Shift
Date
September 2023
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Role
UX Design & Research​
Tools
Figma, Canva, Otter.ai
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Duration
8 Weeks
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Designed for
IOS
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Objective
The objective of this research is to identify effective ways to empower at-risk high school students with knowledge about career and education pathways in order to help them make informed decisions about their future.
One in five Ontario youth face poverty and limited resources, impacting academic success and higher education. Mentoring programs offer benefits, recognized by 95% of grade 4-12 teachers. At-risk students in Ontario mentoring programs are 68% more likely to pursue post-secondary education and 84% less likely to engage in risky behaviours. Empowering students with knowledge about career and education pathways is crucial. This case study researches at-risk high school students in Ontario and their potential to improve their chances for success.
Shift empowers at-risk high school students by providing them with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions about their future. Our platform is designed to guide students through the crucial stages of their educational and career journey, offering comprehensive support in the following areas:
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Guidance and Course Selection: Shift helps students navigate their academic path by offering personalized guidance and course selection recommendations. We understand that each student's needs and interests are unique, and we tailor our advice to help them excel academically.
Career Exploration and Planning: With Shift, students can explore a wide range of career options and create a strategic plan to achieve their professional goals. We provide valuable insights into various career paths, helping students make informed decisions about their future.
1. Secondary Research
One in five Ontario youth face poverty and limited resources, impacting academic success and higher education.
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Campaign 2000's Ontario Child Poverty Report Card 2020
Only 54% of Ontario high school graduates from low-income neighbourhoods enrolled in post-secondary education in 2016, compared to 82% of graduates from high-income neighbourhoods.​
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Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (2019).
Students from lower socio-economic backgrounds and racialized students were less likely to apply for university or college, even if they had the academic qualifications.​
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Toronto District School Board (2019), "Student Census 2019":
2. Interview Insights
Conducting semi-structured interviews with three at-risk high school students allowed me to identify valuable patterns and insights concerning our users. These participants, who face various challenges such as poverty, low academic achievement, low self-esteem, mental health challenges, and other factors that can impact their ability to succeed in school or make informed decisions about their future, shared their stories and experiences.
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Each of these interviews provided a window into the unique struggles and aspirations of at-risk high school students. They openly discussed their educational journeys, career aspirations, and the hurdles they face on their path to success. These insights serve as a foundation for the development of our platform, which aims to empower at-risk students with the guidance and resources they need to achieve their educational and career goals.
Affinity Map: Plotting all interview insights and themes
Lack of Guidance
"I don't really know what I want to do after high school. Nobody really talks to me about that stuff."
"I haven't received much guidance on career or education options. It's like nobody cares if I succeed or not."
"I feel like the school just wants us to graduate and move on, they don't really help us plan for the future."
Limited
Awareness of
Options
"I don't know what careers are out there besides the ones my family and friends have."
"I never thought about going to college until a friend mentioned it. I didn't even know what majors were."
"I didn't realize there were so many different types of jobs in the field I'm interested in."
Lack of
Confidence
"I don't know if I'm smart enough or have the skills to do anything besides what I'm doing now."
"I'm scared to take risks and try new things because I don't want to fail."
"I don't want to
disappoint my family or myself by not succeeding."
Uncertainty and
Anxiety
"I'm scared of not knowing what I want to do. I feel like I have to figure it out right now or I'll be behind."
"I don't even know what's out there. I don't know what my options are."
"It's overwhelming to think about the future. I feel like I'll need more support."
Need for Support
"It would be nice to have someone to talk to about my future and get advice from."
"I wish there were more programs or resources available to help me explore my options."
"I feel like I'm on my own to figure everything out and it's overwhelming."
Lack of Resources for Career Exploration
"I feel like I don't have enough information about careers that are out there and how to get into them."
"They don't really tell us much about careers in school. I feel like I have to figure everything out on my own."
"I don't really know what i want to do after high school. Nobody really talks to me about that stuff."
Interview Insights
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Limited Career Guidance & Resources: Students often feel lost and overwhelmed due to a lack of structured support in career exploration.​​
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Future Uncertainty & Anxiety: Many struggle with the pressure of making major career decisions without adequate guidance.​​
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Need for Personalized Support: Students seek tailored advice that aligns with their unique interests and goals to boost confidence in their choices.​​
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Role of Digital Tools: Accessible and interactive digital resources are essential for providing personalized career exploration support.
Persona
I used my interview findings and research to shape the persona for this project. This persona helps me better understand the user I'm designing for.
Roseanne is a hardworking and driven 17-year-old high school student living in a low-income community with her parents and younger brother. Despite facing several challenges that impact her ability to explore and plan for her future, Roseanne is determined to pursue higher education and achieve her career goals. She recognizes the importance of digital tools and resources but feels like she lacks guidance and resources for career exploration and the lack of personalized guidance. Despite these obstacles, Roseanne remains motivated to overcome them and find the support and resources she needs to succeed.
"I need guidance through the process of planning for my future. It's overwhelming trying to navigate everything on my own, and I don't want to make the wrong choices."
Pain Points
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Lack of guidance and resources for career exploration
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Uncertainty and anxiety about the future
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Desire for personalized guidance and support
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Limited access to digital tools and resources
Behaviours
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Researches potential career paths and higher education opportunities online
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Seeks advice and guidance from school counselors and teachers
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Works hard to maintain good grades and academic performance
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Takes on part-time jobs to support herself and contribute to her family's finances
Motivation
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Desire to pursue higher education and achieve her career goals
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Determination to overcome the challenges she faces
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Aspiration to improve her family's financial situation and provide a better life for them
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Passion for helping others and making a positive impact on her community
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Long-term vision of building a successful and fulfilling career
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Ambition to learn new skills and expand her knowledge
Hope for a better future and the opportunities it may bring
Goal
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Strives to be independent and take control of her future despite challenges
Experience Map
3. Sketches to Mid-Fi Wireframes
Homepage
My Courses
School and Career Search
4. Usability Testing
Round One Conclusion:
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Fix the glitch in the accordion component to ensure it closes properly.
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Provide clear and intuitive instructions or visual cues for saving inputs, making it easier for the user to understand the process.
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Enhance the user interface for entering marks, ensuring it is intuitive and user-friendly.
By addressing these issues and improving the user interface, the overall user experience can be enhanced, leading to smoother navigation, reduced frustration, and increased user satisfaction.
Round Two Conclusion:
By addressing these findings and enhancing the user interface, we can significantly elevate the overall user experience. This improvement will result in more seamless navigation, decreased user frustration, and heightened user satisfaction.
Taskflow - Add Grade
5. Visual Brand Identity
Why I chose the name "Shift"?
Shift
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Verb - To move or change position: Shift can also mean to move or transfer something or someone from one place, position, or state to another. It implies a transition or alteration in location, direction, or arrangement.
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While the other words on the list have their own merits, "Shift" specifically conveys the essence of transformation and growth that is central to career and education planning, making it a strong name for an app targeting students in this context.
Moodboard
#7966FE: This color is a shade of blue with a mix of purple undertones. Blue is often associated with qualities like trust, stability, calmness, and intelligence. Purple, on the other hand, is linked to creativity, spirituality, and ambition. Combining these traits, #7966FE may evoke a sense of intellect, creativity, and serenity.
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#9FB7FE: This color is a lighter shade of blue, leaning towards a pastel hue. Light blue shades are commonly associated with tranquility, clarity, and open-mindedness. This particular color may suggest a calm and receptive atmosphere, fostering an environment of learning, understanding, and exploration.
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#F1EFFA: This color is a pale shade of lavender or lilac. Lavender typically represents elegance, grace, and femininity. It is often associated with calmness, harmony, and introspection. #F1EFFA may convey a sense of gentle sophistication, peacefulness, and introspective qualities.
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Integrating these shades into my moodboard adds depth and meaning to the app's visual appeal, enhancing the overall user experience.
Colour Theme
Wordmarks
Full Colour
Font: Syncopate
#9FB7FE
#7966FE
Dark Mode
#FFFFFF
#9FB7FE
Application Icon
Typeface
Primary Typeface: SF Compact Round
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SF Compact font is specifically designed for legibility on small screens and offers a clean, compact, and space-efficient design. It comes in various weights, making it versatile for Ul elements like buttons, labels, and headings. Its clarity, space optimization, and compatibility makes it an excellent choice for Ul design.
Aa
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh li Jj Kk LI Mm Nn 0o Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
0123456789
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SF Compact Round
Accessibility
Shift strives to meet WCAG level AA Standards
