Design Thinking: Housing for International Students
Type
Design Thinking
Skills
Design Thinking, Business Solution
YEAR
2023
Utilizing the design thinking framework, this project addressed the housing challenges faced by international students through a user-centered approach. By conducting primary and secondary research, we identified users' needs and requirements, framed the problem, and developed personas to guide solution development. The project incorporated SWOT analysis, iterative prototyping, and Think Aloud user testing, ultimately delivering a solution tailored to real user needs. The project was awarded 96% for its comprehensive and practical approach.
In this project, we applied the design thinking framework to research, design, and develop solutions for international student housing challenges. We conducted user interviews, framed How Might We (HMW) questions, and performed a SWOT analysis to uncover key user needs, such as access to affordable rental options and trustworthy information. Our designed persona, representing a typical international student struggling with housing, guided our empathy-driven approach.
By aligning design decisions with the persona’s goals and frustrations, we prototyped, tested, and iterated solutions that addressed the core pain points. User feedback during testing helped refine the final solution, ensuring it was both practical and impactful.