Simmons University
Produced a welcome package for incoming Simmons Undergraduate students using a design thinking approach.
ROLE
UX Researcher, Team Advocate, Service Designer
ACTIONS
User Research, Facilitated Usability Testing, Wireframing, Prototyping, Design Thinking
TIMELINE
FEB 2022 - MAY 2022
OBJECTIVE
Employ the tools and methods of design thinking to define a specific problem related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Interviewing students and alumni
Designing mockups & prototypes
Co-leading usability tests
Empowering the team
Using mixed-methods interviewing and ethnographic research to shuffle narrative elements to develop user personas based on interview data.
How Might We…
connect incoming BIPOC students to Simmons by preparing them for success in school, job readiness, and building support systems?
Finding inspiration from spaces and programs available on campus
We thought about different spaces available on campus and used information from our interviews or personal knowledge to look into pain points, solutions, and impacts.
DISCOVERIES & PAIN POINTS
Not knowing what needs to get done on a detailed level (i.e graduation credits, what is an internship)
Boston Scholars should be the priority when showcasing MCC because that’s geared toward POC High school seniors
Hard to make friends due to the online learning stage (during and aftermath)
CONSIDER
Hypoallergenic products
Welcome {Name} on the inside of the box
Stickers
QR Code w/ links (web + survey)
Include the survey to the website not just socials
Who is in charge of maintaining the website?
FOR THE NEXT TESTING ROUND
A/B Testing
Which items in the box are more wanted?
Take a photo of the item & print them out
Completely different items in each box
How will we address the needs of a commuter, resident, first-generation student, etc?
Prototyping Report Card
Realization: If we were to think about costs and maintaining this as a long-term program…
How might we integrate this tool into the current system? Would the concept increase viability if it was with the Undergraduate Admissions instead of a student body requesting financial support?
Extended cut
Read the full story about our process trying to reform the 1st day undergraduate experience.