3 screens showcasing different stages of a user dashboard

My Role:

Lead Product Designer

Branding Designer

UX Research and Strategy

 GradConnector

Reimagining the Graduate Education Ecosystem

 

Overview

GradConnector is a digital platform designed to streamline the graduate education ecosystem by connecting learners, universities, and employers. It provides a comprehensive, one-stop solution to address the needs of all stakeholders involved in the graduate education journey.

 

Student and institution dashboards

 

Student Experience

Students face challenges in finding resources and tools that support their entire graduate school journey—from initial consideration to graduation. Existing assessments and processes are often outdated, making it difficult for students to highlight their skills and qualifications effectively.

Solutions

Dynamic Onboarding

During onboarding, users give information in a seamless and relatable way, and by doing so, they become familiarized with the platform and personalize the experience before they land on their dashboard.

 
 

Student Profile

Students create dynamic profiles that evolve with their progress through the graduate journey. The platform provides tailored resources and tools at each stage—whether they're researching schools, navigating the application process, gathering documents, or making decisions about their programs.

 
 

Personalized Search

Students can utilize advanced search features to find schools based on a comprehensive set of attributes.

 
 

Application Process

Our research revealed that a major student pain point is the need to gather documents and apply across multiple platforms with differing requirements. By pulling from previously provided information, this platform minimizes redundancy in the application process.

 
 

Other Features

 

Institution Experience

Universities seek to access a diverse and qualified pool of candidates but struggle with traditional, often inequitable methods of review and selection. They need a more holistic approach to evaluate applicants.

Solutions

Student Search

GradConnector enables institutions to explore various methods for finding new students, creating a more human-centered application process that considers both academic qualifications and soft skills. By allowing institutions to build an ideal candidate profile and adjust the importance of different criteria, GradConnector helps identify a more compatible match overall.

 
 

Application Review

Reviewing applications can be a significant challenge for institutions.GradConnector enables institutions to track all applicants’ progress, review applications, and request additional documents to enhance a student’s application. GradConnector also supports informed decision-making by providing a centralized platform to manage the entire application process, from initial review to final decision, ensuring a more organized and effective admissions experience.

 
 

Design Process

Discovery and Research

Our project began with an extensive discovery phase, which included:

  • Stakeholder Interviews: We engaged with ETS and conducted interviews with target users to understand their needs and pain points.

  • Co-Creation Workshops: These workshops helped identify priority user groups, focusing on those facing the most significant barriers to improve the overall student experience.

 
 
 
 

  • Persona Development: Based on our research, we developed detailed personas for both students and institutions.

  • Competitive Analysis: We analyzed 15 different products and services that serve students throughout their graduate journey, from consideration to graduation, to understand existing solutions and identify gaps.

Iterations

The design process involved several iterations:

  1. Concept Testing: We initially developed two concepts and tested them with students to gather feedback on preferences and identify UX gaps.

  2. Design Refinement: Based on feedback, we applied two different look-and-feel approaches and conducted another round of user testing.

 
 

Pilot Launch

  1. Development: We developed the GradConnector pilot over two months, incorporating the chosen UX concept and UI direction.

  2. Pilot Testing: The pilot was tested with users to gather actionable feedback and make further recommendations for improvement.

Not a Happy Ending :(

Despite the positive feedback and valuable insights gained, the project concluded after the pilot phase due to changes in ETS stakeholder priorities and budget reallocation. However, this project remains a significant highlight in my design career, showcasing a successful integration of user-centered design and innovative solutions.