Project Overview

College students increasingly rely on food delivery apps to manage their busy schedules and limited budgets. However, these apps often come with high, non-transparent fees and unreliable tracking, leading to stress for students trying to balance their studies, work, and social lives. Recognizing this gap, I set out to create a more affordable and transparent delivery solution tailored specifically to the needs of college students.

Defining The Problem

Problem

Prime has traditionally gifted new students with items like shirts and pens gifts that are often forgotten or unused. Students, especially those in demanding full-stack coding programs, need a welcome gift that truly adds value to their daily lives. In noisy, collaborative learning environments, they struggle with staying focused and maintaining comfort during long coding sessions.

My Role

Sole UI/UX Designer and Researcher

Tools

• Figma

• Figjam

• Zoom

• Slack

Research

Ideation & Evaluation

Design Exploration

To address the problem, we brainstormed multiple concepts for potential welcome gifts and ran a desirability test to evaluate which idea resonated most with students.

Design Concepts:

1. Bluetooth Earbuds

   1. Ergonomic design for comfort during long coding sessions.

2. Noise-canceling feature to help students focus in busy environments.

3. Customization options, such as adding initials or cohort name.

4. Customizable Hoodie/T-shirt

5. Comfortable and practical clothing with personalized designs.

6. Soft fabric for long study sessions and outdoor use.

7. Options for customization like name, cohort, or Prime branding.

8. Ergonomic Footrest

9. Designed to improve comfort while sitting at desks for long hours.

10. Adjustable angles and height for personalized foot support.

11. Compact and easy to move between study areas.

Desirability Test

To determine which gift concept would resonate most with full-stack students, we conducted a desirability test. The test aimed to evaluate which design provided the most value based on factors such as usability, personalization, comfort, and relevance to their day-to-day experience.

Test Results:

• Bluetooth Earbuds ranked highest in student preference:

  • 80% of students preferred the earbuds due to their practicality and potential for daily use.

  • The noise-canceling feature was seen as essential for helping students focus, especially in busy environments.

  • Customization options (initials or cohort names) made the gift feel personal and special.

• Customizable Hoodie/T-shirt came in second:

  • Students liked the idea of a personalized hoodie but felt it lacked the daily functionality needed for study-related tasks.

• Ergonomic Footrest ranked last:

  • Although students appreciated the comfort benefits, it was viewed as too niche and not practical for use outside of the classroom setting.

Prototype Development

With the Bluetooth earbuds emerging as the top choice, we moved forward with developing a prototype. The focus was on ensuring comfort, and portability, and enhancing students’ ability to focus in noisy environments.

I used a playdoh to make the prototype to see let other knows about the concept, this way is easier and saves money.

Prototype Features:

• Ergonomic Design: Customizable ear tips for extended comfort during long study sessions.

• Noise-Canceling Technology: Helps students stay focused, even in busy communal areas.

• Portability: Compact design that’s easy to carry between classrooms, home, and study areas.

• Personalization: Each set of earbuds could be customized with the student’s initials or cohort name, making it a unique and meaningful gift.

Testing the Prototype

I tested the playdoh earbuds mostly for the concept part, with 3 full stack participants, and this is the result I got. Comfort:
Students responded positively to the Play-Doh prototype's ergonomic design, imagining it would be comfortable during long coding sessions. However, they noted the importance of adjustable ear tip sizes to cater to different ear shapes. Some suggested offering various plastic part sizes to enhance long-term comfort. The concept was promising, but students emphasized that a functional prototype would be needed for a proper assessment.

1. Customization:
   Customization options, such as adding the Prime logo, were well-received, particularly for the earbud case rather than the earbuds themselves. Students strongly preferred personal touches like initials and cohort names on the case, making the earbuds feel more professional and meaningful. Customization was viewed as a nice bonus but not essential.

2. Portability:
   The small and compact nature of the earbuds was highly appreciated, with students favoring them over bulkier headphones for daily use. They found the portability key for easily transitioning between study sessions. Some students suggested adding practical features like a clip or carabiner for attaching the case to an ID, though safety concerns were raised about the case swinging around.

3. Noise-Canceling:
   While the prototype didn't include functional noise-canceling technology, the concept was highly appealing. Students valued the potential for increased focus in noisy environments, like the commons or classrooms, and expressed interest in having adjustable noise cancellation for different levels of awareness.

Overall, the prototype generated positive feedback but underscored the need for further development, particularly in comfort testing, customization options, and functional features like noise-canceling technology.

Quantitative Ratings

In addition to qualitative feedback, Full Stack students were asked to rate the Bluetooth earbud prototype in four key areas: comfort, customization, portability, and noise-canceling. These ratings provide a clear numerical snapshot of the students' overall impressions.

1. Comfort
   Despite the non-functional prototype, students rated comfort based on the shape and imagined fit during extended use.

   • Student #1: 9/10 – Noted that "earbuds always hurt" but felt these could be an exception.

   • Student #2: 8/10 – Found the size manageable but highlighted the need for adjustable ear tips.

   • Alumni: 10/10 – Very positive, assuming comfort for long wear.

2. Customization
   Personalization was seen as a fun and professional touch, especially the option for initials and cohort names.

   • Student #1: 9/10 – Liked the idea of cohort names and Prime branding on the case.

   • Student #2: 8/10 – Found customization appealing, particularly for the case.

   • Student #3: 10/10 – Valued the idea of personalized branding.

3. Portability
   The small size and ease of carrying the earbuds between classes made portability a key highlight.

   • Student #1: 10/10 – Praised the compact design for easy portability.

   • Student #2: 9/10 – Appreciated the small size but suggested adding a clip for convenience.

   • Student #3: 10/10 – Fully satisfied with the portability of the earbuds.

4. Noise-Canceling
   While the prototype didn't have a functional noise-canceling feature, the concept resonated strongly with participants.

   • Student #1: 9/10 – Thought the feature would be useful for staying focused in noisy environments.

   • Student #2: 10/10 – Highly valued the noise-canceling potential for better concentration.

   • Student#3 : 10/10 – Enthusiastic about the feature, noting its usefulness in busy areas.

Final Presentation

After testing the Bluetooth earbud prototype with Full Stack students, we presented the findings to Prime stakeholders to encourage investment in further development.

Key Takeaways:

• Comfort: Students rated the comfort 9/10 but emphasized the need for adjustable ear tips for extended wear.

• Customization: Personalization options, such as initials and cohort names on the case, were well-received (9/10).

• Portability: Portability was a standout feature (9.7/10), with suggestions for additional case features like clips.

• Noise-Canceling: The concept of noise cancellation rated highly (9.7/10), especially for focus in busy environments.

Next Steps:

• Develop a functional prototype to test comfort and noise cancellation.

• Expand customization options and refine portability features.

With strong initial interest and ratings, investment will help bring this student-tailored concept to market successfully.

Direct Storytelling

We used storytelling to engage with 2 FullStack Programers, asking them to recount their experiences of their first few weeks at Prime.

• Key Stories:
  Students shared that the common areas were often noisy, making it difficult to concentrate. Many felt overwhelmed by the environment, especially when working on coding assignments that required focus. They also mentioned that long sessions in front of their computers caused discomfort, exacerbated by poor-quality headphones or earbuds. The gift items they had received, such as shirts or pens, did little to alleviate these pain points.

• Main Takeaways:

  • Students crave peace to focus on their work, but the communal areas make it challenging.

  • They value practical items they can use every day—something that can make their coding sessions more comfortable and productive.