Welcome Gift Redesign
Due to manufacturing challenges and negative student feedback Prime Digital Academy requested proposals for a redesign of their welcome gift for Full-Stack Engineering Students.
Role:
Researcher, Prototype Designer, Presenter
Methods:
“fly-on-the-wall" observation method, AEIOU organizational framework, heuristic analysis, Affinity diagramming
Tools:
pen, paper, scissors, hot glue gun
Deliverables:
Physical Prototype
Client Pitch Presentation
The Problem
Prime Digital Academy has been providing a water bottle to its full-stack development students as a welcome gift when arriving for their first day on campus.
Unfortunately, the water bottle is no longer being manufactured plus student reporting finds it unusable and impersonal.
Prime stakeholders have requested proposals for a meaningful substitute.
The Solution
The Solution is ”Buddy”
Full Stack Engineering student’s are hard at work all day, everyday. That can be hard on a student so when things get difficult, stressful, and emotional, the Prime Mental Health Buddy is here for you.
When you need a companion... it’s right next to you, offering a smile.
When you need to blow off steam... hit it! throw it!. You can’t hurt it!
If you need to cry... it’s okay, it has a tissue for you.
Handy mental health features for your Prime journey.
The Process
1. Discovery
Because I hadn’t previously encountered any “full-stackers” I first had to find out who they were. To gather the needed information I conducted observations of the students utilizing the “fly-on-on-the-wall” method in conjunction with the AEIOU organizational framework to record the students interactions and items they were currently utilizing.
Observation Notes:
Observations were conducted utilizing the “fly-on-on-the-wall” method in conjunction with the AEIOU organizational framework to record student interactions and items currently utilized.
Based on observations I determined there were 3 things that seemed most important to full stack students:
Sustenance
Focus
Mental Health
2. Design
Utilizing the findings from observational research a set of three design concepts were created.
The concepts were put through a peer review critique where it was determined to move forward with the mental health concept.
>> Analysis
Before moving to a prototype a heuristic analysis was performed with representative items.
Testing on representative items found concept meets standards with minimal heuristic violations.
>> Prototype
Next, a prototype was developed
>> Testing
An evaluation of the prototype utilizing artifact analysis, think aloud protocol, and observation methods with 3 testers was performed
The feedback obtained from testers during the interview were synthesized through Affinity diagramming
Findings and Results
Feedback obtained from testers during the evaluation interviews and synthesis through Affinity diagramming highlighted that testers overwhelmingly valued the emotional support aspect of the prototype.
Conclusion
We believe Buddy would be the perfect welcome gift for full stack engineering students on their journey through Prime.
It’s fun
It’s practical
But most importantly, through testing, user feedback, and adhering to Prime Academy’s values, Buddy has demonstrated its most valuable to students as mental health support.