Learning is more than remembering information. It’s a way of living. With the recent advancements in artificial intelligence, students now have an opportunity to learn more effectively outside of the classroom.
Through this full-scope project, I learned how to enhance the overall experience for students with diverse learning styles, while also considering the latest trends in AI.
Timeline
4 Months
Role
Product Designer
Tools
College students often struggle with managing and organizing their study materials, leading to challenges in preparing for exams, retaining information , and succeeding in courses.
A note-taking app that is focused on collaboration and integrates AI to deliver learning strategies for every student’s learning style.
Note-taking apps are popular and valued at 664.48 million USD .
There are a ton of note-taking strategies that have been proven effective in psychological resesarch
Current note-taking apps assume that users know effective study strategies already.
A deep-dive into a competitive analysis revealed that competitors offered assistance to students only within their own products, limiting their abilities to the product they were using. This also is consistent to the visibility of system status heuristic. While this heuristic keeps users informed of available features and functionalities within the product, it can also be applied to student’s lack of awareness about research-proven note-taking strategies, revealing a visibility issue.
Problem: Notability is informative on product use, not learning execution.
Problem: Notion's AI focuses on improvement, not creation.
User interviews were conducted via zoom with students currently attending university.
Survey
(Quantitative)
Of 13 responses, 61.6% of students use note-taking apps.
92.3% use some kind of tool to write/highlight with.
Interview
5 students were interviewed and revealed a need for organization systems, effective communication, and awareness of diverse learning.
Behaviors
Students carry around class materials in multiple places and space.
Pain Points
Of 13 responses, 61.6% of students use note-taking apps.
92.3% use some kind of tool to write/highlight with.
I referred back to Jackson's persona throughout various stages of my design process to ensure that I was designing for the intended user.
I was able to identify the most essential action/ tasks Jackson would most likely complete when using the product from start to finish with user flows, and develop an MVP to determine what was necessary for the ideation process.
And the very first sketches were born.
Wireflows were utilized to not only figure out various routes Jackson would take when using Owari, but also to identify potential issues and help effectively communicate the designs across teams.
Jackson was at the heart of the visual design
With secondary research and a deep understanding of Jackson's needs, Owari was created to provide a seamless and intuitive experience while also maintaining the fun in learning.
Before Owari was established, Climax was the original brand. But with feedback from other designers, a quick rebrand was established before testing.
Before
The original brand was a little "spicy," and wasn't ideal for a product aimed at achieving goals and learning.
After
"Owari," a japanese word meaning "to finish, the end."
Usability testing with 5 users over zoom helped with the reiterated designs.
What I found
Participants felt the homepage content was organized but too minimalistic.
Approach
Small redesign on the homepage to help with due dates and organization.
What I found
Participants clicked on collaborator tab the most with tasks involving someone else.
Approach
Minor adjustments to ensure collaborator tab meets user needs and goals
What I found
Half of the participants misunderstood how to effectively use the AI strategy feature
Approach
Rewrite the copy to include easy to understand and informative copy
What I found
Participants wanted a color customization feature which was consistent with interview insights
Approach
Design a feature to customize the projects to establish personalization and improve overall organization
Finding answers to questions occurs throughout the entire process
One of my goals when interviewing students was to get a better understanding of their needs, behavior, and challenges. I was able to find more insights with sitemaps, user flows, sketches, and wireflows that impacted the end-product.
Digital spaces impact physical spaces and vice versa
I learned that digital tools such as laptops, tablets, and phones had a relationship between physical places such as classrooms. For example: students download a vast amount of pdfs and books in different areas within their devices and use that knowledge in the classroom. Students also take pictures of whiteboards in classrooms to quickly gather information.
Noticing problems early has great impact
Owari’s original brand and design system was lacked motivation, projected feelings of “coldness,” and wasn’t in alignment with common perceptions of learning.
What one user desires, is what other users need
One participant stated that the product was easy to use, but he wished there was a feature that allowed him to customize the color of each project for organization purposes.After taking that into consideration and executing it before the next the next round of usability testing. Users in the second usability testing found the color customization feature necessary to succeed in school.