01. Background

Getting Started with our First Designathon

My team and I participated in the UXL Designathon, tasked with creating an experience that sparks curiosity and enhances learning. Over 36 hours, we researched, ideated, and pitched our final product. This was a key learning experience for me, as it was both my first designathon and my first time leading a team of two other designers from ideation to execution.

I managed scheduling, delegated tasks, and led the visual design while conducting user research and contributing to UI and user flows. In the end, we received recognition for our user research and clean, intuitive UI design!

02. Problem Discovery

Exploring the Problem Space

For the UXL Designathon, we were given the prompt: How might we design an experience that sparks curiosity, self-reflection, and experimentation to enhance learning and discovery?

As we explored the problem space, we identified a particular challenge faced by second-generation immigrants in predominantly English-speaking societies. Many struggle to maintain their first language, which can lead to feelings of isolation, as language is key to connecting with culture and community. Factors like upbringing, limited exposure to immigrant communities, and time spent away from native-speaking environments contribute to this decline. From this insight, we shifted our focus to asking:

How might we help second-generation immigrants effectively relearn and reconnect with their first language in an immersive and engaging way?

03. User Research and insights

Understanding Language Loss and Cultural Disconnection

Secondary Research

To kick off our design process, we began by researching the problem space. Our findings reinforced that culture is a system of symbols, meanings, and norms, with language being a key connector within it. We also discovered that immersion—learning a language through real-life experiences leads to much greater fluency than traditional classroom methods.

This highlighted the importance of immersive, practical experiences in language learning. Based on this, we realized that adopting a community-driven, immersive approach would be essential for our solution.

Primary Research

To gain a deeper insight on our potential users’ needs and wants, we decided to conduct primary research by conducting a survey who have lost their ability to speak their first language. When creating this survey, we aimed to determine and explore topics such as:

• ✽ What challenges does our audience face from not knowing their first language?

• ✽ Which aspects of fluency are most difficult for them (e.g., reading, speaking)?

• ✽ What learning strategies have proven most effective for them?

We distributed the survey through social media platforms and received 40+ responses. After looking at the responses from the survey results, some interesting takeaways from the respondents were:

Following that, we had one-on-one interviews with two University students who rely on public transportation on a daily basis. Our goal was to connect on a personal level, delving into the unique challenges they faced and exploring the daily struggles encountered when trying to access their transportation services.

Key Survey Takeaways

Defining the User

Based on our research and survey responses, we created three personas representing different fluency levels in reading, writing, and speaking. These personas helped us define our user base and refine our design choices by highlighting the gaps and struggles users face when trying to relearn their first language.

Persona 1

Persona 2

Competitive Analysis

Based on our research and survey responses, we created three personas representing different fluency levels in reading, writing, and speaking. These personas helped us define our user base and refine our design choices by highlighting the gaps and struggles users face when trying to relearn their first language.

Consolidating Key Feature Requirements

After completing our research, we consolidated a list of key features to target in the final design of our product.

04. Ideation

Structuring the Website

My team created an information architecture map to visualize and plan the website flow. With several pages to include, this approach helped us organize our features and account for various user interactions.

Establishing our branding and style guide

With a clear vision for our user interface, we focused on establishing a visual identity to ensure a cohesive look across the platform. Our goal was to create a playful yet clean design, using colors that reflect the theme of learning and growth.

Start your Language Learning Journey

Explore the app's features through a simple guided introduction, where users can easily log in or create a new account for a more personalized and engaging experience.

Create and set goals for yourself

Set and track your aspirations through Genspeak's planning feature! Users can create learning goals they wish to achieve and can be held accountable through reminders.

Learn alongside others!

Connect with others who are dedicated to enhancing their fluency. With mini games, speaking prompts, and various activities, you'll enjoy an interactive and engaging learning experience alongside new friends and peers in your community.

Master Everyday Phrases at Your Own Pace

Improve your fluency with lessons that focus on essential language skills, featuring practical, everyday phrases for real-world conversations.

06. Conclusion

Reflections

As this was my first designathon and my first time leading two other designers, I learned a lot about collaborating within a tight timeframe. Some key takeaways include: