Calcommunity - mobileCentralizing Connections, Strengthening Networks at UC BerkeleyA Quick LookDigital platforms have transformed how we connect, reshaping the dynamics of social connectivity and community building.
A personalized app for UC Berkeley students to navigate personal and professional networks is exactly what we need. This school is huge, and it’s overwhelming to know where to start.

| My Role
UX Designer &
Product Manager
| The Team
Meghana Ammula
Patti Geng
Maahe Kazmi
| Timeline
3 months
| Tools
Figma
Google Drive
WhatsApp

The Problem

Balancing Virtual Tools and Physical Spaces for Student Connection

Young adults, especially college students, are increasingly active on digital platforms, enabling collaboration and socialization online. However, research shows that physical spaces like student centers are still crucial for fostering in-person connections. At UC Berkeley, the fragmented process of discovering clubs and organizations is hindering student engagement, affecting both their campus experience and the support they receive from professors, peers, and mental health providers.

50%
of students stated difficulty finding opportunities related to their discipline or interests(UC Berkeley Survey, 2022)
49%
of students said a lack of awareness or difficulty finding a club limited their participation(UC Berkeley Survey, 2022)

The Goal

Exploring How Digital Platforms Can Foster Community and Enhance Physical Spaces at Berkeley

We want to learn how digital platforms support students in finding community at Berkeley and promote the use of community-building in physical spaces.

Research Methods

User Interviews: Students Seek Easier Access to On- and Off-Campus Communities, Balancing Digital and Physical Spaces

Our research involved in-depth user interviews and contextual inquiries with six UC Berkeley students, spanning undergrad, grad, and PhD levels, to gather diverse insights.

From our interviews, we found that UC Berkeley students struggle to find and manage community resources, relying on both online platforms and physical spaces. While digital tools help initiate connections, students desire more casual, accessible spaces to deepen relationships and build community.

How might we streamline the process for Berkeley students to discover and navigate resources while fostering the usage of digital and physical spaces for community engagement?

Prototyping

From Practical to Bold: Exploring Three Unique Prototype Concepts

Through brainstorming and competitive analysis, we developed three prototype ideas: one practical, one delightful, and one bold "dark horse" concept.

#1. Our "Most Likely to Work" prototype includes a profile feature for students to learn more about each other, a messaging function to foster a more integrated experience, and personalized community recommendations tailored to each student’s profile and activities.

#2. For our second prototype, we focused on gamifying and personalizing the user experience. By incorporating an onboarding quiz paired with a persona, we aimed to create a more engaging and interactive way for users to connect with the platform.

#3. Our "Dark Horse" prototype emphasizes physical spaces with an immersive map, inspired by Pokémon Go!, where students can explore on- and off-campus events based on their location.

Usability Testing

Combining the Best of Both: User Feedback Shapes Prototype Iterations for a Seamless Experience

We interviewed four UC Berkeley students across Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD programs to gather feedback on their preferences and identify a favorite prototype.

We determined that combining Prototypes 1 and 2 would best serve our users, leading to these key iterations: tailoring features to diverse demographics, streamlining the interactive quiz for smoother onboarding, and incorporating detailed information about online and in-person events to bridge digital and physical spaces.

The product

Optimizing User Flow: Personalization and Seamless Integration of Digital and Physical Spaces

Based on user testing, we prioritized Prototype 1's user flow and integrated the character and quiz elements from Prototype 2 for a more streamlined, personalized experience. We also added a demographic section at the start of onboarding to provide tailored recommendations


We condensed the Prototype 2 quiz into two sections: one for user goals and values, and the other for club preferences. This layout is integrated into tabs like "My Events" and "My Community," allowing users to easily view event details and bridge the digital and physical spaces.

User Impact

“Having a personalized and centralized app that is made just for UC Berkeley students to tap into personal and professional networks is just what we need - this school is a massive ecosystem and it can be overwhelming knowing where to start, so I’ll definitely use it.”

Current MPH 1st Year Student

Retrospective

Key Insights & Challenges: Personalization, Inclusivity, and Enhancing User Experience

Users highly value personalized recommendations, as they enhance their overall experience by making it easier to find relevant events and opportunities. Additionally, they seek a balance of online and in-person events, emphasizing the importance of both digital and physical spaces in fostering community connections.

Key Challenge...

One key challenge was understanding the full scope of our design to ensure it met all user needs. Balancing the various features and ensuring that each was appropriately prioritized proved to be a complex task.

If We Had More Time...

We would focus on creating more personalized access to physical spaces, enhancing the in-person community experience. Additionally, recruiting a more diverse group of participants would allow us to design an even more inclusive platform, better serving underrepresented users and ensuring long-term engagement.