Roles: User research / service design / design strategy / brand design / experience design / UI/UX design / interaction design / information architect / visual design / design system contributor
In collaboration with the Government of Ireland's Department of Public Expenditure and NDP Delivery and Reform (DPENDR), we were tasked with supporting students in their journey of lifelong learning. Together with my team, we worked on empowering students as they make their transition into higher education. One of the most important decisions that students must make is which college course to take, but the existing system frequently leaves them feeling confused, overwhelmed, and unsupported. Grad Link was created to fill this gap by offering a user-friendly and student-focused approach to choosing courses.
Research
We put down our initial thoughts about the education system, and gaps we already knew existed or specific points that stood out to us so as to find our initial footing and figure out which aspects of this transition needed the most focus. We looked at all forms of development, like emotional, economic, social and personal, that affect an aspiring students' decision making process as well as other factors that could potentially influence their choices.
We conducted primary research with students in colleges across Dublin through interviews and user journey maps. They mapped their experiences of applying to higher education institutes, talking us through their frustrations, aspirations and changes that they hoped to see in the system.
The probes allowed users to map their journey from the stage of looking into courses, colleges and application processes all the way to their current year of study, which helped us identify where they struggled most and what aspects of the process were hardest for them
We gathered quotes and common themes we recognised, and started putting together our key insights that we were able to see from the different interviews and the maps we received from our participants.
We were able to identify the following gaps in the current processes from our interviews and probes. We felt these would be essential to improve so as to make the transition to higher education easier for aspiring students:
• Scattered information
• Neglects the variety of career options and pathways that students have
• Lack of appropriate career guidance
• No accurate insight into the actual course experience
The impact of lack of proper insight into courses, led to the rise of issues like:
• Higher drop out rates as students
lack insight into the reality of college academics and courses
lack insight into the reality of college academics and courses
• Misaligned workforce as students don’t know about new job roles or fields to match industry needs
• Higher stress and anxiety on students
“If my sister hadn’t been doing the course here, I would’ve felt really in the dark during my application process–I was lucky she could guide me”
How might we help students feel informed and supported in their education journey through real experiences, clear guidance, and connections with those who’ve gone through similar paths?
We created personas based on our research and interviews, which reflected some common challenges and desires of our target user group. We also created a scenario to depict our proposed solution and to envision how it would fit into their application process and support their transition into higher education.
Our solution
The solution came in the form of a guided platform that would help students make the right decisions according to their different situation, and no matter where they are in the decision making process. GradLink is a digital platform designed to guide students through their higher education journey.
From the moment they begin exploring their options, GradLink offers a personalised and intuitive experience. By connecting users with mentors who’ve taken similar paths and providing real student insights, it helps them feel supported and informed. Whether they’re confident in their choices or completely unsure, GradLink empowers students to explore real stories, compare pathways, and see where their interests could lead, all through one clear, accessible space.
Design Language and Style Guide
We opted for a vibrant and engaging colour palette, paired with minimal UI elements to avoid confusing users. The design of the landing page was inspired by the idea that a simple dropdown menu would be the easiest way for students to access guidance relevant to their situation.
Please note that the avatars made for the platform were created using Notion's avatar creation platform: faces.notion.com/ and are not illustrations created by me.
We also envisioned a few physical touch points which would drive awareness of the platform itself. This was in the form of postcards that could be placed in public or school libraries, and distributed in guidance counsellors' offices.
As well as posters which would be positioned in spaces like bus stops near schools or universities, areas which would be highly visible to aspiring and current students.
This project was carried out as part of my course with National College of Art & Design and was in done collaboration with and under the mentorship and reviewal of the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery & Reform (DPENDR), Government of Ireland.
