• Welcome to my portfolio! I am a multidisciplinary design student at Texas State University exploring how thoughtful branding and experiences can strengthen communities across digital and physical spaces.

  • Welcome to my portfolio! I am a multidisciplinary design student at Texas State University exploring how thoughtful branding and experiences can strengthen communities across digital and physical spaces.

App Design

Case Study

UX Research

University Retention Recovery

A research-led mobile app that combats student isolation and works to improve retention rates at Texas State University. By streamlining event discovery through tested UX strategy, it bridges the gap between students and campus culture.

demonstrates

Figma · Adobe Illustrator · Consensus.ai

tools

Adobe Indesign · Adobe Illustrator · Figma

01
The Problem

Freshmen, transfer, and first generation students at Texas State University often face barriers to belonging, leading to higher attrition.


Despite formal organizations, a lack of "casual-social" infrastructure leaves many feeling isolated and without a clear roadmap for community engagement.

02
Research & Developments

While gaining more research on Texas States engagement resources I consistently referred to my main concern:


How might I help students build meaningful campus connections that encourage greater academic engagement and consistent attendance?

Early Planning

02
Research & Developments

While gaining more research on Texas States engagement resources I consistently referred to my main concern:


How might I help students build meaningful campus connections that encourage greater academic engagement and consistent attendance?

From interviews with TXST students.

“As a transfer student, I feel shy about joining clubs halfway through the semester.”

“I know TXST has resources, but actually using any of them always feels like such a process.”

“College feels isolating! I miss my family and go back home almost every weekend.”

Statements from university professionals on retention.

“The first year or two are the times of highest risk for the students leaving the university.”






- Joe Meyer, Director of Institutional Research at Texas State University

“From joining student organizations to being in the band, playing intramural sports, or working on campus. These opportunities put the student in the center of campus, and that translates to better retention rates.”



- Dr. Cynthia Hernandez, VP of Student Success

“The first year or two are the times of highest risk for the students leaving the university.”






- Joe Meyer, Director of Institutional Research at Texas State University

“From joining student organizations to being in the band, playing intramural sports, or working on campus. These opportunities put the student in the center of campus, and that translates to better retention rates.”



- Dr. Cynthia Hernandez, VP of Student Success

“From joining student organizations to being in the band, playing intramural sports, or working on campus. These opportunities put the student in the center of campus, and that translates to better retention rates.”



- Dr. Cynthia Hernandez, VP of Student Success

Early Iterations

Paper prototypes of app design for students to plan, post, and connect through local and campus events.

User Testing

User Profile

Easy-going UI that feels familiar to use

Easy-going UI that feels familiar to use

Connection features for groups and friends

Connection features for groups and friends

incentives for going/planning events

incentives for going/planning events

Casual, one-time gatherings

Casual, one-time gatherings

Casual, one-time gatherings

Safety features

Safety features

Safety features

On and off campus gatherings

On and off campus gatherings

Planning aspect that combats resource fatigue

Planning aspect that combats resource fatigue

Tags for events to signal to users that being a "newbie" is welcomed

Tags for events to signal to users that being a "newbie" is welcomed

User Needs

Through research and early developments I was able to pin point what my final solution was going to need for it's intended audiences benefit.

03
The Solution

Through research and iterative design, I developed BusyBuddy.


Busy Buddy is a mobile app concept designed to help college students discover, create, and share campus events. By making event discovery more accessible, casual, and personalized, BusyBuddy encourages community engagement and helps students build stronger connections within their campus environment.

Solution

03
The Solution

Through research and iterative design, I developed BusyBuddy.


Busy Buddy is a mobile app concept designed to help college students discover, create, and share campus events. By making event discovery more accessible, casual, and personalized, BusyBuddy encourages community engagement and helps students build stronger connections within their campus environment.

BusyBuddy

BusyBuddy

Shaping Your College Journey!

Shaping Your College Journey!

BusyBuddy

Shaping Your College Journey!

The Final User Flow

Event Discovery Pages

Planning | Profile & Badges | Campus Feed | Inbox

takeaways

Moving forward with this project, I plan to explore EDU-email verification for all accounts and a "Verified Host" badge system.

I want to further develop the rewards system to act as a bridge between social engagement and academic persistence.
I am interested in how the app could also reward academic achievement alongside social participation.

takeaways

Moving forward with this project, I plan to explore EDU-email verification for all accounts and a "Verified Host" badge system.

I want to further develop the rewards system to act as a bridge between social engagement and academic persistence.
I am interested in how the app could also reward academic achievement alongside social participation.

Let's Connect!

LINKEDIN

EMISKOVITZ@GMAIL.COM