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UNI-fy!

Personal Case Study & Prototype

Duration
January 2024 - May 2024

Location
Rutgers University - New Brunswick

Role
UX Researcher & Designer
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Overview

UNI-fy! aims to empower students and individuals living autonomously, teaching them how to live independently from their guardians for the first time through personalized tasks, resources, and a supportive community.

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Presentation Slides

What's the Problem?

College students and individuals living independently for the first time may encounter challenges in managing their time, living spaces, and responsibilities, making it difficult for them to adapt to a self-sufficient, productive, and sustainable lifestyle. Navigating independent living without the guidance of a guardian or loved one can be difficult, especially for those without former experience or exposure to doing chores or handling other daily responsibilities. 

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Problem: A lack of experience or knowledge in juggling day-to-day tasks with the newfound responsibilities that come with an independent life.

  • Occurs: During transitional period

  • Effects: May be left overwhelmed or unsure how to effectively manage their lives and environment.

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A proper transition to independent living is critical for personal development and overall well-being for the future.

Proposed Solution

A mobile application intended to empower individuals to live autonomously through personalizable tasks, trackers, external resources, and a supportive community. 
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Tasks

  • Help users stay on track

  • Encourage growth and motivation

  • Gently push users outside of comfort zone

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Trackers

  • Record milestones and progress

  • Offer visual representations of growth and development

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Resources

  • Provide a series of articles and guides focused on overcoming fears, building confidence, and enhancing skills

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Nurturing Community

  • Foster a community of individuals facing the same challenges

  • Connect and support one another

Data Collection

How was data collected?

  • 3 Interviews (Joey, Nicole, Christina)

    • Detailed insights

    • Exploratory questions

  • Online survey (14 respondents)

    • Generalizable/quantitative data

    • Common challenges/characteristics

Affinity Diagram

Noteable Data

Data Analysis

  • Frequent struggle in balancing time for different commitments & responsibilities

  • New responsibilities to uphold and manage

    • More time allocated toward these tasks

    • Newfound struggle with time management

  • Decline in mental health when juggling tasks & handling homesickness/loneliness

    • Bittersweet view on living independently

  • Changes to physical health

    • Weight fluctuations

    • Worse eating habits

    • Effects on sleep

  • Struggles with coping or adjusting to new lifestyle

    • Forced to adjust and go through the process of learning during a dynamic time

  • Decline in academic performance

  • Concern of lack of structure, planning, & coordination

Personas

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Storyboarding

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Sketches

Wireframes & Flowchart

Data Analysis

  • Distinguish different functions from one another 

    • (i.e. dropdowns vs. new page)

  • Overlap interdependent subject matter 

    • Allow options to interact/intersect

    • Have certain parts influence one another

  • Resolve issues related to end results of certain choices and pages

    • Add icons and more result-oriented pages

  • Add additional screens/pages for undefined functions and subtopics

    • (i.e. adding friends, creating tasks, searching)

  • Error prevention

    • Create help menus/functions

    • Add back buttons

  • Make app expandable to users beyond the scope of college students

Guerilla Usability Testing

Insights & Gains from testing:

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  • Preview sections should be swipeable

    • Lesson: Visual aspects and elements should be functional or removed entirely

  • Moderation & reporting system: discussion boards should include a dislike or report system

    • Lesson: A dislike/reporting system may assist in error prevention and cultivating/maintaining a safe, insightful experience for users.

  • Shortcuts & interconnectedness: pages or elements that are connected should have shortcuts jumping from one section to another

    • Lesson: Shortcuts for overlapping or interconnected sections leads to a better flow of the overall system and user experience.

  • Repeatability: Tasks or elements that are often repeated should have an option for automation or predefined templates

    • Lessons: Options to automate or preset certain functionalities for different days or times may assist in streamlining efficiency and reducing manual efforts.

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