Student Design Challenge: A Project to Find Your Core... and Your WOW 

"Online, We change identities easily and without a second thought. The problem is managing it all. 
Who are we? Who am I? Would there be a way to “clean up” or even erase ones identity?"

-Marty Siegel, Interaction Design Practice 2013

Overview

First-year international students face an unique challenge in connecting with domestic students due to factors such as outward appearance and language. Their identity is difficult to manage and share as they integrate into a new culture. Our team's goal was to connect first-year international students with domestic students by means of a shared commonality. This would not only start conversations but help form new relationships by relieving part of your identity. 

To accomplish this goal, we designed a wearable, smart bracelet that students wear during events such as orientation to guide them to other students who share the same taste in music. 

Proof of Concept

-Deliverable 

Reflection

Our team was very successful on this project because we were all very brutally honest with each other during the process and we learned the value of applying constraints to a design challenge. At anytime, if someone had an issue with direction of the design or wanted to propose a new idea, we used the McCarthy Protocols to move foreword. The McCarthy Protocols allowed us all to vote yes or no, and if there were any down-votes, the person who proposed the idea got to ask, "what would it take to get you in", to start a conversation. We were always on the same page and in full agreement. Everyone trusted each other.

Steve Jobs once said, "I'm as proud of what we don't do as I am of what we do." Our team turned down design after design until we got it right. A big part of that was applying constraints during the entire process. Solving the issue of managing identity for everyone in the world is overwhelming challenging. However, by constraining down to a particular population, in a certain situation, you can design a solution for their needs.

Design