Postsecondary Planning Program
Postsecondary Planning Program
A 6 week mentorship program that connects high schoolers with university students for career exploration and guidance.
A 6 week mentorship program that connects high schoolers with university students for career exploration and guidance.
Duration: January 2024 - May 2025
Duration: January 2024 - May 2025
Role: Team Lead (9 member team)
Role: Team Lead (9 member team)
Key Skills: UI/UX Design, Figma, Journey Mapping
Key Skills: UI/UX Design, Figma, Journey Mapping
Context
I led and educated a team of 9 through the UI/UX design process, from research to synthesis, into ideation and prototyping.
I led and educated a team of 9 through the UI/UX design process, from research to synthesis, into ideation and prototyping.
Our project focus was on how we might support public high school students through the transition into post-secondary life.
Our project focus was on how we might support public high school students through the transition into post-secondary life.
Research and Synthesis
Conducted secondary research and interviews with Champaign high school counselors.
Current challenges in supporting students.
Current challenges in supporting students.
Limited personnel hinders the depth of student support.
Limited personnel hinders the depth of student support.
Parents often put pressure on students to go to 4 year colleges.
Parents often put pressure on students to go to 4 year colleges.
Selective union programs and financial concerns limit immediate opportunities.
Selective union programs and financial concerns limit immediate opportunities.
Gaps and future opportunities.
Gaps and future opportunities.
Physical distance from UIUC creates challenges.
Physical distance from UIUC creates challenges.
Dreamcasting, envisioning or imagining an ideal outcome, often related to future goals and aspirations.
Dreamcasting, envisioning or imagining an ideal outcome, often related to future goals and aspirations.
Our key takeaways.
Our key takeaways.
Early exposure to career options can help students envision their futures.
Early exposure to career options can help students envision their futures.
Our solution needs a low barrier to entry and must not be overwhelming to students.
Our solution needs a low barrier to entry and must not be overwhelming to students.
How might we…
How might we cultivate a culture of exploration and growth for Champaign high school students, enabling them to dreamcast and discover careers that align with their values and interests?
How might we cultivate a culture of exploration and growth for Champaign high school students, enabling them to dreamcast and discover careers that align with their values and interests?
How might we cultivate a culture of exploration and growth for Champaign high school students, enabling them to dreamcast and discover careers that align with their values and interests?
Ideation
I led our team in defining success indicators and student barriers, then guided brainstorming and used a concept matrix to refine our ideas.
Project Success Indicators
Concept Selection Matrix
Brainstorming Session Ideas
Prototyping
We developed a 6 week mentorship program that connects high school students with university students for career exploration and guidance.
To boost efficiency, I organized our team into six groups based on skills to tackle different parts of the prototype.
Website Group
Designed website layout and promotional materials.
Program Events Group
Designed orientation events, mentor training, and end of program celebration event.
Program Overview Group
Designed timeline, website copy, and contingency plans for challenges.
Mentor Resources Group
Designed activities and sample itineraries for meetings based on common themes.
Mentee Resources Group
Designed reflections for tracking progress and mentor-mentee contract.
Mentor-Mentee Matching Group
Designed mentor application form, personality form, and form to switch mentors.
Website Group
Designed website layout and promotional materials.
Program Events Group
Designed orientation events, mentor training, and end of program celebration event.
Program Overview Group
Designed timeline, website copy, and contingency plans for challenges.
Mentor Resources Group
Designed activities and sample itineraries for meetings based on common themes.
Mentee Resources Group
Designed reflections for tracking progress and mentor-mentee contract.
Mentor-Mentee Matching Group
Designed mentor application form, personality form, and form to switch mentors.
Website Group
Designed website layout and promotional materials.
Program Events Group
Designed orientation events, mentor training, and end of program celebration event.
Program Overview Group
Designed timeline, website copy, and contingency plans for challenges.
Mentor Resources Group
Designed activities and sample itineraries for meetings based on common themes.
Mentee Resources Group
Designed reflections for tracking progress and mentor-mentee contract.
Mentor-Mentee Matching Group
Designed mentor application form, personality form, and form to switch mentors.
Program Journeymap
Mentorship Program Timeline
Takeaways
As team lead, I guided peers through the UI/UX process while designing equitable, low-barrier tools for postsecondary exploration. This strengthened my skills in research, facilitation, and simplifying complex systems.
As team lead, I guided peers through the UI/UX process while designing equitable, low-barrier tools for postsecondary exploration. This strengthened my skills in research, facilitation, and simplifying complex systems.
Like what you see? Get in Touch
Like what you see? Get in Touch
Like what you see? Get in Touch
Like what you see? Get in Touch