Praxis Impact

August 2022 – July 2023

Praxis Impact

August 2022 – July 2023

Praxis Impact

August 2022 – July 2023

Overview

Overview

Designing an experiential learning management system for academic program managers

Designing an experiential learning management system for academic program managers

For my Human-Computer Interaction capstone, I helped build Praxis Impact—a platform that simplifies the management of experiential learning programs.

The tool also enables such programs to develop valuable partnerships with real-world companies and oversee the student projects they sponsor.

My Roles

My Roles

Interaction Design
User Research
User Testing

Tools

Tools

Figma
Miro
Photoshop

Team

Team

Shardul Aggarwal
Abhiram Kadimetla
Jacob Kersh

Shardul Aggarwal
Abhiram Kadimetla
Jacob Kersh

Sponsor

Sponsor

TJ Rainsford
Interim Director,
iConsultancy

Overview

Designing an experiential learning management system for academic program managers

For my Human-Computer Interaction capstone, I helped build Praxis Impact—a platform that simplifies the management of experiential learning programs.

The tool also enables such programs to develop valuable partnerships with real-world companies and oversee the student projects they sponsor.

My Roles

Interaction Design
User Research
User Testing

Tools

Figma
Miro
Photoshop

Team

Shardul Aggarwal
Abhiram Kadimetla
Jacob Kersh

Sponsor

TJ Rainsford
Interim Director,
iConsultancy

Solution Snapshot

Solution Snapshot

Solution Snapshot

A preview gallery of the final design

A preview gallery of the final design

A preview gallery of the final design

End-to-End Process

End-to-End Process

End-to-End Process

The journey behind the final design

The journey behind the final design

The journey behind the final design

Understand

  • Background

  • Project Objectives

  • Laying the Groundwork

  • Conceptualization

Research

  • Exploring the Market

  • Internal User Interviews

  • External Online Survey

  • Crafting User Personas

Design

  • Terminology Glossary

  • Simulating User Flows

  • Mid-Fidelity Prototype

  • High-Fidelity Prototype

Test

  • Mid-Fidelity User Testing

  • High-Fidelity User Testing

Reflect

  • Notable Sponsor Feedback

  • Journey Retrospective

Product Background

Product Background

Product Background

Learning the basics of experiential learning management

Learning the basics of experiential learning management

Learning the basics of experiential learning management

During my team's first workshop, our sponsor introduced himself as the Interim Director of the iConsultancy—an experiential learning program at UMD.


He then briefed us on the fundamentals of experiential learning programs. We specifically learned about their managerial side, which is often overlooked by students.

During my team's first workshop, our sponsor introduced himself as the Interim Director of the iConsultancy—an experiential learning program at UMD.


He then briefed us on the fundamentals of experiential learning programs. We specifically learned about their managerial side, which is often overlooked by students.

🎓

🎓

What is Experiential Learning?

What is Experiential Learning?

What is Experiential Learning?

Experiential learning is a unique approach to higher education that emphasizes learning through action.


It combines classroom theory with hands-on projects that involve external companies.

Experiential learning is a unique approach to higher education that emphasizes learning through action.


It combines classroom theory with hands-on projects that involve external companies.

🧑‍💼

🧑‍💼

Experiential Learning Program Managers

Experiential Learning Program Managers

Experiential Learning Program Managers

Program managers oversee the creation of experiential learning projects for students.

They optimize relationships between students, staff, and external companies.

Program managers oversee the creation of experiential learning projects for students.

They optimize relationships between students, staff, and external companies.

🌁

🌁

Bridging Program Management Gaps

Bridging Program Management Gaps

Bridging Program Management Gaps

Managers face a unique set of challenges in experiential learning environments.

However, there is significant potential to mitigate these obstacles.

Managers face a unique set of challenges in experiential learning environments.

However, there is significant potential to mitigate these obstacles.

Immediate Objective

Immediate Objective

Immediate Objective

Tasked with creating a unified program management tool from scratch

Tasked with creating a unified program management tool from scratch

Tasked with creating a unified program management tool from scratch

After familiarizing us with experiential learning, our sponsor outlined the project's primary objective:


In experiential learning environments, managers face difficulties overseeing their program and fostering client-based relationships with external companies.


Our task was to design a unified platform to address these challenges.

After familiarizing us with experiential learning, our sponsor outlined the project's primary objective:


In experiential learning environments, managers face difficulties overseeing their program and fostering client-based relationships with external companies.


Our task was to design a unified platform to address these challenges.

Long-Term Objective

Long-Term Objective

Long-Term Objective

Ensuring our solution prioritizes scaleability for nationwide expansion

Ensuring our solution prioritizes scaleability for nationwide expansion

Ensuring our solution prioritizes scaleability for nationwide expansion

Our sponsor also shared his long-term aspirations.


Beginning with UMD, his goal was to evolve Praxis Impact into a scalable solution that meets the management needs of experiential learning programs nationwide.

Our sponsor also shared his long-term aspirations.


Beginning with UMD, his goal was to evolve Praxis Impact into a scalable solution that meets the management needs of experiential learning programs nationwide.

Laying the Groundwork

Laying the Groundwork

Laying the Groundwork

Analyzing client engagement in our sponsor's experiential learning program

Analyzing client engagement in our sponsor's experiential learning program

Analyzing client engagement in our sponsor's experiential learning program

With the primary objective established, we interviewed our sponsor to better understand operations within the iConsultancy.


Specifically, he provided us with a diagram outlining the department's strategy for building client relationships. This gave us a tangible starting point.

With the primary objective established, we interviewed our sponsor to better understand operations within the iConsultancy.


Specifically, he provided us with a diagram outlining the department's strategy for building client relationships. This gave us a tangible starting point.

Conceptualization

Conceptualization

Conceptualization

Using a concept map to better understand roles and relationships

Using a concept map to better understand roles and relationships

Using a concept map to better understand roles and relationships

We then created a concept map highlighting six key players in the iConsultancy's operational structure.


This clarified roles and relationships, helping us identify applicable products to analyze in the following step.

We then created a concept map highlighting six key players in the iConsultancy's operational structure.


This clarified roles and relationships, helping us identify applicable products to analyze in the following step.

Exploring the Market

Exploring the Market

Exploring the Market

A deep dive into related program management systems

A deep dive into related program management systems

A deep dive into related program management systems

Using our findings from the concept map, we began researching relevant program management tools.


Although no existing software fulfilled Praxis Impact’s prospective role, our analysis provided us with actionable insights for planning our user research.

Using our findings from the concept map, we began researching relevant program management tools.


Although no existing software fulfilled Praxis Impact’s prospective role, our analysis provided us with actionable insights for planning our user research.


Key insights from this investigation are laid out below.

💻

💻

Usability & Dashboard

Usability & Dashboard

Usability & Dashboard

Actionable Insight

Actionable Insight

Actionable Insight

Explore how users utilize editable dashboards and filtration tools.

Explore how users utilize editable dashboards and filtration tools.

Explore how users utilize editable dashboards and filtration tools.

Actionable Insight

Actionable Insight

Actionable Insight

Discuss the role of visual aids and data visualization in user workflows.

Discuss the role of visual aids and data visualization in user workflows.

Discuss the role of visual aids and data visualization in user workflows.

🧩

🧩

Features & UI Elements

Features & UI Elements

Features & UI Elements

Actionable Insight

Actionable Insight

Actionable Insight

Evaluate user dependence on platform customizability and integration of external tools.

Evaluate user dependence on platform customizability and integration of external tools.

Evaluate user dependence on platform customizability and integration of external tools.

Actionable Insight

Actionable Insight

Actionable Insight

Understand the tracking features users require to manage client engagement.

Understand the tracking features users require to manage client engagement.

Understand the tracking features users require to manage client engagement.

🖊️

🖊️

Industry & UX Writing

Industry & UX Writing

Industry & UX Writing

Actionable Insight

Actionable Insight

Actionable Insight

Establish expectations for platform terminology in academic environments.

Establish expectations for platform terminology in academic environments.

Establish expectations for platform terminology in academic environments.

Actionable Insight

Actionable Insight

Actionable Insight

Determine how language familiarity impacts platform usability.

Determine how language familiarity impacts platform usability.

Determine how language familiarity impacts platform usability.

Internal User Interviews

Internal User Interviews

Internal User Interviews

Engaging with experiential learning program managers at UMD

Engaging with experiential learning program managers at UMD

Engaging with experiential learning program managers at UMD

Following our market exploration, we interviewed six program managers at UMD.


We used affinity mapping to organize our findings, which revealed common frustrations among users within our own institution.


However, we also recognized the importance of widening our research beyond UMD.

Following our market exploration, we interviewed six program managers at UMD.


We used affinity mapping to organize our findings, which revealed common frustrations among users within our own institution.


However, we also recognized the importance of widening our research beyond UMD.

📉

📉

General Pain Points

General Pain Points

General Pain Points

“If students aren’t gaining real-world experience…we’ve failed”

“If students aren’t gaining real-world experience…we’ve failed”

“If students aren’t gaining real-world experience…we’ve failed”

Users ensure that real-world challenges are reflected within the protected academic environment.

Users ensure that real-world challenges are reflected within the protected academic environment.

Users ensure that real-world challenges are reflected within the protected academic environment.

“Tracking this whole process is like a full-time job”

“Tracking this whole process is like a full-time job”

“Tracking this whole process is like a full-time job”

Users are responsible for visualizing and managing their relationships with clients.

Users are responsible for visualizing and managing their relationships with clients.

Users are responsible for visualizing and managing their relationships with clients.

“It takes a lot to manage win-win relationships”

“It takes a lot to manage win-win relationships”

“It takes a lot to manage win-win relationships”

Users try to foster a mutual relationship between students and clients, but doing so is challenging.

Users try to foster a mutual relationship between students and clients, but doing so is challenging.

Users try to foster a mutual relationship between students and clients, but doing so is challenging.

🛠️

Solution Guidelines

Solution Guidelines

“Google Sheets integration is a must-have for our program”

“Google Sheets integration is a must-have for our program”

Users would benefit from a centralized CRM that integrates with popular productivity and data tools.

Users would benefit from a centralized CRM that integrates with popular productivity and data tools.

“In academic settings, we refer to clients as partners”

“In academic settings, we refer to clients as partners”

Users would like a platform that serves their business needs without sacrificing their academic priorities.

Users would like a platform that serves their business needs without sacrificing their academic priorities.

“Experiential learning management is full of nuance”

“Experiential learning management is full of nuance”

Users seek an interface that can be tailored to their specific academic experiential learning environment.

Users seek an interface that can be tailored to their specific academic experiential learning environment.

External Online Survey

External Online Survey

External Online Survey

Finding qualitative & quantitative insights from managers nationwide

Finding qualitative & quantitative insights from managers nationwide

Finding qualitative & quantitative insights from managers nationwide

Through a mixed methods survey, we expanded our research to include the insights of 20 program managers from experiential learning departments nationwide.


By merging these insights with our findings from the internal interviews, we identified six new themes that transcended institutional boundaries.

Through a mixed methods survey, we expanded our research to include the insights of 20 program managers from experiential learning departments nationwide.


By merging these insights with our findings from the internal interviews, we identified new themes that transcended institutional boundaries.

figma.com/external-online-survey/key-themes

🧰

Integrated Tools

“It’s time consuming and overwhelming to juggle so many tools at once”

Administrators juggle multiple software tools, emphasizing the need for a unified solution.

📊

Measuring Success

“We have a ton of difficulty tracking client relationships and measuring success"

Clear, measurable KPIs for client success must be established.

🤝

Cultivating Trust

“Sometimes, you just have to call them up and have a conversation”

Convincing a client to join and maintaining the relationship is a continuous journey.

🔧

Tailored Features

“Our current management software is extremely limited in functionality”

Programs need a centralized tool that can be tailored to their unique workflow.

Crafting User Personas

Crafting User Personas

Crafting User Personas

Personifying the experiential learning management user spectrum

Personifying the experiential learning management user spectrum

Personifying the experiential learning management user spectrum

Drawing on key themes from our research, we developed personas to represent the diverse users of Praxis Impact.


These personas were crucial for capturing the nuances of program management roles, which vary by institution and leadership level.

Drawing on key themes from our research, we developed personas to represent the diverse users of Praxis Impact.


These personas were crucial for capturing the nuances of program management roles, which vary by institution and leadership level.

Supervisor Sara

Supervisor
Sara

Supervisor Sara

💼

💼

Role

Role

Role

Sara is an Academic Supervisor tracking client and student alignment.

Sara is an Academic Supervisor tracking client and student alignment.

🔍

Needs

Needs

Needs

She is frustrated with having to transfer client satisfaction data between tools.

She desires a centralized tool that uses academic terminology.

She is frustrated with having to manually transfer client satisfaction data on student work between tools.

She wants a centralized platform that uses academic terminology.

She is frustrated with having to transfer client satisfaction data between tools.

She desires a centralized tool that uses academic terminology.

Networker Nico

Networker
Nico

Networker Nico

💼

💼

Role

Role

Role

Nico is an Engagement Lead overseeing outreach and client relations.

Nico is an Engagement Lead overseeing outreach and client relations.

🔍

🔍

Needs

Needs

Needs

He uses software not meant for academia—making it hard to track client acquisition.

He needs a visually oriented relationship tracking tool that uses academic terminology.

He uses software not meant for academia—making it hard to track client acquisition.

He needs a visually oriented relationship tracking tool that uses academic terminology.

Administrator Aaron

Administrator
Aaron

Administrator Aaron

💼

💼

Role

Role

Role

Aaron is an Experiential Learning Dean who oversees multiple departments.

Aaron is an Experiential Learning Dean who oversees multiple departments.

🔍

🔍

Needs

Needs

Needs

Bureaucratic red tape at his university hinders overall communication.

He wants a tool that unifies operations, and has no terminology preference as long as it is understood by all.

Bureaucratic red tape at his university hinders overall communication.

He wants a tool that unifies operations, and has no terminology preference as long as it is understood by all.

Terminology Glossary

Terminology Glossary

Terminology Glossary

Bridging the language gap between business and academia

Bridging the language gap between business and academia

Bridging the language gap between business and academia

Our personas demonstrated that users would benefit from a platform similar to corporate client acquisition software—but tailored to an academic environment.


To lay the foundation for our initial design, we transitioned from business-centric terms to academic language.

Our personas demonstrated that users would benefit from a platform similar to corporate client acquisition software—but tailored to an academic environment.


To lay the foundation for our initial design, we transitioned from business-centric terms to academic language.

Client

Partner

An external collaborator working with an institution on experiential learning projects.

Deal

Opportunity

A proposed experiential learning initiative presented by external partners for student engagement.

Client Acquisition

Workflow

A series of stages that guide an experiential learning opportunity from culmination to closing point.

Acquisition Phase

Workflow Stage

Defined steps within an institution's workflow marking the progression of an experiential learning opportunity.

Client

Partner

An external collaborator working with an institution on experiential learning projects.

Deal

Opportunity

A proposed experiential learning initiative presented by external partners for student engagement.

Client Acquisition

Workflow

A series of stages that guide an experiential learning opportunity from culmination to closing point.

Acquisition Phase

Workflow Stage

Defined steps within an institution's workflow marking the progression of an experiential learning opportunity.

Mapping Red Routes

Mapping Red Routes

Mapping Red Routes

Identifying critical task flows performed by each persona

Identifying critical task flows performed by each persona

Identifying critical task flows performed by each persona

With the platform’s language in place, we shifted our focus to identifying the critical tasks users would perform while navigating Praxis Impact.


We mapped these tasks as red routes to eliminate inefficiencies before designing the first iteration.

With the platform’s language in place, we shifted our focus to identifying the critical tasks users would perform while navigating Praxis Impact.


We mapped these tasks as red routes to eliminate inefficiencies before designing the first iteration.


Below is an example of a specific route.

figma.com/identifying-red-routes

Mid-Fidelity Prototype

Mid-Fidelity Prototype

Mid-Fidelity Prototype

Translating research into a functional design blueprint

Translating research into a functional design blueprint

Translating research into a functional design blueprint

After identifying the red routes that would guide the platform’s structure, we began designing a mid‑fidelity prototype.

We constructed this iteration in grayscale to prioritize functionality over aesthetics during testing.

After identifying the red routes that would guide the platform’s structure, we began designing a mid‑fidelity prototype.

We constructed this iteration in grayscale to prioritize functionality over aesthetics during testing.

figma.com/mid-fidelity-prototype

Mid-Fidelity User Testing

Mid-Fidelity User Testing

Mid-Fidelity User Testing

Harnessing feedback from testing to improve platform usability

Harnessing feedback from testing to improve platform usability

Harnessing feedback from testing to improve platform usability

Through two rounds of functional testing, we evaluated our first iteration's ability to support user task flows.

Feedback from both local and external program managers revealed eight areas for improvement.

Through two rounds of functional testing, we evaluated our first iteration's ability to support user task flows.

Feedback from both local and external program managers revealed eight areas for improvement.

Through two rounds of functional testing, we evaluated our first iteration's ability to support user task flows.

Feedback from both local and external program managers revealed areas for improvement.

figma.com/mid-fidelity-user-testing/key-themes

📈

KPI Refinement

"Tracking partnerships is just not as simple as satisfied vs. unsatisfied"

The current KPIs were not comprehensive enough and lacked clear descriptions.

📤

KPI Relocation

"I need to be able to track each partner's individual satisfaction"

A combined satisfaction percent of every partner is too general and lacks purpose.

🗣️

Stakeholder Views

"We have a parking lot of potential partners and way less active partners"

Stakeholders would not find the graph appealing, as it will always have more prospects.

🚦

Opportunity Updates

"I can't see what stage this opportunity is on from this screen"

Under specific opportunities, users cannot view or change their respective stage.

High-Fidelity Prototype

High-Fidelity Prototype

The culmination of our research and design journey

The culmination of our research and design journey

Building on our insights from mid-fidelity user testing, we created a high-fidelity prototype that blends functionality with aesthetics.

This prototype represents the pinnacle of the project.

figma.com/high-fidelity-prototype

figma.com/high-fidelity-prototype

High-Fidelity Prototype

The culmination of our research and design journey

Building on our insights from mid-fidelity user testing, we created a high-fidelity prototype that blends functionality with aesthetics.

This prototype represents the pinnacle of the project.

figma.com/high-fidelity-prototype

figma.com/high-fidelity-prototype

High-Fidelity User Testing

High-Fidelity User Testing

High-Fidelity User Testing

Testing our definitive iteration to encourage refinement and growth

Testing our definitive iteration to encourage refinement and growth

Testing our definitive iteration to encourage refinement and growth

During the final week of our capstone, we conducted another round of user testing on our high-fidelity prototype.

Our findings ensured the project would be primed for future enhancements by subsequent capstone teams.

During the final week of our capstone, we conducted another round of user testing on our high-fidelity prototype.

Our findings ensured the project would be primed for future enhancements by subsequent capstone teams.

figma.com/high-fidelity-user-testing/key-themes

🎛️

Dashboard Widgets

"I definitely would want to add my own widgets to the dashboard"

Having an editable dashboard layout with custom widgets resonated with users.

🖼️

Expanding Modals

"Would notifications expand into a pop-up or a separate window?

Users were curious about how the notifications modal would look when completed.

📩

Feedback Emails

"I would want to see what feedback emails would look like for partners"

Users loved our idea for how partners would contribute feedback and KPI data.

📅

Calendar Integration

"The calendar tab will be useless if it doesn't sync up to my Google Calendar"

The platform must have integrate with each user's Google Calendar.

Notable Sponsor Feedback

Notable Sponsor Feedback

Notable Sponsor Feedback

Validating the completion of initial objectives and paving the path ahead

Validating the completion of initial objectives and paving the path ahead

Validating the completion of initial objectives and paving the path ahead

Our sponsor confirmed we achieved the primary objective of creating a unified experiential learning platform while also laying the foundation for scalability.

He also highlighted areas for improvement.

Our sponsor confirmed we achieved the primary objective of creating a unified experiential learning platform while also laying the foundation for scalability.

He also highlighted areas for improvement.

Positive Feedback

Positive Feedback

Needs Improvement

Needs Improvement

🌐

Scalable Design

“Praxis Impact succeeds in adapting to the unique needs of all experiential learning programs”

“Praxis Impact succeeds in adapting to the unique needs of all experiential learning programs”

We internalized the sponsor's vision for scalability by designing a tool that emphasizes customization.

We internalized the sponsor's vision for scalability by designing a tool that emphasizes customization.

🗓️

Calendar Tab Omission

"While I understand the time constraints, the lack of a Calendar tab was a noticeable gap"

"While I understand the time constraints, the lack of a Calendar tab was a noticeable gap"

We were unable to integrate and test a calendar tab in our final design.

We were unable to integrate and test a calendar tab in our final design.

🎖️

Value-Driven KPIs

"The KPIs were great—they increase the platform's value for partners, program managers and students"

"The KPIs were great—they increase the platform's value for partners, program managers and students"

We delivered value to stakeholders by integrating KPIs that ensure measurable outcomes for all involved.

We delivered value to stakeholders by integrating KPIs that ensure measurable outcomes for all involved.

✏️

High-Fidelity Iteration Gap

"There was only one iteration of the final prototype; testing revealed stones that remain unturned"

"There was only one iteration of the final prototype; testing revealed stones that remain unturned"

We missed the opportunity to further refine our high-fidelity design, leaving some user needs unaddressed.

We missed the opportunity to further refine our high-fidelity design, leaving some user needs unaddressed.

Positive Feedback

Positive Feedback

🌐

Scalable Design

Scalable Design

“Praxis Impact succeeds in adapting to the unique needs of all experiential learning programs.”

We internalized the sponsor's vision for scalability by designing a tool that emphasizes customization.

🎖️

Value-Driven KPIs

Value-Driven KPIs

"The KPIs were great—they increase the platform's value for partners, program managers and students."

We delivered value to stakeholders by integrating KPIs that ensure measurable outcomes for all involved.

Needs Improvement

Needs Improvement

🗓️

Calendar Tab Oversight

Calendar Tab Oversight

"While I understand the time constraints, the complete lack of a Calendar tab was a noticeable gap."

"While I understand the time constraints, the complete lack of a Calendar tab was a noticeable gap."

We were unable to integrate and test a calendar tab in our final design.

✏️

✏️

High-Fidelity Iteration Gap

High-Fidelity Iteration Gap

"There was only one iteration of the final prototype; testing revealed stones that remain unturned"

We missed the opportunity to further refine our high-fidelity design, leaving some user needs unaddressed.

Journey Retrospective

Journey Retrospective

Journey Retrospective

Reflecting on a uniquely immersive experience

Reflecting on a uniquely immersive experience

Reflecting on a uniquely immersive experience

In our final sponsor workshop, we discussed the paradoxical nature of designing an experiential learning management system as students in the iConsultancy's experiential learning program.

Sometimes, the best way to understand a challenge is to live it.

In our final sponsor workshop, we discussed the paradoxical nature of designing an experiential learning management system as students in the iConsultancy's experiential learning program.

Sometimes, the best way to understand a challenge is to live it.

Case Study Collection

Case Study Collection

Case Study Collection

Check out more of my recent work

Check out more of my recent work

Get in touch with me 📤

Want to delve deeper into my work? Feel free to email me at jkersh07@gmail.com or message me on any other platform. I love meeting new people.

Designed & developed by Jacob Kersh © 2024.

Find me on social media 🔗

Get in touch with me 📤

Want to delve deeper into my work? Feel free to email me at jkersh07@gmail.com or message me on any other platform. I love meeting new people.

Designed & developed by Jacob Kersh © 2024.

Find me on social media 🔗

Get in touch with me 📤

Want to delve deeper into my work? Feel free to email me at jkersh07@gmail.com or message me on any other platform. I love meeting new people.

Designed & developed by Jacob Kersh © 2024.

Find me on social media 🔗