At the University of Washington, students often struggle to secure desired classes, affecting their academic progress.
UW’s current notification system for open spots is inefficient, and as a part of a class project, I was tasked with creating a more effective solution.
What was the problem?
My Design Process
“As a UW student hoping to get into my major, I had to wait an extra two quarters to apply since I couldn't get into the prerequisite classes, causing me stress. A solution for this would be super helpful”
We conducted a survey of over 50 participants to gather user opinions
Do you think a platform to trade courses would be useful?
Rate the current course registration system from 1-5
5- Flawless
4- Works most of the time
3- Can be annoying sometimes
2- Is very annoying
1- I want to transfer schools
This helped us better understand and empathize with our user’s problems with the current system as well as validate our assumptions.
Then, we conducted interviews to dive deeper into our users’ pain points.
Crafting User Personas
Based on the qualitative and quantitative data we gathered, we crafted two user personas to better cater our solution to their needs.
Ideation- Initial Sketches
Our group developed initial system sketches based on user research and personas.
After reviewing the designs, we decided that a mobile app would be the most accessible solution for students, as the system's content is simple enough to function without a full website.
Design Requirements- Feature Definition
After finalizing the platform, we held a brainstorming session to define key features for our app, drawing heavily from user research to ensure the features aligned with user needs. This initial list of features guided our design process:
Information Architecture- User Flows
Wireframes- Low Fidelity
Building on our sitemap, we transformed its structure into low-fidelity wireframes, which gave us a clear visual blueprint of the design's functionality and user interactions. These wireframes allowed us to effectively map out the user journey and ensure a seamless app experience.
User Testing Evaluation- Implementing Feedback
To refine our prototype, we conducted user testing with students from both the University of Washington and our classroom. Each participant was given specific tasks to complete, followed by interviews before and after testing to gather insights on usability, workflow, and app functionality.
The Final Design
Streamlined Onboarding
Creating Trades
Accepting Trades
What I Learned
Gained experience in user-centered design by prioritizing feedback to improve functionality.
Learned the importance of testing prototypes to understand real user behavior and pain points.
Developed skills in translating user research into actionable design improvements.
Recognized the value of iteration and data-driven decisions in refining the product.
Enhanced problem-solving abilities and collaboration through the design process.