Whitney Speck
Kait Baer
Duey Smith
Quyen Hoang
Samartha Obre
Product Demo
For my team's Master's Thesis, we created the App Prototype Gradify.
Gradify supports users throughout their entire student loan journey - from teenagers starting right out of high school to middle-aged borrowers who have been repaying loans for 20 years. The app tailors resources to users' current stage, updates their loan hub as new information is added, and tracks progress through milestones in user profiles.
Screen Breakdown
Flexible Onboarding
Input details now or later to access personalized features, with all resources available anytime.
Immediate Access to Key Features
The Dashboard prioritizes deadlines, notes, and financial overviews for quick engagement.
Organize Tasks in One Place
Sync deadlines from external apps or manually input them to stay up-to-date on loan timelines.
Personal Notes for Budgeting
Jot down notes directly in the app to aid informal budgeting or leave encouraging messages for motivation.
Track Loan Progress
Set target goals based on loan projections, monitor payments, and visualize progress data.
Dynamic Loan Projections
Calculate and adjust projections based on evolving loan details.
Quick Access to Help
Easily contact universities or loan providers for support.
Explore Resources
Find tailored resources, or search topics. In-app articles + videos provide accessible guidance to reduce confusion, misinformation, and redundancy.
Tip of the Week
Get weekly, actionable loan management advice
Celebrate Milestones
Track loan journey milestones in the user profile, reinforcing progress and providing encouragement through gamification elements.
Building Elements
Target Audience
Gradify is designed for a diverse group of student loan borrowers, including recent graduates, current students, and professionals balancing education with work. Our goal is to provide personalized tools and resources for effective loan management, fostering financial literacy and empowerment.
Primary Audience
- Students and Recent Graduates: Actively managing loans, seeking repayment tools, and improving financial knowledge.
- Young Professionals: Navigating independent finances and loan repayments post-education
Secondary Audience
- Parents/Guardians: Supporting students in managing loans.
- Educational Institutions: Offering financial resources to students.
- Financial Advisors: Assisting borrowers with debt management.
- Employers: Supporting employees with loan repayment strategies and financial wellness initiatives.
Initial Element Selection
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Kait and I collaborated on designing the initial lo-fi frames, which we tested through a survey with 49 respondents. Key findings included:
- Users value both video and article formats for learning.
- Upcoming payments, loan goals, and habit tracking were top priorities, in that order.
- Positive experiences matter - users want encouraging visuals for payments and milestone achievements because managing loans sucks.
Tree-Diagram / User Flow
As we were figuring out what features we wanted to include, I began developing a tree diagram to illustrate the ideal user journey.
This artifact underwent many iterations across throughout the design journey - we would adapt features based off of the surveys, interviews, and usability findings. This was our final tree diagram used for the hi-fi prototype.
Usability Testing
Kait demonstrating app features at UMSI's 2024 Student Expo
We created a low-fidelity prototype based on insights from 60 surveys and 10 interviews. This prototype was tested with 10 participants through the following tasks:
Tasks:
- Complete the onboarding process and explore the main page.
- Add a note.
- Review upcoming tasks and add a new one.
- Check loan repayment progress.
- Explore resources to learn more about student loans.
Post-task Questions:
- How was your overall experience?
- What went well?
- What was challenging?
- What would you add or change in the prototype?
Onboarding Findings
All users found the onboarding process easy to follow, with 8 out of 10 appreciating the option to select focus areas. However, 8 users were unsure how to update their profile later.
Dashboard Findings
7 out of 10 users found the dashboard intuitive but preferred key features, like upcoming dates, to be placed at the top.
9 out of 10 users struggled with adding a note, as the icon didn’t align with expectations for note creation.
Manage Tasks Findings
6 out of 10 users questioned the task management screen, with some preferring automated tasks while others liked manual entry. Users also wondered what happens to deleted or overdue tasks, and found the history icon unclear regarding its timeframe scope.
Loan Hub Findings
9 out of 10 users struggled to locate the loan progress screen due to confusion with the pencil icon, which resembled the note creation button.
8 out of 10 found the loan progress tracker helpful for goal management, with many wanting loan-specific details and 4 users appreciating encouraging messages.
Screen Evolution + Ethical Considerations
Student loans are a significant U.S. social issue, often stemming from systemic inequities. We aimed to create a user-friendly experience that benefits users, rather than further exacerbating challenges.
A few changes made based off findings:
- Initially, we placed the loan progress tracker and notes at the top, but user feedback revealed a preference for seeing upcoming deadlines first.
- Budget tracking was also deprioritized after learning it wasn't a key concern.
- A significant change involved how notes were displayed - we simplified the layout to make the information more accessible and clear.
Additional UX Research
Interview Analysis by UX Researchers
The UX Research team conducted interviews to understand student loan borrowers’ journeys, payment processes, and perceptions of loan management, including budgeting strategies and prioritization. They focused on three target groups: Post-Graduates, Student Loan Bowers, and Incoming Students.
Using convenience sampling, we interviewed 10 participants fitting these profiles. Each session, guided by an Interview Protocol, lasted 20–40 minutes. Key findings are summarized below.
Survey Results
The survey aimed to collect qualitative and quantitative data to identify feature priorities and challenges faced by student loan borrowers at various stages: pre-borrowing, during schooling, and post-graduation. Conducted from 3/5/2024 to 3/11/2024, it was shared on Facebook, Reddit, and Instagram, garnering 47 responses.
Common Methods: Staying Updated
The most common method for staying informed about loans was email notifications from providers (67%), followed by manually checking providers’ websites (58%). This highlights users' preference for timely, proactive communication.
Common Methods: Engaging with information
Respondents preferred accessible, visual mediums, with 67% consuming information via videos, 54% through articles, and 35% via micro-learning. These insights suggest incorporating quick, easily digestible learning modules alongside visual and written content.
The Visual Design
Branding Decisions
Our branding strategy for Gradify aimed to move away from the typical, uninspiring government-style palettes. We chose a modern color scheme to create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
The typeface Nunito complements this aesthetic, ensuring readability and enhancing usability across devices, while keeping the app approachable and user-friendly.
Business Icon set sourced from FreePik
Final poster detailing a high level overview of Gradify.
So What's Next?
What would the critical success factors be if Gradify was developed?
Year 1 Metrics
Target 80% retention rate among incoming students by graduation, with engagement during FAFSA and loan disbursement.Ongoing Engagement
Encourage sophomores and juniors to interact with the app at least once per semester during key milestones.Post-Graduation Success
Track post-graduation usage, focusing on employment and loan repayment updates.By monitoring user engagement and adapting based on feedback, Gradify ensures long-term value and success for borrowers.
