GradNet
Networking for iSchool Students
Project Type: Mobile Design
Project Details:
Client: The iSchool Students- The University of Toronto
My Role: UX/UI Designer & Researcher (Team of four)
Platform: Mobile Application
Sector: Education & Professional Networking
Methodologies: 3 Steps: Research > Design > Testing
Tools Used: Pencil & Paper. Adobe XD. Google Docs.
Skills Developed: Research skills. Hand-sketching. User testing. Wire-framing. Teamwork. Problem-solving.
Step 1: Research
For this part of the assignment, we defined our project by creating the project rundown, project statement, developed our business & user assumptions. We then conducted primary and secondary research in the form of interviews and surveys. Based upon our data, we went on to develop our as-is scenario, empathy maps, and a proto-persona of potential GradNet users.
(All other work will be in the gallery at the bottom of this page.)
To ensure accurate data, we screened participants prior to interviewing and surveying.
Step 2: Initial Sketches
The three task flows we decided to develop the application on were:
1. Accessing event information
2. Accessing event details
3. Accessing personal user score.
In completing these hand-drawn wireframes, we included arrows and descriptions to highlight the sequential storyboard process.
-To the right is the storyboard for accessing event details.
Step 3: Usability Testing
Since this application is meant for iSchool students in particular, we had 4 students from the school put together the appropriate screens for each task and offer their opinions on whether they liked the design and components to it. We located students in the school's study areas and conducted our lean evaluations individually so data would be honest and private.
Step 4: Final Design
We received a ton of feedback from testing and decided to integrate 6 main changes into our medium-fidelity wireframes. We decided to focus on the issues that were common amongst at least 2-3 of our participants. To the right is our medium fidelity wireframes for the three tasks.
-To the right are the screens for accessing events details.
Project Self-Reflection
This was really the project that helped me find my niche and passion within UX research. I really took the lead on the research component and found a lot of reward in gathering data, sitting down with participants and interviewing them, completing user testing, and then going through the data and finding those commonalities that should be applied to the designs. This project really prepared me for the Alzheimers Society of Ontario project I completed during my final semester, and that project only further developed my research interests.
Additional Project Components: