Simmons University

Education
Written By Shania Ambros

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.

 
 

User Personas developed after congregating data from our 15 interviews.

 
 

How Might We…

connect incoming BIPOC students to Simmons by preparing them for success in school, job readiness, and building support systems?

 
 

Analogy and benchmark sample data

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)

 

Prototype of an idea - An outreach initiative for commuters and residents

 

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.

Shania Ambros
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