step of the journey has provided me with opportunities for growth and learning. For the final designs, I designed UniVerse with a primarily night-mode color scheme to align with contemporary design trends favored by young adults, particularly university students. The app aims to cater to a broad audience, including individuals seeking social connections or practical resources like furniture in new cities, ensuring inclusivity and usability for all users.

One of the most rewarding aspects of this project was the collaborative nature of the process, particularly during critique sessions with my course professor. Her feedback and suggestions challenged me to think critically and iterate on my designs, ultimately leading to more refined and user-friendly solutions. Additionally, the implementation of a rewards system based on her suggestion highlighted the importance of continuously seeking ways to enhance user engagement and satisfaction.

Overall, this project has been a valuable learning experience, allowing me to apply theoretical concepts to real-world design challenges and equipping me with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the field of UX/UI design.

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