Problem
The typical application process is tedious and can be a complicated process. This is even more true for educational programs and non-profits that are understaffed, over-serviced, and/or have low technological resources. This leads to an overwhelming amount of communication problems, lag time in the application process, and overall complications with program operations.
Process
Working with the educational program, Odyssey, I conducted one-on-one user interviews with parents, students, and staff members to find the pain points of Odyssey’s application process. Digital and physical card sorting activities were completed to understand the positive and negative aspects of their application structure. Physical sketches, user flows, and A/B testing were utilized throughout several iterations to arrive to the final prototype: Apply.
Users
It was agreed upon that the primary persona be the parents of students because the organizations and school systems need them and their children in order to function. The secondary persona includes the administrators of the organizations, as their pain points are significant, but are not vital to solve for the continuing operations of the programs.
Solution
The goal of Apply is to streamline the application and communication process for educational and non-profit programs through a responsive digital platform. Through Apply, applicants and organizations can seamlessly accomplish their onboarding goals, allowing them to focus on the important information in a timely manner.