Mobile app homepage streamlining events, announcements, and job postings for student access
Problem Statement
At NYU Game Center, it is time and energy-consuming to track the department information including lectures from industry professionals, job opportunities, special events, and students often feel the fear of missing out (FOMO) on staying up to date.
Solution
Create an information receiving and posting hub for GC events, announcements, and job opportunities.
We initiated this project at New York University, as Game Design master's students and alumnus.
Why We Started?
It began as a research project, and quickly evolved into an problem that we were facing in our day to day lives as students.
Experience of accessing information at NYU's Game Center for our team and peers
Our vision for how accessing information at NYU's Game Center should feel
Significance Validation & Problem Defining Research
To evaluate the significance of our product idea, we conducted informal interviews with peers, alumni, and key stakeholders both remote and in-person.
Users' Opinion on Current Information System
"Seeking social opportunities that bring together BFA and MFA students."
- Information Receiver
"Information very cluttered. Hard to find useful information"
- Information Receiver
"It's hard to find jobs that are applicable to my visa status."
- Information Receiver
"Information feels scattered in multiple platforms"
- Information Receiver
"I can’t always ensure my announcements reach the intended audience."
- Information Poster
"It is tedious to post events on multiple platforms."
- Information Poster
Users' Opinion on Our Idea
"Seeking social opportunities that bring together BFA and MFA students."
- Information Receiver
Addressing User Paintpoints
Pain Points
Insights
🧩 Scattered Information
Consolidate event details in one unified platform.
🥱 Laborious to Announce Events on Multiple Platforms
Introduce a streamlined submission form for posting events across GC platforms.
💥 Bombarded by Irrelevant Information
Introduce a streamlined submission form for posting events across GC platforms.
🧺 Cluttered Information
Design clear, concise layouts for better readability and usability.
😰 FOMO for Valuable Information
Display all recent updates in a quick-to-grasp summary format (e.g., a real-time bulletin).
🔋 Energy-Consuming to Keep Track of Information
Introduce a streamlined submission form for posting events across GC platforms.
🤔 No Information Bridge Between BFA and MFA for Student-Hosted and Posted Events
Create a shared event board for cross-program collaboration, emphasizing inclusivity and ease of access.
We began research by conducting stakeholder interviews to identify expectations and challenges. Key factors included event statistics tracking, user onboarding and simplified maintenance for the future. These insights guided our approach to aligning the product with stakeholder needs.
Stakeholder Meeting
We initially onboarded the stakeholders by presenting a slide deck, and stakeholder interviews with them to identify their expectations and align objectives, ensuring a shared understanding of the project goals.
Stakeholder Feedback
Success Metrics
The success of the project is measured through satisfaction surveys and usage analytics, targeting the following outcomes:
+20%
Increase RSVPs and attendance through seamless registration and reminders.
+20%
Boost participation in social activities including game jams, Game Center hosted parties, and workshops.
+20%
Improve usage of NYU Game Center resources like labs and workshops via integrated booking.
-30%
Reduce time spent tracking information through current systems.
MVP Executive Summary
The success of the project is measured through satisfaction surveys and usage analytics, targeting the following outcomes:
Section
Details
What
Create a mobile app homepage for information receivers
Main Functions
Browse events
Browse announcements
Filter
Timeline
Target Audience
Information receivers
Success Metrics
Measured in satisfaction rating survey:
Browse events
Browse announcements
Filter
Timeline
Roadmap
Information System Research/ Competitive Analysis
Ideation
Design & Prototype
Test (2 rounds)
Iterate
Hand-off
Research for the next steps
Current Information System Research
Understanding the current Game Center information system is crucial to identify its strengths, weaknesses, and ensure a smoother user transition.
Competitive Analysis
We researched similar mobile apps with event display and booking functions for inspiration.
Using the problem statements, I began the ideation process to develop potential solutions for the users.
Keywords
To stay on track and avoid digression, we kicked off by jotting down keywords from the goal statement.
Compact
Concise
Minimal Effort
Easy
Quick
Role-playing
To get into the user's shoes and brainstorm effectively, we tried an exciting approach - role-playing! Drawing insights from problem-defining research, we played various user types like international students, fourth-year Game Center students, and newly-hired professors, and shared our design expectations.
Sketch Sprint
We launched a one-hour sketching sprint to generate diverse ideas, from practical to bold, aiming to explore as many concepts as possible.
We used insights from role-playing to analyze sketches and find user-focused designs.
Wireframes
We combined key sketches to create three wireframes representing our vision. These diverse designs will be tested side-by-side with users in rapid usability testing to identify the best direction.
Wireframe User Testing
Conducting user testing at the early concept stage helps reduce bias, saves on later design costs, and allows us to stay on a user-centered design approach.
Testing Goals:
1. Display of events
2. Filter function
3. Display of announcements
Status
Version
Feedback
Working
Timeline-based
Present timeline of events
Working
Category-based
Display announcements in a modal
To be Tested
Category-based
Browse events by categories
Challenges
Category-based, Freestyle
Too many events presented at the same time; cluttered
Challenges
Timeline-based
Not enough information per event
Challenges
Timeline-based
Calendar as the main view
Challenges
Category-based
Too many buttons
Style Guide
Based on the A/B testing insights, we started to make sketches for the low-fi prototype.
Low-Fi Prototypes
We put together two low-fidelity prototypes:
Version A one clean and straightforward.
Version B bold and innovative.
Why two? A/B testing lets users compare different styles. It’s the best way to get solid feedback early, especially when designs are still rough.
Low-Fi Prototype User Testing
Feature
Version
Feedback
Display of Events
Version A
Some users like splitting events by category.
Filter Function
Version B
Filter design looks cleaner and simpler.
Timeline View
Version B
Users prefer the traditional swiping timeline over the summarized version.
Color Coding
Version A
Mixed reviews: helpful for some, confusing for others due to too many colors.
Search Function
Version B
Search function in the menu bar is sufficient.
Low-Fi Prototype User Testing Results
84%
of users successfully found announcements, indicating strong accessibility for this feature.
68%
of users found browsing events straightforward, but there's room for improvement.
84%
of users effectively located filters, showing clarity in their design.
52%
of users struggled with finding dates, highlighting the need for better date accessibility and visibility.
Mid-Fi Prototype
We added two event display modes: categorized by type and chronological, letting users switch based on preference.
We used insights from role-playing to analyze sketches and find user-focused designs.
Hand-off Page
I created a hand-off page that outlines the relationships and connections between each screen.
Design Problem Hand-off
There were known issues in the mid-fi prototype that need fixing during the Visual Design stage. We shared these with the Visual Designer:
Style Keywords
As product designers, Yanxi and I (Diganta) combined our knowledge of the Game Center style guide and product requirements to create guiding keywords for the style guideline.
How it Looks
Fun, Exciting, Happy, Vibrant, Engaging
How it Functions
Clean, Clear, Efficient, Helpful, Concise
Gamer Identity
NYU Game Center, Gaming, Tabletop Games, Digital Games, Community, Cohesive
Heuristics
Accessible, Simple, Informative, Useful, Aesthetic, Balance, Consistency
Factual Data Database
In addition, Yanxi and I (Diganta) have created a factual data database that contains authentic GC events and announcements. This resource will be utilized by developers and the high-fidelity prototype.
We deployed the hi-fi prototype and conducted further usability testing.
Hi-Fi Prototype
Hi-Fi Prototype Testing Results
78%
of students believed in the goal statement and its alignment with their needs.
70%
of users found the final design intuitive and easy to navigate during usability testing.
55%
of participants preferred the new event display modes for better clarity and usability.
40%
reduction in time required to manage event information due to streamlined workflows.
Designing the NYU Game Center App was an exciting challenge. Collaborating with stakeholders, conducting user research, and iterating on designs made this a highly rewarding experience. Seeing the app take shape and align with both student and departmental needs was incredibly fulfilling.
Outcome
Delivered a user-friendly app that streamlined event management, improved resource utilization, and enhanced social engagement among students and faculty. The app featured dual display modes, intuitive filters, and a seamless onboarding process, all designed to address stakeholder goals and user pain points effectively.
Reflection
This project involved user-specific problem solving, stakeholder collaboration, and iterative prototyping. Addressing complex usability challenges, such as cluttered interfaces and inefficient workflows, strengthened my ability to create scalable solutions that balance functionality and simplicity. Seeing the positive user feedback highlighted the value of thoughtful, user-centered design decisions.
What’s Next
Enhance functionality by introducing features like event reminders, integration with NYU’s broader app ecosystem, and a personalized dashboard for users. Focus on improving accessibility, optimizing for mobile responsiveness, and incorporating advanced analytics to track user engagement and app performance effectively.
