Making registration peer-approved
Summary
Over the course of five weeks in DSGN 214 (Wireframing and App Design Basics), we were challenged to either redesign an existing app or bring a new concept to life.
I created CourseConnect, designed to make course selection smarter and more social. The app surfaces the real-world details students value, helping them choose classes that align with their goals and learning preferences.
Role
Product Designer
Timeline
April 2025 - May 2025
Skills
UX Research, Interaction Design, Visual Design, Prototyping, App Concepting
Tools
Figma, FigJam, Notion, Adobe Creative Suite
Prototype Overview
Say bye to guesswork and plan smarter with trusted friend recommendations
CTECs provide a limited picture, and are only so reliable. With mandatory surveys each quarter, students tend to skim or submit minimal feedback. This leaves future students searching for meaningful insights, only to find generic ratings that fail to reflect the true course experience.
Prototype Placeholder!
The Problem
Students struggle to make confident course decisions with scattered information across sources.
Official information falls short of providing students with the insights they need to choose courses confidently.
Platforms like CTEC surveys (Course and Teacher Evaluation Council) provide overall ratings and statistics, but they often miss the context that students care about most: details like workload, teaching style, and assessment methods.
Are students satisfied with what's out there?
Through an audit of existing tools and interviews with Northwestern students, I noticed a pattern: students rely on an array of resources. But these tools don't work together, and none provide the depth or context students need to make confident choices.
First, I ran a quick comparative analysis between resources.
Understanding Users
But to understand the sentiment a little better, I surveyed 20 students.
Insight #1
Students patch together tools and still feel unsure
70% use official resources and peer advice, but not single resource gives them the full picture.
Insight #2
"Good" means personal fit, not just ratings
90% prioritize content and schedule fit. Students want specifics: workload, assignment types, and teaching style, not just percentages or general reviews.
Insight #3
Friends shape choices, but it's high-stakes
65% trust friends just as much as CTECs, yet 80% fear giving bad advice. Planning stress spikes during registration as classes fill fast.
User Research
Synthesizing Insights
The main theme I found was that students are frustrated between the gap between available information and the realities of taking a class. CTECs and course catalogs provide surface-level details, turning students to word-of-mouth to fill in missing context they seek.
But these peer insights aren't available to everyone. They're highly dependent on who you know, leaving many students without access to the advice they need. To address these challenges, I prioritized these three key insights to guide my design.
I arrived at a critical question…
How might we design a course planning app that brings trusted peer insights and official information together in one place?
Moving into wireframes
Building on these insights, I moved into wireframing. With many potential directions still on the table from user needs, I turned to low-fidelity sketches to distill and prioritize ideas. This process helped me focus on the app's most essential features while staying realistic about the project's time constraints.
Social Feed Iterations
Moving into wireframes
With many potential directions still on the table from user needs, I turned to low-fidelity sketches to distill and prioritize ideas. This process helped me focus on the app's most essential features while staying realistic about the project's time constraints.