A paired interaction and service design project
Brief
In this project I collaborated with an interaction design student and the brief we were given was to take a service design approach to re-evaluate the current NCAD application process for incoming first year students while taking into account neurodivergent students, specifically those with ADHD/ADD.
Research
We began examining the current application process for NCAD in comparison to other Irish third level institutions; before conducting secondary research regarding ADHD and ADD as well as the common impacts on education for those with neurodivergences. We then contacted current NCAD students, who volunteered to be interviewed, about what it is like for them to have ADHD, their opinion on their college application process and how they currently navigate every day life as a college student. We also had conversations with NCAD's learning support and admission staff as well as staff from DCU to find out how they successfully build the supports for Ireland's first autism friendly campus.
Findings
After interviewing students and after experiencing first hand confusion and frustration in navigating and gathering the sufficient information regarding the application process, we discovered main points of intervention needed to redesign an appropriate, easy to navigate, system/service for prospective neurodivergent students. Through this research we realised we needed to help reduce the common challenges that these students faced such as time management, disorganisation and lack of motivation/taking initiative.
Our focus areas for conceptualisation were the submission platform, application deadlines communication and open days/inductions. Our three concepts were a booklet containing all important deadlines, a virtual VR/AR campus tour and an app containing step by step guidance on the application process and deadline reminders.
Development
After getting feedback on our concepts from interviewees we found that our strongest concepts were the booklet and app with an equal split between digital and physical presentation preferences however the general consensus was that if we delivered all the necessary info in digital form people are less likely to lose it than a paper booklet and would get more use out of it. Therefore we decided to combine the two ideas with emphasis on the app.
app blueprint
value prop canvas
Outcome
Our final outcome is the 'NCAD APPlication guide' app! The downloadable link to the app can be found on the current NCAD website under the 'undergraduate' or 'study at NCAD' tab, it would also be promoted at open days. Once the user downloads and opens the app they will have the option to make an account ensuring their data won't be lost before being directed to the home page.
Our home/directory page includes links to each section of the app including:
- a list of helpful videos on how to upload your digital portfolio step by step on NCAD's preexisting platform
- videos of accepted portfolios as a source of inspiration
- a list of deadlines and key info (as seen in an above chart) eg. HEAR/DARE, CAO and NCAD portfolio application deadlines
- course descriptions of all art and design courses offered at NCAD
- portfolio requirements (laid out clearly all in one page)
- digital planner (where students can input their own schedule for portfolio piece making)
- link to a pdf of the portfolio planner (so students who prefer writing physically can print the paper version too)
- push notifications are enabled to send regular reminders on upcoming deadlines so the user is prepared to submit all necessary documents on time.
Benefit
Our app addresses and eliminates the pain points students with ADHD currently encounter as it helps improve organisation and time management skills through deadline notifications and a ready made portfolio planner. Being in digital app form it is available anywhere, anytime. Furthermore, all writing in the app will be offered in short sentences/paragraphs keeping it straight to the point and quick and easy to read, we would also include text to speech options, and accessible fonts and colours, also the step by step guidance videos will offer closed captions.
Considering it currently takes on average 12 clicks and many tabs for a prospective student to visit one of the portfolio information pages on NCAD's current website, offering all the necessary information for all prospective students once they click open on our app is hugely beneficial.
Video