Transforming Wellness Services with the Illinois App

TLDR: Researched and designed an app used by 40,000 students at the University of Illinois.

Teams
Design Strategy, Rokwire Leadership

Role
Design Strategist

Year
2021

BACKGROUND

The University of Illinois, home to a vibrant community of over 40,000 students, recognized the need to revolutionize the way wellness services were delivered on campus. The Illinois App, a collaborative effort across various departments, aimed to centralize campus services and foster a more connected university experience.

A few grad students I had the pleasure of teaching for a day and the same people we were designing this app for

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Currently, students bear the responsibility of seeking help independently during times of struggle or crisis, and the one-size-fits-all approach does not cater to the unique needs of each individual.

Voices of Support

As we delved into brainstorming sessions with different groups, a pattern emerged. The suggestions and features being proposed aligned with the specific voices of support that mattered most to students. This realization became the cornerstone of our design strategy - understanding and amplifying these voices in the app.

Gathers information from and about students to help personalize their college experience.
Populates the dashboard with relevant and timely information and resources for each student.
Provides a safe space for students to voice their struggles
Works alongside the Confidant to guide them to the appropriate care
Encourages reflection in order to help students connect healthy behaviors with positive outcomes.
Facilitates socialization and in-person experiences between peers.
Identifies areas for improvement within existing structures and provides channels for students to safely report cases of misconduct

SOLUTION

Our envisioned solution was a future version of the Illinois App that seamlessly integrated wellness into every aspect of a student's journey through college. This holistic approach aimed to provide personalized support, acknowledging that what works for one student may not work for another. The app became a companion, understanding and adapting to the unique needs of each user.

CONTINUAL RESEARCH & ITERATIVE DEVELOPMENT

The journey didn't end with ideation; instead, it evolved into continual research and development. Concepts presented were subjected to ongoing research, with a commitment to refining and improving the user experience. Multiple iterations have been introduced into the app, each building upon the last, based on user feedback and evolving needs.

RESULTS

The implementation of the internal tool yielded significant improvements in efficiency and cost savings:

Holistic Wellness Integration
- The Illinois App now stands as a testament to the integration of wellness into every aspect of a student's journey, providing support at every turn.
User-Centric Features
- Features developed align with the specific voices of support that matter to students, creating a user-centric experience tailored to individual needs.
Continual Improvement
- The app's evolution is ongoing, with each iteration informed by user feedback, ensuring a dynamic and responsive tool that grows with the changing needs of the student community.