International Summer Courses is a start-up that aims to partner with institutions worldwide to bring users the best summer academic courses in Europe, Latin America and North America. Their unique platform lets users explore multiple programs at the same time, contact the institution directly, and submit their application in just one click.
INTERNATIONAL SUMMER COURSES
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
ROLE
Research, User Stories, Journey Maps, Sketching, Wireframing, Ideation, Visual Design
PROBLEM SPACE
Students looking for international summer courses have to go to individual websites to search for courses and programs. There isn't a way to search for multiple international summer camps on one website.
International Summer Courses is looking to streamline this process by creating a database of programs throughout the U.S., Europe and Latin America.
International Summer Courses is looking to streamline this process by creating a database of programs throughout the U.S., Europe and Latin America.
Competitive analysis
Interviews
For our initial interviews, we spoke with students who have either taken or are interested in applying to academic summer courses. All of those who have researched courses had a similar experience -- it is time consuming and confusing. The majority of students were interested in programs that were recommended to them or one with name recognition.
SECONDARY RESEARCH
While researching the target market and existing products, we learned that the summer course / camp industry is rapidly growing.
• The market size of the summer camps industry in the United States is $3.8 billion in 2021.
• The market size of the summer camps industry is expected to increase 1.4% in 2021.
• The market size of the summer camps industry is expected to increase 1.4% in 2021.
PERSONAS
ABOUT
Robert is married with 2 kids, aged 12 and 16.
He works very long hours and doesn't have a lot of free time.
Robert is married with 2 kids, aged 12 and 16.
He works very long hours and doesn't have a lot of free time.
MOTIVATIONS
He wants his kids to attend summer camps to become more independent and self-confident.
He believes having them travel internationally will expand their horizons and help them academically.
He wants his kids to attend summer camps to become more independent and self-confident.
He believes having them travel internationally will expand their horizons and help them academically.
CORE NEEDS
• Find the best summer camp as quickly as possible
• Receive professional advice about which camp to choose
• Easily search for camps that parter with volunteer organizations
• Find the best summer camp as quickly as possible
• Receive professional advice about which camp to choose
• Easily search for camps that parter with volunteer organizations
PAIN POINTS
• He does not know where to start looking for camps
• He has gone on countless websites researching and comparing programs
• Lost track of which courses were his favorites choices
• Works long hours and does not have a lot of time for research
• He does not know where to start looking for camps
• He has gone on countless websites researching and comparing programs
• Lost track of which courses were his favorites choices
• Works long hours and does not have a lot of time for research
ABOUT
Grace is a senior in high school. She is very interested in engineering and wants to study computer science when she goes to college.
Grace is a senior in high school. She is very interested in engineering and wants to study computer science when she goes to college.
MOTIVATIONS
She wants to learn coding and software development. Grace thinks that attending academic summer classes will help her get into her top college choices.
She wants to learn coding and software development. Grace thinks that attending academic summer classes will help her get into her top college choices.
CORE NEEDS
• To search for summer camps easily
• To see many summer camp options on one website
• Search for camps with school credits
• To search for summer camps easily
• To see many summer camp options on one website
• Search for camps with school credits
PAIN POINTS
• Going to countless websites to look for courses
• Knowing which camps are reputable
• Finding a way to easily search for international courses by subject
• Going to countless websites to look for courses
• Knowing which camps are reputable
• Finding a way to easily search for international courses by subject
HOW MIGHT WE.....
How might we help students find international courses in one place?
When conducting interviews, it became apparent that searching for summer courses was frustrating and time consuming. Working with reputable schools and universities, we can provide a database of courses that users can easily search for specific locations and interests.
How might we help students find summer volunteer programs?
If we partner with local and international non-profit organizations, we can offer volunteer courses.
How might we help students find courses where they can receive college credits?
By partnering with colleges and universities, we are able to offer courses that provide college credits.
How might we help parents and students save their favorite courses?
Users are able to save courses to favorites to easily compare courses at a later date.
How might we help students find courses that cater to their specific interests?
By adding detailed filtering options, users can find courses that align with their educational needs and interests.
USER JOURNEY
WIREFRAMES
For our initial interviews, we spoke with students who have either taken, or are interested in applying to academic summer courses. All of those who have researched courses had a similar experience -- it is time consuming and confusing. The majority of students were interested in programs that were recommended to them or one with name recognition.
USABILITY TESTING
For the International Summer Camps testing sessions, we interviewed 6 people.
Each participant was give 3 tasks to complete:
Each participant was give 3 tasks to complete:
* SEARCH FOR A SUMMER COURSE
* SELECT A SUMMER COURSE
* FILTER COURSES
There were three critical issues that needed to be addressed:
STYLE GUIDE
High fidelity screens
We incorporated feedback from our usability testing into our high-fidelity screens.
PROTOTYPE
NEXT STEPS
Once there are a significant number of courses in the database, it would be helpful for users to easily compare courses. We would like to create a comparison feature that would allow users to quickly see the differences in the courses. Our second priority would be allowing uses to share specific courses with via social media, email or text. Lastly, I'd like to add testimonials and user reviews to the site.
CONCLUSION
01
There is a strong need for a trusted database of international summer camps.
02
Matching student and parents with reputable organizations would benefit both the user and provider.
03
By creating this website, it would save users countless hours of research.
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