DeDe
A native app for informed study decisions
Design Concept | UX, UI | 2021
The Problem
I'm thinking about becoming a designer, but what really suits me?
Many young adults in their early twenties who aspire to study a Bachelor of Arts degree in Design face difficulties in selecting the best course that suits their needs.
This is primarily because of the confusing and incoherent information available online, which makes it challenging to compare different course options. Even when they manage to gather relevant data from various sources to compare courses, they often lack experience in decision-making
due to their young age.
The possible effect
on our user
Wrong decisions
Choosing a profession/school that doesn’t match their needs and expectations
Frustration
Feeling overwhelmed from the long process, missing deadlines, options and objective guidance
Waste of Money & Energy
On research, consulting, pre-university programs, and interviews/tryouts
Decision-making can be anxiety-inducing due to the long application processes, deadlines, and low acceptance rates.
The Challenge
Mind map and definintion
I created a mind map to visualize, on one side, the comprehensive decision-making structure, encompassing inspirations, goals, and the like. On the other side, I focused specifically on design education – outlining zones, subjects, competitors, platforms, and applications relevant to my research.
The project presented two key challenges:
1. Clear the noise
Presenting the diverse fields and schools clearly and help them define their goals.
2. Facilitating Decision-Making
Equipping users with tools and proved methods to enhance decision-making processes.
Research
Talking to potential users
I began researching individuals who had graduated from a variety of universities and degree programs, not only design, to create a more complete solution.
As I conducted my interviews, I discovered that the disparities between the different processes, information, options, and users' criteria were too big. I realized that if I wanted to provide more value to users, it would be better to focus on a specific field.
Only 50% are fully satisfied with their
choice of study
30% of them would have chosen a different field of study given more information
Fun fact
227
Decisions on food only
35,000
Decisions in general
A DAY
Explains why deciding on a study path can be challenging…:)
- Cornell University (Wansink and Sobal, 2007)
The Solution
Define goals and values
UX Goals
Complete a comparison
Choose design field and school
Values
Convenience
Boost self-confidence
Clarity
Wireframes
Throughout the design flow, I’ve implemented decision-making models to help the users with the cognitive load and the decision-making process, such as:
Rational decision-making model, Bounded rationality, The paradox of choice
Choose your starting point
Whether it’s about selecting a course, institution, or a specific career in the realm of design, this guides users to appropriate knowledge. Kickstart their exploration with a brief, full-screen video to seize their interest.
In-depth info
Provide essential information to prevent mental overwhelm, promoting in-depth exploration to gain significant understanding and effectively grasp the differences and options.
Compare and decide
After defining a starting point, researching and narrowing down the options, it’s time to compare:
1. Let the users choose (4-6) and decide the importance of each criterion.
2. Breakdown the decision.
3. Recommend the highest scored option.
Hifi
Final design
future Features
features and optimization possibilities
Community space
To increase engagement and addmore value to the user
Workshops/webinars
Preparing for the tryouts
Career
Tools and networking
Portfolio
Develop an online portfolio while studying
