1. Project Overview:

In this case study, we explore the design and development of a social media website tailored for university students, aimed at fostering collaboration and support among peers. Emphasizing the significance of a comprehensive literature review in the initial research phase, this study highlights how insights from existing academic and industry sources informed the design decisions. By integrating features such as group discussions, live rooms, and gig postings, the platform aims to create a vibrant online community where students can connect, share knowledge, and offer mentorship. The study details the user-centered design approach, prototyping, and iterative testing that shaped the final product, ensuring it meets the diverse needs of the student population.

<aside> 🗣 Summary: This case study outlines the design of a social media platform for students, emphasizing peer collaboration, support, and opportunity sharing.

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2. Problem Statement:

<aside> ❓ University students often struggle with finding effective ways to collaborate and seek support from their peers, especially in large academic environments where personal connections can be limited. Traditional social media platforms do not cater specifically to the unique needs of students for academic collaboration, mentorship, and skill development.

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Research has identified several key challenges that university students commonly face:

  1. Limited Access to Peer Support: Many students feel isolated and unsupported, which can negatively affect their academic performance and general well-being.
  2. Inefficient Collaboration Tools: Existing collaboration tools are often fragmented and not unified within a single platform, creating difficulties for students when coordinating group projects or sharing resources.
  3. Inadequate Mentorship Opportunities: While mentorship has been proven to significantly boost learning outcomes, many students find it hard to connect with suitable mentors.
  4. Scarcity of Relevant Gig Opportunities: Students often seek flexible earning opportunities that also help them develop and apply their skills. However, these opportunities can be scattered and hard to locate.

In light of these challenges, there's a clear need for a dedicated social media platform that caters specifically to university students. This platform should support academic collaboration, offer mentorship, and provide gig opportunities. It should provide a unified, user-friendly space that addresses the unique academic and professional needs of students.

The goal of this project is to design a comprehensive social media platform based on insights from existing literature and user research. This platform aims to improve student collaboration, provide support, and foster professional growth. Ultimately, it seeks to create a more connected and empowered student community.

3.Background and Context

Before delving into the specifics of the platform, it's important to lay the groundwork by examining the broader context. This revolves around several key themes that are prevalent in the lives of university students and significantly influence their academic and personal experiences. These themes, which form the basis of our platform's design, are outlined below: