Problem

First-year, undergraduate international students at OCADU struggled to navigate the campus community during COVID, leading to anxiety and a lack of belonging. Our team was tasked with finding a solution that would support these students in navigating information and social connections.

Through our research and analysis, we identified several key themes that needed to be addressed in order to create an effective solution. These included the importance of human connection, the need for a physical and virtual safe space, and the potential incorporation of play or music into our solution.

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Solution

Our team developed a mobile application that would allow first year international students at OCADU to feel more connected to the campus community. The app included features such as a chat function for connecting with other students on campus and a virtual "safe" space where students could connect if desired.

In addition, we incorporated elements of play into our solution by including gamified challenges related to exploring different parts of the campus. We also included a feature that allowed students to listen to music curated by other members of the OCADU community.

Team

Team Member #1 - UX Designer
- Designed the user experience for the app, incorporating elements of play and human connection
- Conducted user testing to ensure the app was meeting the needs of its target audience
Team Member #2 - Mobile Developer
- Built and maintained the mobile application, ensuring it was functional and user-friendly
- Incorporated feedback from other team members and user testing to improve the app over time

App Boosts Connection for International Students