January 12, 2025
January 12, 2025
Involve Me Application
Involve Me Application
Involve Me Application
Connecting International students to meaningful social activities that reflect their interests and foster belonging.
Connecting International students to meaningful social activities that reflect their interests and foster belonging.
Connecting International students to meaningful social activities that reflect their interests and foster belonging.
Year
2025
Client
Indiana University
Category
Case Study
Product Duration
3 Months
Problem Statment
Problem Statment
Problem Statment
Many students, especially those new to IU, struggle to assimilate and adapt to their new environment due to difficulties in building meaningful social connections. While opportunities for social engagement exist on campus, students often find it challenging to discover and access these activities in ways that feel natural and inclusive. This lack of connection can lead to feelings of isolation and hinder their overall well-being and college experience.
Goal
Goal
Goal
My goal is to better connect students to social activities that align with their interests and identities, creating smoother pathways for social integration and a stronger sense of belonging in their new community.
Design
Design
Design
I designed this application end-to-end based on thorough research. I created the UI elements, developed high-fidelity screens, and highlighted the key features that set the app apart from its competitors.
These screens are designed to help students connect with social activities that match their interests and identities, making it easier for them to integrate socially and feel a stronger sense of belonging in their new community. The flow represents the end-to-end user journey.
These screens are designed to help students connect with social activities that match their interests and identities, making it easier for them to integrate socially and feel a stronger sense of belonging in their new community. The flow represents the end-to-end user journey.
These screens are designed to help students connect with social activities that match their interests and identities, making it easier for them to integrate socially and feel a stronger sense of belonging in their new community. The flow represents the end-to-end user journey.
Key Features
Key Features
Key Features
These screens are designed to help students connect with social activities that match their interests and identities, making it easier for them to integrate socially and feel a stronger sense of belonging in their new community. The flow represents the end-to-end user journey.
These screens are designed to help students connect with social activities that match their interests and identities, making it easier for them to integrate socially and feel a stronger sense of belonging in their new community. The flow represents the end-to-end user journey.
These screens are designed to help students connect with social activities that match their interests and identities, making it easier for them to integrate socially and feel a stronger sense of belonging in their new community. The flow represents the end-to-end user journey.
Research
Research
Research
Inspiration for the project
When I first arrived at IU, I was excited to meet people and get involved but I quickly felt overwhelmed. There were so many flyers, emails and posts about events, but I had no idea which ones were actually right for me. I went to a few, but they didn’t match my interests or felt uncomfortable to join as someone new. I started feeling disconnected, and later I realized I wasn’t the only one. Many other students, especially those new to IU or from different backgrounds, were going through the same thing.
That’s when I began to see the real problem. It’s not that IU lacks events, there are plenty. The issue is that students struggle to find events that feel relevant, welcoming, and easy to access. Most platforms just list everything, without considering individual interests or how students prefer to engage. On top of that, many events aren’t even shared in one place, they’re scattered across everywhere, which makes it even harder to stay informed.
This experience inspired me to work on a solution: A platform that gives students personalized event recommendations based on their interests and identities. The goal is to make social engagement feel more natural and help students find their place faster, building stronger connections and a true sense of belonging on campus.
User and Stakeholder research
Evolution of the Users
At first, the project was aimed at a broad group of students in Bloomington, including IU students, and even students from nearby colleges like Ivy Tech. However, after receiving feedback, and doing more in-depth research, I realized the need to narrow the focus.
The challenges of finding relevant and accessible social activities are especially unique to IU students, who often rely on fragmented platforms and word-of-mouth for event discovery. As I continued gathering insights, I noticed differences even within IU undergraduate and graduate students have very different routines, needs and preferences.
Inspiration for the project
When I first arrived at IU, I was excited to meet people and get involved but I quickly felt overwhelmed. There were so many flyers, emails and posts about events, but I had no idea which ones were actually right for me. I went to a few, but they didn’t match my interests or felt uncomfortable to join as someone new. I started feeling disconnected, and later I realized I wasn’t the only one. Many other students, especially those new to IU or from different backgrounds, were going through the same thing.
That’s when I began to see the real problem. It’s not that IU lacks events, there are plenty. The issue is that students struggle to find events that feel relevant, welcoming, and easy to access. Most platforms just list everything, without considering individual interests or how students prefer to engage. On top of that, many events aren’t even shared in one place, they’re scattered across everywhere, which makes it even harder to stay informed.
This experience inspired me to work on a solution: A platform that gives students personalized event recommendations based on their interests and identities. The goal is to make social engagement feel more natural and help students find their place faster, building stronger connections and a true sense of belonging on campus.
User and Stakeholder research
Evolution of the Users
At first, the project was aimed at a broad group of students in Bloomington, including IU students, and even students from nearby colleges like Ivy Tech. However, after receiving feedback, and doing more in-depth research, I realized the need to narrow the focus.
The challenges of finding relevant and accessible social activities are especially unique to IU students, who often rely on fragmented platforms and word-of-mouth for event discovery. As I continued gathering insights, I noticed differences even within IU undergraduate and graduate students have very different routines, needs and preferences.
Inspiration for the project
When I first arrived at IU, I was excited to meet people and get involved but I quickly felt overwhelmed. There were so many flyers, emails and posts about events, but I had no idea which ones were actually right for me. I went to a few, but they didn’t match my interests or felt uncomfortable to join as someone new. I started feeling disconnected, and later I realized I wasn’t the only one. Many other students, especially those new to IU or from different backgrounds, were going through the same thing.
That’s when I began to see the real problem. It’s not that IU lacks events, there are plenty. The issue is that students struggle to find events that feel relevant, welcoming, and easy to access. Most platforms just list everything, without considering individual interests or how students prefer to engage. On top of that, many events aren’t even shared in one place, they’re scattered across everywhere, which makes it even harder to stay informed.
This experience inspired me to work on a solution: A platform that gives students personalized event recommendations based on their interests and identities. The goal is to make social engagement feel more natural and help students find their place faster, building stronger connections and a true sense of belonging on campus.
User and Stakeholder research
Evolution of the Users
At first, the project was aimed at a broad group of students in Bloomington, including IU students, and even students from nearby colleges like Ivy Tech. However, after receiving feedback, and doing more in-depth research, I realized the need to narrow the focus.
The challenges of finding relevant and accessible social activities are especially unique to IU students, who often rely on fragmented platforms and word-of-mouth for event discovery. As I continued gathering insights, I noticed differences even within IU undergraduate and graduate students have very different routines, needs and preferences.
Research
I conducted research using the papers "Graduate Student Mental Health: Needs, Assessment, and Utilization of Counseling Services" and Penn State Student Affairs' report from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health.
Key Findings are Graduate students face a unique college experience marked by high academic pressure, less structure, and limited social spaces, making campus engagement more difficult. International graduate students experience even greater challenges due to cultural differences, language barriers, and unfamiliarity with available support. Despite facing similar stress levels as domestic students, they are significantly less likely to use campus services. Research shows they are 42% more likely to struggle with social isolation. These findings highlight that international graduate students are one of the most underserved groups in terms of social connection and support.
Primary Research
I did survey, contextual inquiry, user research and user interviews came up with the findings
AEIOU Framework
I used this framework to study observational and ethnographic studies. It categorize into five areas:
Activities – What people do
Environment – Where they do it
Interactions – How they interact with others or systems
Objects – What tools or items are involved
Users – Who is involved in the experience
Research
I conducted research using the papers "Graduate Student Mental Health: Needs, Assessment, and Utilization of Counseling Services" and Penn State Student Affairs' report from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health.
Key Findings are Graduate students face a unique college experience marked by high academic pressure, less structure, and limited social spaces, making campus engagement more difficult. International graduate students experience even greater challenges due to cultural differences, language barriers, and unfamiliarity with available support. Despite facing similar stress levels as domestic students, they are significantly less likely to use campus services. Research shows they are 42% more likely to struggle with social isolation. These findings highlight that international graduate students are one of the most underserved groups in terms of social connection and support.
Primary Research
I did survey, contextual inquiry, user research and user interviews came up with the findings
AEIOU Framework
I used this framework to study observational and ethnographic studies. It categorize into five areas:
Activities – What people do
Environment – Where they do it
Interactions – How they interact with others or systems
Objects – What tools or items are involved
Users – Who is involved in the experience
Research
I conducted research using the papers "Graduate Student Mental Health: Needs, Assessment, and Utilization of Counseling Services" and Penn State Student Affairs' report from the Center for Collegiate Mental Health.
Key Findings are Graduate students face a unique college experience marked by high academic pressure, less structure, and limited social spaces, making campus engagement more difficult. International graduate students experience even greater challenges due to cultural differences, language barriers, and unfamiliarity with available support. Despite facing similar stress levels as domestic students, they are significantly less likely to use campus services. Research shows they are 42% more likely to struggle with social isolation. These findings highlight that international graduate students are one of the most underserved groups in terms of social connection and support.
Primary Research
I did survey, contextual inquiry, user research and user interviews came up with the findings
AEIOU Framework
I used this framework to study observational and ethnographic studies. It categorize into five areas:
Activities – What people do
Environment – Where they do it
Interactions – How they interact with others or systems
Objects – What tools or items are involved
Users – Who is involved in the experience
What I found out through this method
• Students engage in many scattered activities like browsing multiple platforms, checking posters or asking peers to find events but it’s often confusing and inefficient.
• The environment is fragmented, with event information spread across campus spaces, websites, and social media, making it hard to stay informed.
• Interactions are informal and inconsistent, relying heavily on word of mouth and trial-and-error rather than clear guidance.
• Students use various objects (phones, posters, calendars) to manage their social life but none are centralized or streamlined.
• Users (especially international students) feel disconnected due to a lack of personalized, inclusive and accessible event discovery tools.
User Personas & Interviews
Interviews
I’ve noticed that students are experiencing isolation because they struggle to adapt to the new environment. Even though they have friends, they’re not able to build meaningful connections, which leads to frustration. They want to attend events at IU especially those organized by people from their own country, as they believe this would help them feel more connected and less isolated.
Currently, they can find event information through Outlook, the IU Events page, Instagram, and posters around campus. However, there isn’t a single, reliable platform that consolidates all these events, making it difficult for them to stay informed and engaged.
What I found out through this method
• Students engage in many scattered activities like browsing multiple platforms, checking posters or asking peers to find events but it’s often confusing and inefficient.
• The environment is fragmented, with event information spread across campus spaces, websites, and social media, making it hard to stay informed.
• Interactions are informal and inconsistent, relying heavily on word of mouth and trial-and-error rather than clear guidance.
• Students use various objects (phones, posters, calendars) to manage their social life but none are centralized or streamlined.
• Users (especially international students) feel disconnected due to a lack of personalized, inclusive and accessible event discovery tools.
User Personas & Interviews
Interviews
I’ve noticed that students are experiencing isolation because they struggle to adapt to the new environment. Even though they have friends, they’re not able to build meaningful connections, which leads to frustration. They want to attend events at IU especially those organized by people from their own country, as they believe this would help them feel more connected and less isolated.
Currently, they can find event information through Outlook, the IU Events page, Instagram, and posters around campus. However, there isn’t a single, reliable platform that consolidates all these events, making it difficult for them to stay informed and engaged.
What I found out through this method
• Students engage in many scattered activities like browsing multiple platforms, checking posters or asking peers to find events but it’s often confusing and inefficient.
• The environment is fragmented, with event information spread across campus spaces, websites, and social media, making it hard to stay informed.
• Interactions are informal and inconsistent, relying heavily on word of mouth and trial-and-error rather than clear guidance.
• Students use various objects (phones, posters, calendars) to manage their social life but none are centralized or streamlined.
• Users (especially international students) feel disconnected due to a lack of personalized, inclusive and accessible event discovery tools.
User Personas & Interviews
Interviews
I’ve noticed that students are experiencing isolation because they struggle to adapt to the new environment. Even though they have friends, they’re not able to build meaningful connections, which leads to frustration. They want to attend events at IU especially those organized by people from their own country, as they believe this would help them feel more connected and less isolated.
Currently, they can find event information through Outlook, the IU Events page, Instagram, and posters around campus. However, there isn’t a single, reliable platform that consolidates all these events, making it difficult for them to stay informed and engaged.
Some of the things they were keep on repeating
Events and activities are happening around me, but can’t keep track of them.
Homesickness eventually fades, but overcoming isolation and adapting to the new
environment is much more challenging.
“Need something to distract”
Competitor Analysis
After going through the research I found out the competitors to be
• BeInvolved
• GroupMe
• IU Calendar/Email
• Eventbrite
• IU Events Website
Some of the things they were keep on repeating
Events and activities are happening around me, but can’t keep track of them.
Homesickness eventually fades, but overcoming isolation and adapting to the new
environment is much more challenging.
“Need something to distract”
Competitor Analysis
After going through the research I found out the competitors to be
• BeInvolved
• GroupMe
• IU Calendar/Email
• Eventbrite
• IU Events Website
Some of the things they were keep on repeating
Events and activities are happening around me, but can’t keep track of them.
Homesickness eventually fades, but overcoming isolation and adapting to the new
environment is much more challenging.
“Need something to distract”
Competitor Analysis
After going through the research I found out the competitors to be
• BeInvolved
• GroupMe
• IU Calendar/Email
• Eventbrite
• IU Events Website
Initial Sketches & Testing
I had the opportunity to present my low-fidelity screens and share insights about my project. The feedback I received included the following points:
Enhance the personalized recommendations by incorporating cultural connections and tailoring suggestions based on users' nationality to foster better community connections.
Explore competitor apps for inspiration on the "Who is Attending" feature. Instead of revealing attendees' identities upfront, display just the number of attendees, giving users the option to reveal their identity only if they have added someone as a friend.
Initial Sketches & Testing
I had the opportunity to present my low-fidelity screens and share insights about my project. The feedback I received included the following points:
Enhance the personalized recommendations by incorporating cultural connections and tailoring suggestions based on users' nationality to foster better community connections.
Explore competitor apps for inspiration on the "Who is Attending" feature. Instead of revealing attendees' identities upfront, display just the number of attendees, giving users the option to reveal their identity only if they have added someone as a friend.
Initial Sketches & Testing
I had the opportunity to present my low-fidelity screens and share insights about my project. The feedback I received included the following points:
Enhance the personalized recommendations by incorporating cultural connections and tailoring suggestions based on users' nationality to foster better community connections.
Explore competitor apps for inspiration on the "Who is Attending" feature. Instead of revealing attendees' identities upfront, display just the number of attendees, giving users the option to reveal their identity only if they have added someone as a friend.
How does my design create value for the user or stakeholder group
1) Enhanced Event Discovery
By offering personalized event recommendations based on individual interests, the platform ensures that students discover relevant activities, reducing the frustration of sifting through irrelevant listings. This value proposition addresses the gap left by current platforms like BeInvolved and IU Events, which lack tailored suggestions.
2) Streamlined Information Access
Students currently face scattered event information across BeInvolved, GroupMe, Eventbrite, and IU emails. By consolidating these sources into a unified feed, the platform saves time and effort, making it significantly more convenient for students to stay updated on events.
3) Increased Event Participation
Smart notifications (e.g., push reminders and pre-event nudges) ensure that students are consistently reminded about events they intend to attend. This feature increases turnout and helps event organizers achieve their attendance goals, creating mutual value for both students and organizations.
4) Fostering a Sense of Community
The social integration feature allows students to see who else is attending, which can reduce anxiety about attending events alone. This promotes a stronger sense of belonging and encourages more active participation in social and community events.
5) Inclusivity and Accessibility
By providing inclusive filters (e.g., identity-based events, social preferences), the platform ensures that students from diverse backgrounds feel represented and valued, promoting a more inclusive campus culture.
How does my design create value for the user or stakeholder group
1) Enhanced Event Discovery
By offering personalized event recommendations based on individual interests, the platform ensures that students discover relevant activities, reducing the frustration of sifting through irrelevant listings. This value proposition addresses the gap left by current platforms like BeInvolved and IU Events, which lack tailored suggestions.
2) Streamlined Information Access
Students currently face scattered event information across BeInvolved, GroupMe, Eventbrite, and IU emails. By consolidating these sources into a unified feed, the platform saves time and effort, making it significantly more convenient for students to stay updated on events.
3) Increased Event Participation
Smart notifications (e.g., push reminders and pre-event nudges) ensure that students are consistently reminded about events they intend to attend. This feature increases turnout and helps event organizers achieve their attendance goals, creating mutual value for both students and organizations.
4) Fostering a Sense of Community
The social integration feature allows students to see who else is attending, which can reduce anxiety about attending events alone. This promotes a stronger sense of belonging and encourages more active participation in social and community events.
5) Inclusivity and Accessibility
By providing inclusive filters (e.g., identity-based events, social preferences), the platform ensures that students from diverse backgrounds feel represented and valued, promoting a more inclusive campus culture.
How does my design create value for the user or stakeholder group
1) Enhanced Event Discovery
By offering personalized event recommendations based on individual interests, the platform ensures that students discover relevant activities, reducing the frustration of sifting through irrelevant listings. This value proposition addresses the gap left by current platforms like BeInvolved and IU Events, which lack tailored suggestions.
2) Streamlined Information Access
Students currently face scattered event information across BeInvolved, GroupMe, Eventbrite, and IU emails. By consolidating these sources into a unified feed, the platform saves time and effort, making it significantly more convenient for students to stay updated on events.
3) Increased Event Participation
Smart notifications (e.g., push reminders and pre-event nudges) ensure that students are consistently reminded about events they intend to attend. This feature increases turnout and helps event organizers achieve their attendance goals, creating mutual value for both students and organizations.
4) Fostering a Sense of Community
The social integration feature allows students to see who else is attending, which can reduce anxiety about attending events alone. This promotes a stronger sense of belonging and encourages more active participation in social and community events.
5) Inclusivity and Accessibility
By providing inclusive filters (e.g., identity-based events, social preferences), the platform ensures that students from diverse backgrounds feel represented and valued, promoting a more inclusive campus culture.
Video Prototype
Video Prototype
Video Prototype
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Let'S WORK
TOGETHER
BASED IN BLOOMINGTON,
Indiana
Product Designer
Who Loves to design
Let'S WORK
TOGETHER
BASED IN BLOOMINGTON,
Indiana
Product Designer
Who Loves to design
Let'S WORK
TOGETHER
Let'S WORK
TOGETHER
BASED IN BLOOMINGTON,
Indiana
Product Designer
Who Loves to design