User Research: Improving the Admissions Experience for a Local University

Objective and Users

A local university came to our class and wanted deeper insights into improving the admissions process with suggested technology improvements. The users we interviewed talked about their desires for processes that improved the student experience.

Methods

Our group completed in-depth interviews with a student as well as staff members at the university. We watched how people used technology, took notes with recording and writing tools, and synthesized the feedback using contextual inquiry best practices.

We provided core recommendations about technology usage and improvements that benefit the student experience after completing research.

Skills Used: Site Mapping, Interviewing, Contextual Inquiry, Affinity Mapping

Who am I?

I make the non-linear clearer.

I am a hybrid Content and UX Designer with a love of writing, photography, graphic design, strategy, and mapping. What I care about is helping people and organizations reach their goals of increasing quality, both in terms of product and process.

Currently, I work full time at Fastspot in a UX and content strategy role. On the side, I work on select freelance projects and am a part-time student at University of Baltimore's Interaction Design and Information Architecture program.

Hobbies: Taking photos of porches, baking, hiking, drawing, running, painting, and listening to music.

Portfolio

Surveys: Who Registers to Vote?

After studying best practices for survey design, our group asked a sample of people about their voting behaviors and preferences.

Information Architecture: Maryland Higher Education Commission

Another project at The University of Baltimore required rethinking the information architecture for Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC).

User Research: Public Housing Authority Project

At The University of Baltimore, my team was tasked with completing a eyetracking research project for a local housing authority.

Interaction Design: Hosts for Humanity

Our group got to work with local non-profit Hosts for Humanity to build a new booking process. Based on research, our group prototyped a mid-fielity mobile site experience, and I was the lead on creating the asset in Axure.

Poster Design: Redesigning Error Messaging on Github

Speaking from experience, learning to code is intimidating! And while the developer community is generally friendly, learning how developers work takes patience, time, and resiliance. What can Github do to help users, especially those learning to program, recover from errors while using the application?

User Research: Improving the Admissions Customer Experience

A university wanted deeper insights about improving the overall admissions experience for potential students. Using contextual inquiry methods, the group I worked with pinpointed pain points and suggested potential solutions.

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