Designing for College Students Under the Pandemic...
Group Project
FRIENDSPACE
Group Project
Background
Current College Life
Under the pandemic, colleges across the nation have closed their campuses and dormitories, forcing students to leave their campus community, friends, classes and familiar routines. Coursework was quickly transitioned to online for the reminder of the year. Many students have lost their on-campus or local jobs, and likewise, the job search for seniors has been severely disrupted.
Impact of Covid-19 on College Students
Common Stressors
According to one survey, out of the 195 students, 138 (71%) indicated increased stress and anxiety due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Multiple stressors were identified that contributed to the increased level of stress, anxiety and depressive thoughts among students.
Observation From Contextual Inquiry
Reddit Forum
I observed the threads relevant to students' opinions and feelings towards the pandemic under UCSD thread on Reddit forum, aiming to gain insights on students' feelings towards the pandemic, how they receive information, the protective measures they take, and issues they are facing currently.
Co-habiting Observation
We conducted multiple co-habiting observation sessions on roommates we are living with, who are college students adapting to the new quarantined environment. We observed the protective measures they take on a regular basis and how they receive information regarding COVID-19. After that, a short follow-up inquiry on their experiences is conducted.
Insights
In one of co-habiting observation, the stakeholder expresses "fatigue" in keeping up with pandemic-related information.
It's difficult for students to meet new connections and socialize under the pandemic.
Many students are at different levels of knowledge on protective measure and severity of the pandemic.
Opportunity Gap
Keep Informed
User Interview
We interviewed students living in three types of accommodations during quarantine: living on campus, living off-campus with other students, or living with family. By interviewing students in different accommodations, we wish to discover common struggles as well as understanding the unique needs of each group.
Students Remaining on Campus
Students Living Off Campus With Roommates
Students Living With Family
User Persona
Based upon the insights gathered from in-depth interviews, we developed two personas that represent the stakeholders and their specific painpoints.
Design Model
Relationship Model
To further understand out stakeholders, we choose the "Relationship Model" to showcase how different circles of relevant people affect the users in aspect of keeping themselves informed under quarantine. Three circles include family and close friends, peers, and school. People in these circles all have a personal relationship with the users and develop a different level of influence in the information user receives and their experience interacting with these information. By analyzing the relationships, we would have a deeper understanding in the sources of information that users are surrounded with, motivations behind actions and users' experiences on interacting with these variety of information.
Ideation
Affinity Diagram
The affinity diagram is the first step we used to generalize our initial idea. As we put all users' data together, we integrated them into three more meaningful groups of ideas from which we came up our design ideas.
Storyboard
Context
Alice is a first-year college student living on campus. During quarantine, she gets updates on Covid-19 information and resources from school emails.
Solution
Alice starts using an app that present the important information about covid-19 in a simple and clear way.
Problem
The important information is easily buried within the long and boring emails. Alice can't access these information easily.
Resolution
Alice can easily find the information she needs without any confusion and efforts.
Sketches & Wireframes
High-fidelity Prototypes
FRIENDSPACE
Keep Connected
Survey
In our survey, we collected qualitative responses from 20 participants on how college students make new connections under pandemic and their experiences in communication virtually with others.
Type of School
Grade Level
Experiences in Making New Connections
Top Concerns on Connecting to Others
In-depth Interviews
We conducted 6 in-depth interviews in total to learn more about how college students are making new connections and their current experiences interacting with friends, classmates, and other peers.
1. How often do you meet new people virtually?
2. How is your experience communicating virtually?
Shreya
3. Is your experience meeting people in-person different from being online? Why or why not?
Carey
Insights From Survey & Interviews
Other than form classes, it's hard to meet new people in midst of pandemic.
Interactions online feel not as natural as in-person interactions.
It's difficult to grasp social cues and facial expression in virtual communications.
Breakout rooms in Zoom are awkward and it's hard to have side conversation in a large group call.
Ideas Generated
Sketches
Design Idea
After rounds of data consolidation and brainstorming, we decided to move on with the design idea of creating a virtual space (Library & Game Room) for college students to make new connections and interact with other peers virtually under the pandemic.
Low-fidelity Prototypes
High-fidelity Prototypes
