UniFi UW: UX Case Study
Overview
UniFi UW Prototype Link: Click me
Timeline: Autumn 2025
Role: UX Designer, Researcher
Team: 5 members
Tools: Figma, User Interviews, Prototyping
UniFi UW is a concept platform designed to help University of Washington students manage fragmented campus information and reduce cognitive overload.
Problem
University students often receive information from multiple sources—emails, social media, and school platforms—leading to:
- Information overload
- Missed deadlines
- Difficulty prioritizing tasks
Goal
Design a centralized, intuitive platform that helps students:
- Easily access relevant information
- Stay on top of deadlines
- Reduce cognitive load
Research
We applied a Value-Centered Design (VCD) approach.
Methods:
- User interviews with UW students
- Pain point analysis
Key Insights:
- Students feel overwhelmed by scattered information
- They prefer personalized and filtered content
- Many rely on informal sources (e.g., group chats), which are unreliable
Define
Problem Statement:
How might we help students efficiently manage campus information without overwhelming them?
Ideation
We explored multiple concepts and prioritized features based on user needs:
- Personalized onboarding
- Centralized dashboard
- AI-powered assistance
Design Solution
- 1. Personalized Onboarding
Tailors content based on student interests and major
- 2. Centralized Dashboard
Displays deadlines, events, and announcements in one place
Reduces the need to check multiple platforms
- 3. AI Assistant — Dubs
Answers student questions in plain language
Improves accessibility and usability
Outcome
- Users found the platform intuitive and helpful
- Reduced perceived information overload
- Improved task visibility and prioritization
Reflection
What Worked
Personalization significantly improved usability
Centralization addressed the core user pain point
What Could Be Improved
Major selection options need refinement
AI assistant visibility should be increased
Product Thinking
Balancing automation (AI) with user control is critical
Feature discoverability is as important as functionality