UM Engage
An app guiding University of Michigan students around campus event, class schedules, and university resources.
Background
A mobile app designed to provide University of Michigan students, especially cross-campus transfers and new students, with a centralized hub for academic resources, career tools, and campus events. By streamlining access to essential information and support, UM Engage simplifies navigation, fosters community engagement, and empowers students to efficiently manage their academic and extracurricular journeys.
Task
The goal was to design an app prototype that serves as a centralized hub for University of Michigan students, consolidating essential tools and resources into one accessible platform.
I focused on:
-
Reducing platform fatigue by integrating campus resources, event notifications, and community engagement into a single interface.
-
Enhancing usability and accessibility to help students efficiently navigate their academic and extracurricular journeys.
Action
Research and Problem Framing
-
Conducted user interviews and surveys with University of Michigan students, with a focus on cross-campus transfer students, to uncover key pain points in navigating multiple platforms.
-
Synthesized insights into a clear problem statement: “As a University of Michigan student, I need a centralized hub for resources and support so I can efficiently manage my academic and career goals without navigating multiple platforms.”
Ideation & Feature Prioritization
-
Brainstormed potential features including filtered resource search, course planning tools, career support, real-time event updates, and peer engagement forums.
-
Prioritized features based on user needs, feasibility, and value, ensuring a focused approach for the initial prototype.
Result
The prototype received positive feedback from testers, who noted that the hub simplifies resource navigation and alleviates the overwhelm of using multiple platforms.
Key Outcomes:
-
100% task success rate: All testers successfully completed tasks such as finding course resources and locating career tools.
-
Reduced confusion for transfer students: The centralized hub provided one-stop access to academic planning, career tools, and community connections.
