WeConnect - UX Design
connection
Connect students with families more efficiently
location
Trace safety and sync schedules
assistance
Enable emergency contact and assistance
goal
Explore a better connection and communication experience among international students and their families.
duration
1 Month (Oct. 2019 - Nov. 2019)
Tools
Drafting Tools, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop. Adobe XD, Sketch
introduction
As an former international student, I always understand the importance of contacting with family. Even there are many social media and communication applications in the market, the language and connection obstacle are still big issues. This application focus on the users need, to explore the possibility of connection and communication, to provide a reliable tool for both international students and their families.
Research
background
The U.S. higher education sector as a destination of choice for international students. there is the world’s largest international student population in the past decades with stably increase in the past several decades.
In 2019, the total number of international students reached to 1,095,299. Besides the economy development and social diversity come with international students, their safety issue also brings to the table.
In two separate surveys conducted in spring 2016 and in spring 2017, prospective international international students were asked to report how important safety was when deciding to study in the US.
While the questions were worded differently, in 2016, 23% of students indicated that their sense of personal safety in the destination country was a strong factor in their decision making. In 2017, 88% of students said that a strong campus safety program was helpful or very helpful to their decision making. The figures suggests a dramatic rise in the importance of this message to international students considering studying safety.
23%
88%
Most tragedies happen to international students started with losing connection. Locate thousand miles or more than ten thousand from students’ home and family, plus the time difference, sometimes communication with family or home country friends become really difficult. Especially when their family members want to check them safe and doing well. There are more and more, unfortunately, tragedy cases happened to international students, almost every case has one thing in common, that begins with family lost connection for days or weeks.
interview
PLATFORM: Not many communication apps functionally work in different countries. It’s difficult to find a favorable platform works for both international students and their families.
TRACING: Families cannot always know their children’s location and schedule on time, unless students share those to them.
ASSISTANCE: Families cannot notify related authorities when their children missing or in danger, since the information and language obstacles.
I conducted brief interviews with more than 60 international students and their parents. Based on the collection information, there were 3 basic personas appear.
personas
Student A
“My parents don’t speak English and the app I’m using is not available in my country. I need to find a platform which works for both me and my parents. “
“I try to keep my parents posted about my schedule and locations, but sometime I’m too busy to notify them. Plus I don’t want to wake them up during the midnight by my messages.”
Student B
Parent A
“I need to know what number or who I should contact in case my kid get some danger. It’ would be better if there’s assistant I could direct talk to.”
analysis
messaging apps
Skype
Snapchat
PROS
Directly call numbers
Subscription is cheap
Screen sharing
CONS
More business focus
Message feature isn’t strong
Stable Internet required
PROS
Share live location
Delivery status feature
Email conversations
CONS
Contact number required
No virtual assistant
File size limit
PROS
Geofilters feature
Discover Feature
Easy to get started
CONS
Audience is limited
No re-sharing option
Lack of analytics
PROS
Mini functions
Walkie talkie feature
Moments social network
CONS
Potential censorship
Focus on the certain country
Mix of personal and business use
Research and anaysis have shown that current messaging apps in the market cannot match users’ requirement. Plus there are other features like tracing and assistant are also needed. With all the design implications above in made, the decision is to build a WeConnect app that provide full-function service to users based on the request.
ideation
brainstorming
Main Function
I started the brainstorm of a series scenarios and storyboards of users interacting with WeConnect. Based on the requirement, it turned out six functions should be included. Plus more features under each of these functions. I tried to make all features match the previous analysis and research, to bring enough information to successfully engage the user in an app environment, that can provide a better connection and communication method for users.
Feature diagrams
Registration
Registration provides two methods for students and parents with the language selection. Also, students’ and parents’ accounts can be linked.
Message
With the basic messaging app functions, status of message is also added. In addition, it focus on more family use instead of socializing.
Tracing
Assistance
Tracing function provides chance for parents follow their children’s activities, like schedule, location, calendar and so on.
Assistance offers users - parents with school contact, online customer, translation etc. Especially translation service.
Monitor & Alarm
Wearable devices data can be linked to the app, plus medical record. These information is critical for users’ health situation.
Emergency
Emergency function is the most necessary of all functions. It presents more ways to deal with special emergency scenarios for users.
prototype
Wireframe
Based on ideation brainstorming, here some wireframe sketches were created. All these echo functions were discussed before. Like home screen, registration pages, and other main function pages.
1. Welcome Page
2. Registration
3. Language Select
4. Basic Information
5. Messaging
6. Tracing - Schedule
7. Tracing - Location
8. Assistance
9. Monitor & Alarm - Wellness
10. Emergency
interface
According to the ideation and storyboards, I designed the interfaces of the app by using prototype tools. These interfaces not only present the aesthetic value of the design, but also reflect the details that creating the better interaction experience for users.
Welcome Page
Simple and clear page shows the “connection“ topic of the app.
Login Page
Both students and family members can login the application, share code will be needed to connect accounts. Students input their information and choose their colleges and universities.
Language Choose Page
Provide all language options to open to all people from different countries.
Calendar Page
Students can import and link their calendar to the application and share with their families.
Location Information Page
Families are also able to track student’s location and movement by map information.
Emergency Page
When families lost connect with students or emergency situation, there are option that families can contact emergency department, school and local embassy base one the registration information. And application provides real-time translation for the emergency.
evaluation
user testing
I brought the prototype to 20 users to do the test in a contextual environment. It came out lots of feedback and comments. I also collected some data by conducting more user testing sessions, which would help refine the design and flow in the future.
Future step
Due to the time constraint, there won’t be another round of prototype refinement. Instead, the design challenge will be identified and lessons will be summarized for the future interaction design and development.
Afterthoughts
Consider all stakeholders
Design always involves input from all different stakeholders. To be a better UX designer, our job is not just bring skills and approaches that balance complex requirements from stakeholders, yet design and improve the solution to meet these needs. It is extremely critical that the value of acknowledgment and attitude from varying stakeholders leads the design decision.