The Knowledge App

1.Overview

The Knowledge House/ Innovation Fellowship, is a 12 months tech training program where participant students are prepared for the tech industry through 4 different cohorts: UX design, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, and Web Development.

For their studies, students might individually use task management tools to manage their tasks, keep track of their progress, or use tools like Google Classroom and Slack to collaborate and communicate, but there is a lack of a platform where they can have all these resources at the same place.

2. Problem Statement and Solution

Time management, workflow, and communication can become overwhelming for TKH students , although TKH fellows use platforms such as google classroom and Slack.

An “all-in-one“ platform could help them keep track of their multiple tasks, goals, and resources, also share information with their teams when working on joint projects or contacting their teachers for support.

3. Users/Audience

The Knowledge House trains students in technology through 2 programs: The Innovation Fellowship and Karim Karbouch Fellowship.

The project was turned toward the Innovation Fellowship students of all tracks:UX/UI design, Web Development, Data analytics, and Cybersecurity.

4.Roles and Responsabilies

My role for the research phase was to establish survey forms & questions.

I participated on user personas (2) , the information architecture (site map and user journeys) , as well as the low fidelity wireframes and high fidelity wireframes (6) and the elements of the UI kit.

TEAM:

Jhoan Suriel

Mouniratou H. Cisse (me)

Francesca Lalanne

Ahmer Ali

5.Scope and Constraints:

We had a timeline of one (1) month for the project.

One limitation the team met was the absence of the Data Analytics Class responses to the survey, however, we had representative data from other cohorts and alumni.

6. Design Process:

For the first part of our work, we established a research plan: the goal was to know the ultimate barrier between the fellows and their goals tracking, what are their most value, and how they use the existing tools. The research objective was to understand fellows pain points and frustrations, despite the existing tools they use.

We concluded to a solution combining the best features of a task manager, a goal-tracking app, and a project management tool.

The next step of our work was to conduct the research:  we used methods such as , a field study of fellows' time management and goals meeting,  I established surveys questions (8 fellows) and we gathered 2 alumni interview responses. We also add a comparative analysis of Trello, Asana, Todoist, Nation, and Google Keep. 

During the research synthesis, the team discovered through Affinity mapping, that fellows' main goals are career and networking. Time management and access to information are their main challenges, and, they wish to keep track of their assignments, their deadlines, and work progress.Some of their desires are to have a project managemnet platform with an intuitive scheduler/calendar ,a checklist, a  collaborating tool with visuals and a sense of gamification. Fellows value tools like Trello, Asana, Google Classroom, features for sticky notes, vision boards, email reminders, and planners. They prioritize their tasks from the most important to the least, from the most complex to the least. 

I chose to work on Alex & Aby's user personas , one is a UX/UI design student who wants to collaborate with classmates, share thoughts on a shared project, but is frustrated to have to navigate between different apps, he needs a platform that can combine organization, professional communications, and essential resources. The other is a multitasker , responsile of keeping track of her team's activities and engagement, her paint point is delegating, she leads activities and controls deadlines.

We used a feature prioritization matrix as a roadmap for deliverables. We included an in-app organization methods, with schedule reminders,a gamification system , and calendars were considered priorities.  I suggested adding an intuitive checklist feature.

Information Architecture: On the site map are featured the Homepage, Quick links, Chat thread, Account settings, Search, and the Calendar with 4  user flows where I get to work on a 'succesful creation of account' user journey.

Lo-Fi/Hi-Fi, Ui Kit, Prototyping: We worked on 20 low-fidelity screens, I chose to work on 'Account & Settings page', 'Quick links' , 'Create a task' .

We also built 20 high-fidelity screens , where I was able to develop a 'Loading page' , 'Create a task', 'Quick links', a 'Chat' page and implemented the keyboard design and a 'edit task' pop-up page.

As for the UI kit, we made the choice to keep the The Knowledge House's UI kit for more consistency with the project. I designed the logo, with the directives of my teammates .

7.Outcome and Lesson Learnt:

The team learned more about TKH fellows' pain points and goals, such a tool is a need for their time and task management, for them to reach their goals. Usability testing and more animation are what my team look forward into in the future as well as developping an interface for teachers.

The outcome will be, if possible, to create a team of fellows/alumni  designers and developers from The Knowledge House and build a full stack Knowledge App.