ANU UX PROJECT
Overview
I completed an RMIT online course in User Experience Design, where students worked through the stages of a UX project, moving from a problem to prototype in a few weeks. I selected a digital system that I was very familiar and frustrated with and used UX design frameworks and tools to deliver a mid-fidelity clickable prototype, which I intend to continue to build and refine. See my Miro board where I documented my process over the six weeks.
Product
I selected the Australian National University (ANU) course enrolment process. For a current student to enrol in courses each semester, they must use several different platforms:
1. ANU Programs and Courses website where information about degrees and courses is displayed
2. Interactive Student Information System (ISIS) where students can enrol in their courses
3. Timetable Viewer where students can view the timetables for each course next semester.
4. For some degrees, students may have to access the website of their college to view specific requirements for their degree.
Problem
My initial understanding of the problem was based on my own experience and informal research (conversations with other students).
The current process is complex, confusing and frustrating for students
Ambiguity of study options can lead students to make mistakes in enrolments, such as enrolling in the wrong classes or completing courses in the wrong order
There is no system in place to prevent them from enrolling in the wrong courses or to alert students when they have made mistakes
This can result in students completing unnecessary courses, failing courses, and having to delay their graduation
Students often require face-to-face meetings with administration to clarify information and assist in the enrolment process, however, the process to secure a meeting is difficult in itself, deterring many students from seeking assistance
Research
My research consisted of user interviews and contextual inquiries to understand the way users currently select and enrol in courses and identify the most important pain points.
 |  |
|---|
Top Insights
Students are uncertain and confused about which courses they must take to complete their degree
The unofficial timetable is preferred over the official ANU timetable
All students have required assistance from admin (e.g. a meeting)
Students dislike how many platforms they must use
Concept
The concept I chose to design was a user profile on the Programs and Courses site that tracks the student’s study history and provides a personalised degree plan. I started by making some paper sketches and then moved into simple wireframes. I then created a basic clickable prototype. Click on my wireframes below to see them in full, or scroll down and watch the video to see a presentation of my work.
Next Steps
I had several ideas for how to improve the current ANU system, but for the purpose of this short project, I only developed one. I’d like to further explore and refine this concept, while also incorporating my other ideas and acting on more user feedback. I will continue to conduct usability testing and iterating outside of the RMIT course. This is a project I’m passionate about and would like to see become a reality. I will continue to conduct research to quantify the problem for ANU and build a strong business case.