Project

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Project

Testimonials

About

Resume

Saga

Introducing Saga - All in one assisting app designed to make the cross-cultural transition for international students a seamless and enjoyable experience.
Saga is a comprehensive travel app that provides a range of features to support international students as they navigate the unfamiliar cultural landscape of their host country. From finding housing and transportation to discovering local events and customs, Saga provides the information and support needed to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Tools

Tools

Tools

Workflow

UX Research
UI Design 
End to end pipeline
Usability Testing

Project vision

The vision for our interactive assistive app for international students is to create a solution that simplifies the cross-cultural transition process and enhances the overall study abroad experience. Our goal is to empower international students with the tools, resources, and support they need to navigate their host country with confidence, ease, and independence.
As a designer, my workflow included Conducting thorough research on the target audience to understand their needs, pain points, and preferences. This includes surveys, interviews, and user testing. followed by user personas, user journeys, and wireframes to visualize the app's user interface and user flow. Create high-fidelity mockups and prototypes of the app's user interface, taking into account user experience, accessibility, and branding. Iterate on the design based on feedback from user testing and stakeholders.
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Home

Home

Discovery phase

A comprehensive understanding and mapping of the various challenges, issues, and pain points that exist within the external stakeholders.
In the context of designing an app, the problem landscape might encompass a range of issues such as.

70%

70%

of international students struggle to find the right guidance when seeking advice on their cross-cultural transition. With the Saga app, I aim to bridge this gap and provide a reliable platform for students to connect with mentors and access valuable resources for a smoother journey.

60%

60%

of international students believe that overcoming culture shock and acclimating to their new environment would significantly enhance their academic performance.

Research analysis

Primary research
I conducted an online survey as part of my primary research for the Saga app to gain direct insights from potential users their experiences, challenges, and preferences are pivotal in shaping the app's functionality and features.
Examining both primary and secondary research allowed me to construct  personas that encapsulates the motivations, pain points, and tasks that the target audience faces.

Personas

Age: 25

Gender: male

Location: India

Background :• Belongs to a well-educated family.• Recently planning to travel to the united kingdom to pursue his post-graduation in medicine. Going to travel first time overseas.• Well up to date in recent news and happenings.• Consulting agencies to make travel plans and shifting easier.

Scenario:Peter sought assistance from a travel agency for his visa and post-graduate admission process. However, he ended up paying more than necessary due to a lack of knowledge about the process. Upon arriving in the UK, Peter faced challenges adjusting to the different systems and higher costs associated with travel agencies. He encountered difficulties obtaining a Biometric Residence Permit, opening a bank account, and finding nearby accommodation options. Unlike in India, he found a lack of readily available reliable information to rely on for these essential tasks.

Peter

Age: 25

Gender: male

Location: India

Background :• Belongs to a well-educated family.• Recently planning to travel to the united kingdom to pursue his post-graduation in medicine. Going to travel first time overseas.• Well up to date in recent news and happenings.• Consulting agencies to make travel plans and shifting easier.

Scenario:Peter sought assistance from a travel agency for his visa and post-graduate admission process. However, he ended up paying more than necessary due to a lack of knowledge about the process. Upon arriving in the UK, Peter faced challenges adjusting to the different systems and higher costs associated with travel agencies. He encountered difficulties obtaining a Biometric Residence Permit, opening a bank account, and finding nearby accommodation options. Unlike in India, he found a lack of readily available reliable information to rely on for these essential tasks.

Peter

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Age:28

Gender: Female

Location: China

Background : • Undergraduate in Product design• Having a condition called cystic fibrosis which is a genetic related to lungs which needs a constant need of medication, treatment and checkups.• Consults doctor twice in a month for constant checkup.• Financially stable family able to provide care and support for her condition.

Scenario: Moving to a new location away from the comfort zone and from the care of her family was a huge step. There was a need for extensive research on how the medical system worked in United kingdom compared to China. Being a well developed country the medical system is well structured other than China. But coming from China it was difficult to know where you can access and get proper facilities for continuous checkups. Accessing communities with the same condition to have a mental and professional support is being difficult. Investing more time to gather the information related to her condition and way of living in the host country and structuring the information for her need was the hectic stuff she had to deal.

Mei

Age:28

Gender: Female

Location: China

Background : • Undergraduate in Product design• Having a condition called cystic fibrosis which is a genetic related to lungs which needs a constant need of medication, treatment and checkups.• Consults doctor twice in a month for constant checkup.• Financially stable family able to provide care and support for her condition.

Scenario: Moving to a new location away from the comfort zone and from the care of her family was a huge step. There was a need for extensive research on how the medical system worked in United kingdom compared to China. Being a well developed country the medical system is well structured other than China. But coming from China it was difficult to know where you can access and get proper facilities for continuous checkups. Accessing communities with the same condition to have a mental and professional support is being difficult. Investing more time to gather the information related to her condition and way of living in the host country and structuring the information for her need was the hectic stuff she had to deal.

Mei

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I conducted primary research and performed both qualitative and quantitative analyses to gain comprehensive insights. Through this process, I was able to identify and frame the core issues and user needs for the app. This data-driven approach provided a solid foundation for understanding the key challenges and opportunities that will guide the development process.

User journey map

I employed a user journey from the valuable insights and pain points derived from the user interviews. This visual narrative effectively portrays the experience of international students, providing a clear roadmap for addressing their specific needs and challenges.

Concept design

Generating idea using brainstorming methods and creating key UIs.
Core design objectives
  • Simplifying Cross-Cultural Transition
  • Personalization for Individual Needs
  • Comprehensive Range of Services
  • Enhancing Study Abroad Experience
  • Accessibility and Ease of Use
  • Cultural Sensitivity Considerations
  • Security and Privacy Measures
  • Continuous Improvement and Feedback Integration
Design principles
  • User-Centered Design
  • Personalization
  • Simplicity
  • Scalability
  • Continuous Improvement
Ideation
  • Language Learning Hub: In-app language courses, daily vocabulary, and cultural expressions to help students adapt to their new environment.
  • Interactive Campus Map: A detailed map with navigation features, highlighting key campus locations, classrooms, libraries, and student services
  • Local Events Calendar: A curated calendar showcasing cultural events, festivals, and gatherings happening in the host city.
  • Emergency Assistance Locator: Integration with local emergency services, providing students with quick access to help in urgent situations.
  • Mental Health Resources: Access to mental health services, resources, and support groups for students dealing with emotional challenges.
  • Budgeting and Financial Tips: Tools to track expenses, budget effectively, and find cost-saving tips for students on a budget.
  • Travel Planner: Itinerary suggestions, transportation options, and tips for exploring nearby attractions and landmarks.
  • Feedback and Improvement Portal: A dedicated section for users to provide feedback, report issues, and suggest enhancements to the app.

Information architecture

Lo-fi wireframes

Brand guidelines

Concept user interfaces

Outcomes

The outcome of the Saga app project was a transformative user-centric experience, placing international students at the forefront of the design. This resulted in a seamless and intuitive platform tailored to their unique needs during cross-cultural transition
Retrospective
Working on the Saga app taught me a lot about the importance of understanding the user demographic in design. I realized that a successful product is a blend of great design, solid engineering, and smart strategy.
I also learned how crucial it is to use data to guide design decisions. This project gave me the chance to work closely with cross functional teams, which helped me grasp both front-end and back-end technologies.
Overall, Saga was a hands-on lesson in teamwork and the power of designing with the user in mind, especially for international students going through a big transition.