Campus StARt: An onboarding app for first-semester students at Hochschule Augsburg

Timeline

October 2021 - June 2022

Platform

Mobile App

My Role

Student UI/UX Designer

Project Overview

Master's Project at Augsburg University of Applied Sciences

Campus StARrt was a Master's project undertaken by a group of students at Hochschule Augsburg. This case study shows the concept phase of the project, highlighting the milestones achieved during this stage.

Problem

Students feel lost on their first days

As a newbie at the university, there are many things to do! Students need to accomplish some to-do tasks for registration and become familiar with the campus quickly. As a result of this, students are feeling insecure and stressed in their first days.

Goals

Organize everything in one place in an entertaining and informative way

  • Providing a single app that allows students to easily and quickly access all necessary first steps.

  • Making the first tasks fun and interesting to engage students from the start.

  • Enabling students to find their classrooms and getting an overview of the campus layout easily and quickly.

  • Alleviating first-day jitters and reducing stress levels for students.

  • Designing an app to be a one-stop hub for students' campus needs, ensuring convenience and efficiency.

  • Incorporating interactive and enjoyable elements into the app to make the experience engaging and captivating.

Research

A journey to achieve our goals with a success

We started our process by conducting topic research, specifically focusing on apps designed by different universities to provide campus guides for students. Additionally, we expanded our research to encompass guide applications in different domains, such as museums. To gain firsthand experience and evaluate the effectiveness of such systems, we visited Fuggerei, the world's oldest public housing complex, where we personally tried their guide and information system.

We also conducted a survey involving 51 participants to gather valuable insights. The survey aimed to uncover the following aspects related to students’ experiences at Hochschule Augsburg:

  • The initial tasks students typically undertake upon starting their journey at Hochschule Augsburg.

  • The most complex task they encounter during their time at Hochschule Augsburg.

  • The specific difficulties they have encountered while attempting these tasks.

  • The sources from which they seek assistance when facing difficulties.

  • The tasks they believe students require additional support.

Insights

Important outputs that are milestones in our journey

Based on our comprehensive competitive analysis and survey findings, we have derived the following key insights:

  • Students require a comprehensive checklist that consolidates all essential tasks, such as exam registrations, class enrollments, and access to online portals. This checklist serves as an assurance to prevent any crucial steps from being overlooked.

  • There is a need for both indoor and outdoor navigation features that enable students to easily and swiftly familiarize themselves with the layout of the campus.

  • Augmented Reality (AR) can present an engaging and informative approach to assist students in navigating the campus and guiding them through various essential tasks.

Concept

Starting to put ideas together on paper

To precisely define our target audience, we dedicated our efforts to developing persona profiles. Our primary persona revolved around international students who typically encounter challenges navigating German university regulations, given their unfamiliarity with the system.

Considering the significant insights, we proceeded to develop a user journey map, formulate our hypotheses, establish the context of use, and outline the general structure of the application.

After completing these important steps, we presented our initial ideas and approaches through wireframes.

Design

Our solutions to the students' needs

All the tasks are in one place!
We created the "To-Do" feature that centralizes and organizes all necessary tasks and information for students, ensuring a streamlined completion process. The students can quickly review their progress and see the status of the tasks.

Streamlining tasks through engaging "AR Tours"!
We presented important tasks to students in a fun and informative way with AR Tours, guiding them smoothly from one point to the next during their initial days. They can easily begin the tour and proceed through each step in detail.

Outdoor Navigation is here to guide when students are lost!
With the navigation feature, we provided assistance for students in finding lecture halls, libraries, and other important locations, simplifying their campus navigation experience. They can select their destination building and get directions easily.

Final Product

Overview of the Final Screens

Reflections

What we'd do differently next time

1. Time constraints, limited iteration: Due to the specific deadline associated with this Master's Project, we had limited time to iterate and explore various versions of our solutions.


2. User testing limitations: We didn't have time to conduct a user test to identify potential mistakes and errors in the final user interface.


3. Challenges in time management: Some aspects of the project, such as deciding on the color palette, unexpectedly consumed more time than planned. This situation affected subsequent steps and impacted the planned duration for each process.


Despite these challenges, we have developed an impressive product with a user-centered approach. This product holds significant potential in assisting students during their initial period at Hochschule Augsburg. I extend my gratitude to my classmates and lecturers for their dedicated efforts and invaluable feedback throughout this project. If you would like to see further detail, please check project's official website: 👉 Campus StARt