Intigo

Intigo

1. Prototype link (Please submit a link to a playable prototype, not a link to your design file)

2. Describe your project (max 150 words)

International students often find themselves navigating life decisions alone. With challenges like visas, those who wish to stay in the US are left to figure out numerous issues without proper support. Our app, Intigo, aims to address the problems faced by international college students in the US who struggle to find a community that focuses on the uncertainties surrounding employment opportunities and legal issues post-graduation. Through Intigo, users can connect with the right community to ask or answer questions about visas, green cards, resumes, careers, and financial matters. Additionally, users can engage in direct chats with others to discuss specific topics or visit the resources tab for general information on key subjects. Especially for those whose school lacks resources or does not know other international students, Intigo is the perfect app for finding a community catered to one of the biggest problems International students face.

3. Describe your research process and findings. If you conducted any surveys or interviews, please include the survey form and/or interview questions here. If you conducted secondary research by pulling from online sources, please include a link to your sources. (Max 500 words)

We began by pinpointing a niche yet crucial aspect of common challenges faced by college students. Following extensive discussions and brainstorming sessions, we ultimately chose to delve into the difficulties experienced by international students in establishing a sense of community.

We initiated our analysis by conducting a competitive analysis, focusing on the existing solutions in the market. One notable platform we explored was the r/InternationalStudents subreddit on Reddit. This online community serves as a space for individuals to delve into their interests and passions related to international student experiences. However, our observations revealed three significant issues with the current solution:

Unorganized Posts: The lack of tagging or filtering options inhibits the ability to efficiently scan information, especially for users seeking specific details such as visa/immigration issues.
User Inactivity: Despite being ranked in the top 10% for its size among other subreddits, this subreddit exhibits a limited level of engagement. Most posts received a maximum of 5 comments and often had zero or only one reaction and comment in the past 24 hours.
Cultural and Personal Differences: The anonymity on Reddit prevents users from discerning the ethnicity or background of the authors or commenters. While this anonymity may seem advantageous, it poses a challenge for international students seeking information that could apply to themselves, as experiences vary significantly based on country of origin and personal circumstances.

In order to refine and tailor our application to a more specific niche, we conducted a survey to identify the most prevalent challenges encountered by international students. This survey received 36 responses from undergraduate international students, and you can access the results through this link.

To sum it up, 97.2% of the participants expressed a desire to remain in the U.S. after graduation for employment opportunities, and 69.4% identified employment prospects and visa/immigration challenges as the foremost issues faced by international students. In response to these findings, we have chosen to refine our target audience and streamline the available categories in our community tab.

In conclusion, we conducted 15-minute user interviews with three international students to gather qualitative insights. The results indicated that these students, or those within their networks, face challenges in finding appropriate resources and communities to address job and immigration issues in the U.S. Moreover, they expressed frustration with the limited guidance offered by their university's international student office. There was a unanimous consensus on the need for a platform that fosters connections among international students, enabling them to pose and address questions related to these concerns.

4. Describe your most important design decisions. What research findings and/or user testing results led you to make these decisions? (Max 500 words)**

The name of our app, Intigo, stemmed from brainstorming ways to combine "international" with a unique twist. We instantly thought of incorporating the color indigo into the concept and began building our visual color themes from there. This decision was supported by research indicating a positive association of indigo with international themes, validated through user testing to ensure resonance with the target audience.

When seeking inspiration for Intigo, we extensively explored multiple categories, including community apps, habit-tracking apps, Reddit, and Discord. Our interest in posting questions on Reddit, choosing interests on community apps, and engaging in direct conversations on Discord influenced our decision to amalgamate these features into one platform. This approach was driven by user testing, which highlighted the preferences of international students and the value they placed on these specific features.

However, our team faced a significant challenge when, nearing completion of our mobile app, we realized dissatisfaction with the design. Initial user testing revealed issues with post formatting and profile layouts. To address this, we transitioned from lines separating posts to a card format, providing better visual distinction and a fresher feel. Research also led us to widen the spacing of the body copy, offering a cleaner and more breathable user experience.

In the profile design, our decision to leave-align user information and simplify the layout was prompted by feedback and testing. Initial central alignment created an unflattering triangle shape, prompting us to align with the natural way English speakers read and remove unnecessary details, such as headers and excess user activity information. This redesign aimed to enhance the overall sleekness and user-friendliness of the app.

These design decisions reflect our commitment to creating Intigo based on a thorough understanding of user needs, preferences, and iterative testing. The app strives to provide a visually appealing and user-friendly experience, addressing the challenges faced by international students and fostering a supportive community.