CollabCube

CollabCube

CollabCube

An accountability reinforcement system for college student group projects

An accountability reinforcement system for college student group projects

This project was recognized by Venture Capital MiraclePlus for its commercialization potential.

This project was recognized by Venture Capital MiraclePlus for its commercialization potential.

Timeline

3 Months

Role

Solo Designer

Tools

Context

Context

Context

🕹 Problem generation from real life

🕹 Problem generation from real life

🕹 Problem generation from real life

2 incomplete Hackathon projects + 1 unpleasant in-class teamwork experience...

2 incomplete Hackathon projects + 1 unpleasant in-class teamwork experience...

2 incomplete Hackathon projects + 1 unpleasant in-class teamwork experience...

College students find it difficult to keep team members accountable and motivated throughout the teamwork experience

College students find it difficult to keep team members accountable and motivated throughout the teamwork experience

College students find it difficult to keep team members accountable and motivated throughout the teamwork experience

that leads to the Initial Goal 🎯

that leads to the Initial Goal 🎯

that leads to the Initial Goal 🎯

How to make the teamwork experience efficient and enjoyable for everyone?

How to make the teamwork experience efficient and enjoyable for everyone?

How to make the teamwork experience efficient and enjoyable for everyone?

🔒 Going for specificity

🔒 Going for specificity

🔒 Going for specificity

What does the two vague words mean?

What does the two vague words mean?

What does the two vague words mean?

Empathize

Empathize

Empathize

🔎 Assumption-driven research

🔎 Assumption-driven research

🔎 Assumption-driven research

Assumption to be tested

Assumption to be tested

Assumption to be tested

reward🎁 or punishment🔨 system

reward🎁 or punishment🔨 system

reward🎁 or punishment🔨 system

?

?

People need

Proper Incentive Structure to

Externally Regulate their behaviors in group projects

People need

Proper Incentive Structure to

Externally Regulate their behaviors in group projects

People need

Proper Incentive Structure to

Externally Regulate their behaviors

in group projects

Research goals

Research goals

Research goals

Test if this assumption is correct;

See if this assumption is a cure-for-all solution;

If not, try to find replacements or supplementaries for it

Test if this assumption is correct;

See if this assumption is a cure-for-all solution;

If not, try to find replacements or supplementaries for it

Test if this assumption is correct;

See if this assumption is a cure-for-all solution;

If not, try to find replacements or supplementaries for it

Participants scope

Participants scope

Participants scope

College Students (18-22)

College Students (18-22)

College Students (18-22)

  • who has / is going to have teamwork experience

  • who has / is going to have teamwork experience

  • who has / is going to have teamwork experience

  • diversity in gender, age, nationality, school, major 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇰🇷 🇨🇳 🇬🇧 🇳🇪

  • diversity in gender, age, nationality, school, major 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇰🇷 🇨🇳 🇬🇧 🇳🇪

  • diversity in gender, age, nationality, school, major 🇺🇸 🇨🇦 🇰🇷 🇨🇳 🇬🇧 🇳🇪

Methodology

Methodology

Methodology

207

207

207

Survey responses

Survey responses

Survey responses

concentrate on the big patterns of recurring issues and user preferences regarding potential solutions

concentrate on the big patterns of recurring issues and user preferences regarding potential solutions

concentrate on the big patterns of recurring issues and user preferences regarding potential solutions

15

15

15

Interviews

Interviews

Interviews

delve into personal experiences in depth to gain a comprehensive understanding of the emotional journey and psychological factors involved

delve into personal experiences in depth to gain a comprehensive understanding of the emotional journey and psychological factors involved

delve into personal experiences in depth to gain a comprehensive understanding of the emotional journey and psychological factors involved

5

5

5

Competitors

Competitors

Competitors

Market gap:
none of the apps specifically target college students for group projects completion

Market gap:
none of the apps specifically target college students for group projects completion

Market gap:
none of the apps specifically target college students for group projects completion

Problem validation

Problem validation

Problem validation

Almost everyone have faced teamwork challenges,
with over 50% of the group not fully committed to projects.

Almost everyone have faced teamwork challenges,
with over 50% of the group not fully committed to projects.

Almost everyone have faced teamwork challenges,
with over 50% of the group not fully committed to projects.

🤔 Research challenge arises

🤔 Research challenge arises

🤔 Research challenge arises

How to identify the Root Cause of the group projects crisis?

How to identify the Root Cause of the group projects crisis?

How to identify the Root Cause of the group projects crisis?

Data dissection

Data dissection

Data dissection

Specific painpoints recapture

Specific painpoints recapture

Specific painpoints recapture

  • Lack of long-term external incentives

  • Lack of long-term external incentives

  • Lack of long-term external incentives

People have to rely on regulatory system or external force such as grade or peer review to maintain accountability throughout the project.

People have to rely on regulatory system or external force such as grade or peer review to maintain accountability throughout the project.

People have to rely on regulatory system or external force such as grade or peer review to maintain accountability throughout the project.

  • Disparities among teammates

  • Disparities among teammates

  • Disparities among teammates

People are frustrated when there are significant disparities in abilities, expectations, or project priorities.

People are frustrated when there are significant disparities in abilities, expectations, or project priorities.

People are frustrated when there are significant disparities in abilities, expectations, or project priorities.

  • Excitement about the project

  • Excitement about the project

  • Excitement about the project

People will end up in a project direction they are not excited about due to insufficient open communication.

People will end up in a project direction they are not excited about due to insufficient open communication.

People will end up in a project direction they are not excited about due to insufficient open communication.

  • Perceived levels of involvement

  • Perceived levels of involvement

  • Perceived levels of involvement

People fails to accurately evaluate their workloads and communicate their perceived levels of involvement with the team in advance.

People fails to accurately evaluate their workloads and communicate their perceived levels of involvement with the team in advance.

People fails to accurately evaluate their workloads and communicate their perceived levels of involvement with the team in advance.

  • Emotional support

  • Emotional support

  • Emotional support

People usually stop putting in efforts when they no longer feel the emotional support and involvement from teammates.

People usually stop putting in efforts when they no longer feel the emotional support and involvement from teammates.

People usually stop putting in efforts when they no longer feel the emotional support and involvement from teammates.

Distill down to insights

Distill down to insights

Distill down to insights

User journey map out

User journey map out

User journey map out

Drawing from the research findings and the collection of pain points, I developed five distinct archetypes and mapped out their excitement journey from a project’s beginning to end. Several critical crisis points are identified in the pattern, each of which could be seen as a pivotal breakthrough in finding solutions.

Drawing from the research findings and the collection of pain points, I developed five distinct archetypes and mapped out their excitement journey from a project’s beginning to end. Several critical crisis points are identified in the pattern, each of which could be seen as a pivotal breakthrough in finding solutions.

Drawing from the research findings and the collection of pain points, I developed five distinct archetypes and mapped out their excitement journey from a project’s beginning to end. Several critical crisis points are identified in the pattern, each of which could be seen as a pivotal breakthrough in finding solutions.

Persona

Persona

Persona

Combining the concerns and frustrations of those five college students, I crafted a fictional user whose experience encapsulate a comprehensive and representative collection of user pain points.

Combining the concerns and frustrations of those five college students, I crafted a fictional user whose experience encapsulate a comprehensive and representative collection of user pain points.

Combining the concerns and frustrations of those five college students, I crafted a fictional user whose experience encapsulate a comprehensive and representative collection of user pain points.

Synthesizing key insights

Synthesizing key insights

Synthesizing key insights

Going back to the assumption…

Going back to the assumption…

Going back to the assumption…

How to make the teamwork experience efficient and enjoyable for everyone?

How to make the teamwork experience efficient and enjoyable for everyone?

How to make the teamwork experience efficient and enjoyable for everyone?

Overall…

Overall…

Overall…

External + Internal Motivations

External + Internal Motivations

External + Internal Motivations

External motivation and regulation are necessary to hold people accountable and ensure project completion. However, the intrinsic drive of internal motivation makes individuals more willing to contribute, leading to a more enjoyable teamwork experience.

External motivation and regulation are necessary to hold people accountable and ensure project completion. However, the intrinsic drive of internal motivation makes individuals more willing to contribute, leading to a more enjoyable teamwork experience.

External motivation and regulation are necessary to hold people accountable and ensure project completion. However, the intrinsic drive of internal motivation makes individuals more willing to contribute, leading to a more enjoyable teamwork experience.

Pinpoint a starting point…

Pinpoint a starting point…

Pinpoint a starting point…

A Teammate Matching System

A Teammate Matching System

A Teammate Matching System

Connecting with skilled teammates can undoubtedly provide internal motivation, while a regulatory system that measures and showcases individuals' performance for future teammate matching acts as an external incentive.

Connecting with skilled teammates can undoubtedly provide internal motivation, while a regulatory system that measures and showcases individuals' performance for future teammate matching acts as an external incentive.

Connecting with skilled teammates can undoubtedly provide internal motivation, while a regulatory system that measures and showcases individuals' performance for future teammate matching acts as an external incentive.

01 Teammate Alignment

01 Teammate Alignment

  • Skill alignment

  • Skill alignment

Every member's skill set should align with the project's requirements and complement those of others.

Every member's skill set should align with the project's requirements and complement those of others.

  • Ability consistency

  • Ability consistency

People often prefer to work with someone who has a similar level of ability.

People often prefer to work with someone who has a similar level of ability.

  • Project priority congruence

  • Project priority congruence

Team members who share a similar project priority could reduce friction and the need for schedule adjustments later in the collaboration.

Team members who share a similar project priority could reduce friction and the need for schedule adjustments later in the collaboration.

02 Pre-communication

02 Pre-communication

  • Level of involvement

  • Level of involvement

People in the team would like to know each other’s estimated levels of involvement in the project.

People in the team would like to know each other’s estimated levels of involvement in the project.

  • Project expectations

  • Project expectations

Understanding each team member's expectations and what they hope to gain from the project is essential for navigating the project concept effectively.

Understanding each team member's expectations and what they hope to gain from the project is essential for navigating the project concept effectively.

  • Contributing to the project concept

  • Contributing to the project concept

Involving everyone in the project's inception can enhance their connection and commitment to the project.

Involving everyone in the project's inception can enhance their connection and commitment to the project.

03 Emotional Distance

03 Emotional Distance

  • Emotional connection

  • Emotional connection

A stronger emotional connection with teammates reduces the likelihood of individuals leaving the project due to the sense of “obligation” to fellow teammates.

A stronger emotional connection with teammates reduces the likelihood of individuals leaving the project due to the sense of “obligation” to fellow teammates.

  • Value of membership

  • Value of membership

People are more likely to justify their efforts by becoming more committed to the project if they had to put in some effort to gain membership in the group.

People are more likely to justify their efforts by becoming more committed to the project if they had to put in some effort to gain membership in the group.

04 Two-way selection

04 Two-way selection

  • Credibility check

  • Credibility check

Recognizing individuals' past accountabilities is consistently valuable criteria for both parties when selecting teammates.

Recognizing individuals' past accountabilities is consistently valuable criteria for both parties when selecting teammates.

  • Performance booster

  • Performance booster

Utilizing peer review and credibility as external regulating mechanisms motivates individuals to exhibit better behavior.

Utilizing peer review and credibility as external regulating mechanisms motivates individuals to exhibit better behavior.

Define

Define

Define

📌 Define problem statement

📌 Define problem statement

📌 Define problem statement

A lot of college students struggle with maintaining an efficient and enjoyable teamwork experience.

A lot of college students struggle with maintaining an efficient and enjoyable teamwork experience.

A lot of college students struggle with maintaining an efficient and enjoyable teamwork experience.

How might we leverage external and internal motivations to construct a teammate matching system that enhances college students' teamwork experience?

How might we leverage external and internal motivations to construct a teammate matching system that enhances college students' teamwork experience?

How might we leverage external and internal motivations to construct a teammate matching system that enhances college students' teamwork experience?

Design

Design

Design

💡 Applying Job To Be Done approach for ideation

💡 Applying Job To Be Done approach for ideation

💡 Applying Job To Be Done approach for ideation

What’s the Job that Needs To Be Done by hiring this product?

What’s the Job that Needs To Be Done by hiring this product?

What’s the Job that Needs To Be Done by hiring this product?

Ideating & prioritizing diagram

Ideating & prioritizing diagram

Through solution mapping, I decided to focus mostly on the features that are feasible and important.

Through solution mapping, I decided to focus mostly on the features that are feasible and important.

Through solution mapping, I decided to focus mostly on the features that are feasible and important.

Proposed user journey & user flow

Proposed user journey & user flow

💡 Design, testing, iterating

💡 Design, testing, iterating

💡 Design, testing, iterating

Hammer down the key screens

Hammer down the key screens

Hammer down the key screens

My wireframing process

My wireframing process

My wireframing process

Sketches

Sketches

Sketches

The product has gone through 3 iterations.

The product has gone through 3 iterations.

The product has gone through 3 iterations.

01 Flow logic

01 Flow logic

01 Flow logic

Developing a comprehensive user flow logic, making up missing screens for various scenarios.

Developing a comprehensive user flow logic, making up missing screens for various scenarios.

Developing a comprehensive user flow logic, making up missing screens for various scenarios.

02 Usability

02 Usability

02 Usability

Reducing the cognitive loads for users and improving the usability of the screens.

Reducing the cognitive loads for users and improving the usability of the screens.

Reducing the cognitive loads for users and improving the usability of the screens.

03 Usability & visuals

03 Usability & visuals

03 Usability & visuals

Ensuring the visual design aligns with the overarching objectives and target audience.

Ensuring the visual design aligns with the overarching objectives and target audience.

Ensuring the visual design aligns with the overarching objectives and target audience.

Improvements after iterations

Improvements after iterations

Improvements after iterations

  1. Add Add empty states to minimize user loss at every stage

  1. Add Add empty states to minimize user loss at every stage

  1. Add Add empty states to minimize user loss at every stage

To enhance user retention, I implemented a recommendation system for potential matching teammates, aiming to encourage users to initiate the team-building process on their own.

To enhance user retention, I implemented a recommendation system for potential matching teammates, aiming to encourage users to initiate the team-building process on their own.

To enhance user retention, I implemented a recommendation system for potential matching teammates, aiming to encourage users to initiate the team-building process on their own.

  1. Refine information hierarchy to ensure easier identification of crucial information

  1. Refine information hierarchy to ensure easier identification of crucial information

  1. Refine information hierarchy to ensure easier identification of crucial information

I relocate the information to the most prominent visual position and move secondary information back to the side column.

I relocate the information to the most prominent visual position and move secondary information back to the side column.

I relocate the information to the most prominent visual position and move secondary information back to the side column.

  1. Reduce information cluttering and make efficient use of space

  1. Reduce information cluttering and make efficient use of space

  1. Reduce information cluttering and make efficient use of space

I slightly adjusted the sizes and colors of the elements and made secondary information collapsible.

I slightly adjusted the sizes and colors of the elements and made secondary information collapsible.

I slightly adjusted the sizes and colors of the elements and made secondary information collapsible.

  1. Enhance the usability of the filter

  1. Enhance the usability of the filter

  1. Enhance the usability of the filter

I redesigned my filter to make it more informative and introduced various input methods.

I redesigned my filter to make it more informative and introduced various input methods.

I redesigned my filter to make it more informative and introduced various input methods.

Design system

Design system

Design system

Google Material Design

Google Material Design

Google Material Design

I employed Google's Material Design as the foundational design system, referencing the style guide and utilizing its components as the basis for my design. Nevertheless, I made specific adjustments to better align it with my design objectives.

I employed Google's Material Design as the foundational design system, referencing the style guide and utilizing its components as the basis for my design. Nevertheless, I made specific adjustments to better align it with my design objectives.

I employed Google's Material Design as the foundational design system, referencing the style guide and utilizing its components as the basis for my design. Nevertheless, I made specific adjustments to better align it with my design objectives.

Final products

Final products

Final products

Reflections

Reflections

Reflections

Key takeaway

Key takeaway

Key takeaway

Potential improvements

Potential improvements

Potential improvements

01 Assumption-driven research

01 Assumption-driven research

01 Assumption-driven research

Leveraging an assumption-driven approach for user research has proven pivotal to my success. This method not only establishes clear research goals but also guides the entire research process in the intended direction.

Leveraging an assumption-driven approach for user research has proven pivotal to my success. This method not only establishes clear research goals but also guides the entire research process in the intended direction.

Leveraging an assumption-driven approach for user research has proven pivotal to my success. This method not only establishes clear research goals but also guides the entire research process in the intended direction.

02 Keep asking questions until reaching the root cause

02 Keep asking questions until reaching the root cause

02 Keep asking questions until reaching the root cause

Clearly, a lack of motivation can result in inefficient teamwork. However, upon closer examination, additional challenges, including more subtle and hidden mental obstacles, come to light. Continually asking questions allows me to design a product that addresses the genuine root causes.

Clearly, a lack of motivation can result in inefficient teamwork. However, upon closer examination, additional challenges, including more subtle and hidden mental obstacles, come to light. Continually asking questions allows me to design a product that addresses the genuine root causes.

Clearly, a lack of motivation can result in inefficient teamwork. However, upon closer examination, additional challenges, including more subtle and hidden mental obstacles, come to light. Continually asking questions allows me to design a product that addresses the genuine root causes.

03 Be specific and deep

03 Be specific and deep

03 Be specific and deep

Initially, I devised a comprehensive set of solutions, each targeting a distinct problem at various stages. Over time, I realized it was impractical to address all of them within the constraints of limited time. Eventually, I opted to concentrate on one specific aspect, prioritizing depth over breadth to achieve optimal results.

Initially, I devised a comprehensive set of solutions, each targeting a distinct problem at various stages. Over time, I realized it was impractical to address all of them within the constraints of limited time. Eventually, I opted to concentrate on one specific aspect, prioritizing depth over breadth to achieve optimal results.

Initially, I devised a comprehensive set of solutions, each targeting a distinct problem at various stages. Over time, I realized it was impractical to address all of them within the constraints of limited time. Eventually, I opted to concentrate on one specific aspect, prioritizing depth over breadth to achieve optimal results.

01 Complete the entire user flow

01 Complete the entire user flow

01 Complete the entire user flow

Both Miracle Plus Venture Capital and I recognize the commercial potential of this project. My immediate priority is to finalize the design for the entire user flow and swiftly build the MVP to test the market.

Both Miracle Plus Venture Capital and I recognize the commercial potential of this project. My immediate priority is to finalize the design for the entire user flow and swiftly build the MVP to test the market.

Both Miracle Plus Venture Capital and I recognize the commercial potential of this project. My immediate priority is to finalize the design for the entire user flow and swiftly build the MVP to test the market.

02 Edge case: emergency-caused low credibility

02 Edge case: emergency-caused low credibility

02 Edge case: emergency-caused low credibility

Due to time constraints, I couldn't consider all edge cases. In the event of task failure due to unforeseen circumstances, there should be a means to communicate the context behind the credibility score.

Due to time constraints, I couldn't consider all edge cases. In the event of task failure due to unforeseen circumstances, there should be a means to communicate the context behind the credibility score.

Due to time constraints, I couldn't consider all edge cases. In the event of task failure due to unforeseen circumstances, there should be a means to communicate the context behind the credibility score.