Course Enrollment App
Course Enrollment App
Time
Time
Mar, 2024 - Apr, 2024
Mar, 2024 - Apr, 2024
Duration
Duration
1 month
1 month
Tools
Tools
Figma
Figma
Role
Role
Research, Design System, Information Architecture, Prototyping, Interaction Design
Research, Design System, Information Architecture, Prototyping, Interaction Design
Design Goal
Design Goal
“What improvements can I bring to the course enrolling process for students and make it more efficient?”
“What improvements can I bring to the course enrolling process for students and make it more efficient?”
Until now, CUNY(City University of New York) students still get courses enrolled on the CUNYFirst website. The “schedule builder”(Class enrollment tool) is an essential feature for all students and the main feature of the website.
Until now, CUNY(City University of New York) students still get courses enrolled on the CUNYFirst website. The “schedule builder”(Class enrollment tool) is an essential feature for all students and the main feature of the website.
However, the enrollment system has a couple major downsides affecting efficiency and adding unnecessary cost of time. It’s somehow inconvenience at the same time since the CUNYfirst website is the only approach to the enrollment feature. Therefore, I aim to bring the whole system to the mobile platform and redesign it with solutions addressing existing issues.
However, the enrollment system has a couple major downsides affecting efficiency and adding unnecessary cost of time. It’s somehow inconvenience at the same time since the CUNYfirst website is the only approach to the enrollment feature. Therefore, I aim to bring the whole system to the mobile platform and redesign it with solutions addressing existing issues.
Research
Research
Interviews with users
Interviews with users
The current navigation can be confusing, users are many clicks away from accessing the actual tool.
Search results don’t stay on display, making the process of “search-choose-add to schedule” replicating and unavoidable.
The “enroll” action can’t be done until an entire schedule is finished, which can be made more flexible.
Class enrolling is overall time consuming.
The current navigation can be confusing, users are many clicks away from accessing the actual tool.
Search results don’t stay on display, making the process of “search-choose-add to schedule” replicating and unavoidable.
The “enroll” action can’t be done until an entire schedule is finished, which can be made more flexible.
Class enrolling is overall time consuming.
User Insights
User Insights
Due to time constraints, research opportunities was relatively limited, I went into very brief interviews with students around campus, asking them brief and open-ended questions for any possible inputs. As an overall result, these interviewees generally have negative evaluations to the current enrollment system.
Due to time constraints, research opportunities was relatively limited, I went into very brief interviews with students around campus, asking them brief and open-ended questions for any possible inputs. As an overall result, these interviewees generally have negative evaluations to the current enrollment system.
Due to time constraints, research opportunities was relatively limited, I went into very brief interviews with students around campus, asking them brief and open-ended questions for any possible inputs. As an overall result, these interviewees generally have negative evaluations to the current enrollment system.
As that progressed, I was able to conduct formal interviews with a few students at the same time, and gathered valuable insights.
As that progressed, I was able to conduct formal interviews with a few students at the same time, and gathered valuable insights.
Define Problems
Define Problems
By analyzing user insights, I was able to understand the system, most importantly its pain points better. I then summarized things into major issues that seek further solutions.
By analyzing user insights, I was able to understand the system, most importantly its pain points better. I then summarized things into major issues that seek further solutions.
Current User Flow Chart
Current User Flow Chart
Problem#1 Confusing Navigation
Problem#1 Confusing Navigation
According to the current user flow chart, it requires users to click onto at least 3 pages before they can enter the “schedule builder”. As much as I understand that CUNYfirst serves as a platform integrating all the resources students need; with better organizing, improved efficiency can only be beneficial.
According to the current user flow chart, it requires users to click onto at least 3 pages before they can enter the “schedule builder”. As much as I understand that CUNYfirst serves as a platform integrating all the resources students need; with better organizing, improved efficiency can only be beneficial.
Problem#2 Repeated Enrolling Process
Problem#2 Repeated Enrolling Process
Users have to perform the maximum amount of actions to achieve their goal. For example: a average student wanting to get 5 regular courses for a semester would have to go though a process of “search a course → choose a course → select sub-courses → add to schedule” repeatedly for at least5 times only if they already know for sure what they want for their classes. Going back and forth isn’t avoidable, but the amount of time can be reduced, amplified and be less frustrating.
Users have to perform the maximum amount of actions to achieve their goal. For example: a average student wanting to get 5 regular courses for a semester would have to go though a process of “search a course → choose a course → select sub-courses → add to schedule” repeatedly for at least5 times only if they already know for sure what they want for their classes. Going back and forth isn’t avoidable, but the amount of time can be reduced, amplified and be less frustrating.
Initial Design
Initial Design
Moving on, I crafted the initial design for the App, and made the enrolling feature a standalone application.
Moving on, I crafted the initial design for the App, and made the enrolling feature a standalone application.
Home page
Search
Search Results
Schedule
User Testing
User Testing
I tested with participants that are real users of the feature, and gathered insights towards the existing design. I understood some of their strong needs:
I tested with participants that are real users of the feature, and gathered insights towards the existing design. I understood some of their strong needs:
a organized view of essential course information
a more intuitive and interactive calendar
a prioritized feed of the newest course related announcements
a organized view of essential course information
a more intuitive and interactive calendar
a prioritized feed of the newest course related announcements
Final Design
Final Design
After iterating on the users’ feedback, I prototyped the final design of the App.
After iterating on the users’ feedback, I prototyped the final design of the App.
Home page
Search
Search Results
Calendar
(Alternative View)
Calendar
Expanded Details
Expanded Details
Solutions
Solutions
In the final design, the 2 problems addressed above were solved.
In the final design, the 2 problems addressed above were solved.
Current User Flow Chart
New User Flow Chart
Solution#1
Solution#1
The navigation of the App was very much simplified to keep only the essentials, efficiency was high raised comparing to the complex navigation of the CUNYfirst website.
The navigation of the App was very much simplified to keep only the essentials, efficiency was high raised comparing to the complex navigation of the CUNYfirst website.
Solution#2
Solution#2
Search results now stay shown until any further actions are made, so users can easily browse through all the related courses, and modify search results with conspicuous filters on top. Saving a lot of time and efforts in the process.
Search results now stay shown until any further actions are made, so users can easily browse through all the related courses, and modify search results with conspicuous filters on top. Saving a lot of time and efforts in the process.
Figma Flow
Figma Flow
