Revolutionizing College Life: The Seneca Student App

An All-in-One Solution for Efficiency and Communication

College apps often suffer from usability issues and poor performance, hindering students' academic experience. Recognizing this, Pavel Tahil set out to create a solution that would revolutionize the way students engage with their college life. Drawing inspiration from his own experiences and extensive research, Tahil identified key features and functionalities that would benefit the Seneca community.

The Seneca Student App stands out from others in its ability to consolidate essential campus tools and services into a single platform. From class schedules and campus dining to library access and OneCard management, this app offers a seamless and efficient experience for users. Its intuitive interface and personalization options ensure that students can navigate the app with ease, while its focus on enhancing the academic experience sets it apart from other college apps.

The design process for the Seneca Student App involved using Sketch and Figma Jam as primary tools. Through a UX discovery phase, Tahil conducted interviews and user tests with Seneca students to gather valuable feedback. User personas, journeys, wireframes, and prototypes were created and continuously refined based on this feedback. The collaboration and version control features of Sketch and Figma Jam allowed for responsive designs across various devices.

With over 100 mockups and native components for optimal performance, the Seneca Student App was meticulously crafted to integrate seamlessly with iOS and macOS. Surveys involving more than 40 participants provided valuable quantitative data, while qualitative research with over 10 participants shaped and refined the app's design and functionality. This comprehensive approach ensured that the final product was tailored to the specific needs and preferences of Seneca College students.

The Seneca Student App is designed to make life easier for students, offering a seamless and intuitive user experience. Adhering to Apple's design guidelines, the app operates smoothly and responds quickly to user interactions. Through extensive research and user feedback, the app has been refined to meet the needs and preferences of its target audience.

The project was designed during the summer of 2022 in Newcastle, UK, and updated in March 2023. Throughout the development process, extensive research activities were conducted to gain a comprehensive understanding of users' needs, preferences, and pain points. From preliminary research to usability testing and post-launch feedback, every step was taken to ensure the app's effectiveness.

One of the biggest challenges in designing the Seneca Student App was balancing the diverse needs and preferences of the target audience while maintaining a cohesive and user-friendly experience. With a wide range of features to include, prioritizing and organizing these elements was crucial to avoid overwhelming users and compromising usability.

The Seneca Student App stands as a testament to how technology can empower students and enrich their academic journey. By addressing the limitations of existing college apps, this app has the potential to revolutionize the way students engage with their college experience. With its efficiency and communication features, it promises to make college life more efficient, enjoyable, and productive.

Image Credits: Pavel Tahil

Intellectual Property Notice: Pavel Tahil

Awards and Accolades: This Design was awarded Bronze in A' Interface, Interaction and User Experience Design Award in 2023. Bronze A' Design Award: Bestowed upon outstanding and creatively ingenious designs that authenticate experience and resourcefulness. Esteemed for incorporating best practices in art, science, design, and technology, they exhibit strong technical and creative skills and contribute to quality of life improvements, making the world a better place.