ApplicationUniClubs is the essential platform where students connect, engage, and thrive within their university communities. This is a project I developed independently as part of my portfolio. Through comprehensive UX research, visual design, and prototyping, I took ownership of the entire process, aiming to enhance student engagement and simplify club management.
The Impact of UniClubs on Student Engagement
UniClubs stands out as an innovative platform for students, focusing on community engagement rather than merely promoting individual identities. It empowers users to connect based on shared interests and activities within their university environment.
In a user study, I interviewed Alex, a student club leader, and observed her navigating the app to manage club memberships and promote events. When I asked what she finds most beneficial about UniClubs, she mentioned that the app simplifies communication and fosters a sense of belonging among members.
UniClubs is designed to facilitate seamless interactions, allowing students to join multiple clubs, access event information, and engage with their peers. This unique approach enables users to explore and participate in a variety of clubs effortlessly, whether they’re browsing through club listings, saving events to their calendars, or communicating with club leaders directly.
Enhancing Student Interaction with UniClubs
The UniClubs platform fosters student engagement even when users are busy with classes, work, or other activities.
Users can schedule club events and announcements, ensuring important information is shared consistently and effectively. They can determine how many events or posts are published automatically within specific time frames, allowing clubs to maintain active communication and strengthen community connections.
The initial experience on UniClubs was constrained
Beyond the challenge that users could only manage club memberships manually, we identified several other pain points in two scenarios within the mobile experience. busy with classes, work, or other activities.
1. When joining a club
- Unfamiliar with the process of joining clubs Confusion between
- Different membership options and their benefits
2. When managing club memberships
- Unclear what happens after requesting to join a club
- Complicated steps to navigate to membership settings
- No option to view and adjust notifications for club events and updates
1. User & Business Goals
- The user goal focused on making club membership and event management more accessible on mobile, while the business goal aimed to increase student participation and overall club activity.
2. Impact
- Achieving these goals will strengthen campus communities, helping students stay connected and engaged even during busy periods. This would result in higher and more consistent club involvement, fostering a lively and active student culture without overwhelming users.
Challenge
We identified three key objectives and tackled them simultaneously. These "how might we" questions guided our brainstorming and concept development during the whiteboarding phase.
Discovery
How might we encourage students to manage their clubs using the app?
Term Clarification
How might we help students distinguish between joining a club and managing a club?
Management
How might we enable students to efficiently manage their clubs and events via mobile?
Research
Competitive Analysis
To understand membership management, we analyzed other student engagement platforms like Unifi App and EdUnity, focusing on how they handle user interactions for club sign-ups and event management.
Data Analytics
We explored how often students join new clubs and interact with events with user data. Key metrics included peak times for student engagement and the most frequent actions within the app.
Understanding Target Users
We identified key user groups, including club leaders and students, to ensure our design meets the needs of those managing and participating in multiple clubs.
Design System
While developing design solutions, we reviewed UniClubs' existing design guidelines to maintain consistency. As some elements had no pre-existing patterns, we developed new UI components to improve user flow and interface clarity.
Exploring Design Treatments
Since UniClubs is a new app I created, there was no existing design framework. I experimented with various design approaches, focusing on intuitive layouts and easy navigation. Each iteration aimed to simplify how students discover, join, and manage clubs, ensuring the interface was user-friendly and engaging from the start.
Iterating & Validating Assumptions
Through various feedback sessions and design critiques, I discovered that integrating native design principles significantly improved efficiency and created a more seamless user experience.
I concentrated on developing clear and engaging copy to help users navigate the app and understand the advantages of club management.
User testing was crucial for validating my design choices, allowing me to build confidence in the app's usability and overall effectiveness.
Helping Users Navigate Club Membership
A significant challenge was that users struggled to grasp the process of joining clubs and managing their memberships, often confusing it with event scheduling.
To tackle this issue, we aimed to create a comprehensive experience. This involved designing from the moment users express interest in a club to their ongoing interactions, offering contextual guidance and timely feedback throughout their journey.
Users can effortlessly browse upcoming events by swiping through a visually engaging interface, making it easy to discover new activities.
The saved events section allows users to keep track of their favorite activities, ensuring they never miss out on important happenings within their clubs.
A streamlined search function enables users to find clubs that match their interests, facilitating quick access to relevant information and enhancing their engagement with campus life.
Users can access detailed club profiles that include descriptions, upcoming events, and member information, providing a comprehensive view of what each club offers and helping them make informed decisions about joining.
Streamlined Access to Club Information
To enhance user engagement on UniClubs, we prioritized organizing essential club details into clearly defined sections such as “Upcoming Events,” “Saved Events,” and “Club Overview.” This structured layout allows users to quickly locate relevant information without feeling overwhelmed.
Simplifying Navigation for Better Engagement
By grouping information strategically, we facilitate easier navigation and encourage deeper participation in club activities. This design choice makes it simpler for students to connect and engage with their university community, ultimately fostering a more vibrant campus life.
Data-Driven Design
To identify optimal times for student engagement, I conducted research to understand when users are most active. By analyzing user behavior patterns, I determined that peak activity occurs during the afternoon and early evening, aligning with students' schedules. This insight allows me to create features that cater to users' availability, enhancing their overall experience on UniClubs.
Thoughtful Copy Choices
In crafting the app's language, I explored various labels that resonate with students' lifestyles. For example, I used terms like "After Classes" for late afternoon slots and "Weekend Events" for weekend activities. This approach ensures the language is relatable and creates a welcoming atmosphere, encouraging users to engage more with the platform.
Impact
I aim to launch the UniClubs app to simplify the process of joining and managing student clubs. While the project is still in development, I recognize that there will always be areas for improvement.
I'm excited about the potential of this app to enhance student engagement and create a more connected campus community.
Team
- Project Creator: Cindy Yuen
- Mentor: Dr. Makayla Lewis
- User Testing Participants: Various Kingston University students
