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The Problem
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.
The Goal
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
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.
Prototyping
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
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
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.
“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.”
Retrospective
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.
