Independent Study through Middlebury College’s Department of Architectural Studies
Your College Concierge
After witnessing the heartbreaking rise in suicide rates on my college campus, I felt an urgent need to do something—something that could help students feel seen, supported, and less alone. That’s what inspired me to create Your College Concierge, an app prototype designed to foster meaningful connection, emotional well-being, and a sense of belonging in a campus culture that often feels isolating. With no formal background in UX design, I dove into the process headfirst—teaching myself everything from user research and wireframing to prototyping. My goal here was to utilize design to make a difference, be the reason for change.
Date
February 2024 - May 2024
Industry
UX / UI Design
Scope of work
Product Design
Problem
Following a series of events that deeply impacted our campus, it became clear that many students were grappling with feelings of isolation and disconnection. I wanted to understand the root of this growing tension—what social dynamics were contributing to the rise in depression and lack of community? In my exploration, I initially looked at dating apps as models for connection, but quickly realized the problem was much deeper. On our close-knit campus, students were finding it difficult to move beyond surface-level interactions. Preconceived judgments and social pressure were preventing many from forming genuine, judgment-free relationships. As a result, students lacked a sense of belonging and were hesitant to engage in the broader community.
Challange
Tackling a real issue affecting my campus community using Figma for the first time pushed me to step outside my comfort zone. I conducted extensive research on my target audience, Middlebury College students, to better understand their needs, behaviors, and emotional landscape. This hands-on process was not only a crash course in UX design but also a deeply personal effort to design with empathy and impact.
After surveying 100 randomly selected students, the results (shown above) revealed a strong need for a platform that fosters vulnerability, connection, and community. While recent events had certainly intensified the emotional strain on campus, the responses pointed to a deeper, ongoing issue: many students were silently struggling with the fear of being judged—an obstacle that kept them from feeling truly at home at their school. Your College Concierge is an AI-powered app designed to support students in both their daily routines and their emotional well-being. It helps users manage campus life, discover activities aligned with their interests, stay connected to relevant events, and reflect on their habits to encourage personal growth. At its core, the platform is about building meaningful connections and helping students feel seen, supported, and empowered.
Problem
Following a series of events that deeply impacted our campus, it became clear that many students were grappling with feelings of isolation and disconnection. I wanted to understand the root of this growing tension—what social dynamics were contributing to the rise in depression and lack of community? In my exploration, I initially looked at dating apps as models for connection, but quickly realized the problem was much deeper. On our close-knit campus, students were finding it difficult to move beyond surface-level interactions. Preconceived judgments and social pressure were preventing many from forming genuine, judgment-free relationships. As a result, students lacked a sense of belonging and were hesitant to engage in the broader community.
Challange
Tackling a real issue affecting my campus community using Figma for the first time pushed me to step outside my comfort zone. I conducted extensive research on my target audience, Middlebury College students, to better understand their needs, behaviors, and emotional landscape. This hands-on process was not only a crash course in UX design but also a deeply personal effort to design with empathy and impact.
After surveying 100 randomly selected students, the results (shown above) revealed a strong need for a platform that fosters vulnerability, connection, and community. While recent events had certainly intensified the emotional strain on campus, the responses pointed to a deeper, ongoing issue: many students were silently struggling with the fear of being judged—an obstacle that kept them from feeling truly at home at their school. Your College Concierge is an AI-powered app designed to support students in both their daily routines and their emotional well-being. It helps users manage campus life, discover activities aligned with their interests, stay connected to relevant events, and reflect on their habits to encourage personal growth. At its core, the platform is about building meaningful connections and helping students feel seen, supported, and empowered.
