Study Abroad is a mobile app concept designed to simplify the process of researching and comparing foreign universities. The app enables students to assess key details such as visa requirements, housing options, and curriculum. The client aimed to create a growing database of universities, making it easier for students to compare programs and streamline the decision-making process.
CLIENT
University of Illinois
ROLE
Product Designer
Challenge
When exploring multiple universities or countries for study, students often face challenges in organizing program details and requirements. The app needed to address these issues by allowing users to narrow down search results, save favorite universities, and compare programs effectively. The main issues include:
01.
Overwhelm from extensive requirements and prerequisites.
02.
Difficulty keeping track of key information for multiple universities.
03.
Lack of insight into campus life beyond academic programs.
Approach
Collaborating with fellow teammates, we conduct user research and designed wireframes that supported key features. Feedback was gathered iteratively to ensure the app aligned with user needs and expectations. Our approach was centered on these user goals:
Filter & Sort
Enable users to sort universities by course, country, or institution.
Save & Compare
Implement functionality for users to save favorites and conduct side-by-side comparisons.
Campus Life
Offer a broader view of university facilities, housing, and application requirements alongside academic details.
Solution
We created a vibrant, user-friendly app with features that addressed key challenges. A cheerful color scheme and simplistic design kept users focused. To enhance engagement, we introduced a friendly mascot, S.A.M.—an owl-like figure guiding users through their educational journey.
