The idea for Applica arose from my personal struggles and frustrations with the graduate school application process. Conversations with peers revealed that hiring a consultant was not only prohibitively expensive but often unreliable, offering cookie-cutter advice. Additionally, balancing work commitments left us with little time to seek effective guidance. These challenges motivated me to create a better solution for future applicants.
The demand for graduate education has increased among working professionals seeking career advancement.
Applica aims to bridge this gap by offering AI-driven, tailored recommendations and a supportive community for prospective students.
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Collect user preferences to create a personalized experience during user onboarding
Allow users to keep track of their daily schedules and access personalized program and mentor recommendations based on their preferences. Enable users to track their milestones effectively.
Leverage AI-powered tools to browse programs across different industries.
A forum where users can ask questions, share experiences, and connect with alumni.
By exploring online forums, I discovered that many others faced similar challenges. They struggled to find the right program that met their needs, connect with others to gain insights, and balance these efforts with their work commitments.
I also conducted competitive analysis to identify the pros and cons of current graduate school support providers.
With the identified insights, I conducted primary user research, which included a survey of 20 participants and in-depth interviews with three individuals lasting 45 minutes each. This research uncovered several key insights into how people select graduate programs:
“I want a grad school program that aligns with my career goals, but searching feels overwhelming. I wish I had a tool that simplifies the process and connects me with others who can share their experiences.”
Finding right programs under overwhelming information.
Hard to balance research time with their daily job and financial constraints
Finding programs that align with career goals and schedule with efficiency.
Networking and obtaining candid feedback from peers.
After I identified user’s needs and goals, I started to brainstorming ideas to address their needs. Based on the user research, I created a 2x2 matrix where the x-axis represents user value and the y-axis represents business impact. This helped me identify the three most critical features to prioritize: personalized program recommendations, tailored suggestions, and networking opportunities with industry professionals.
With the identified key features and problem statement, I created the information architecture to organize the content hierarchy and navigation structure through four main sections: Home, Explore, Community, and Profile. Then, I began to visualize how the content should be laid out on the screen to connect users with the features and functionalities designed to support their educational pursuits.
Using the information architecture as my guide, I pinpointed key screens in the wireframe to enhance user navigation and interface design. Key features like tailored recommendations, AI-driven program search, and interactive community spaces are integrated.
After creating the wireframes, I conducted two usability testing sessions with target users, identifying two key issues. Based on this feedback, I iterated on the design to enhance the user experience.
Collect detailed user preferences about graduate school programs, ensuring a tailored experience from the start. During this process, users input their academic interests, desired locations, program size, and tuition range for study.
Allow users to track their daily schedules with quick event links and access personalized program and mentor recommendations based on their preferences. Enable users to track their milestones effectively.
Browse programs across diverse industries, discover key trends, and access tailored recommendations. Utilize advanced filters to enhance users’ decision-making process.
Gain valuable insights and firsthand experiences from program alumni. Arrange meetings to discuss career paths, program details, and personal growth opportunities.
Engage in the Community, a vibrant forum where users can ask questions, share their experiences, and connect with alumni from various fields. Participate in discussions, gain insights from peers, and access advice from those who have successfully navigated similar paths.
To maintain consistency across the mobile app, I created a style guide featuring color palettes and typography, offering applicants a calmer and less stressful application preparation process.
The creation of Applica underscored the importance of maintaining a user-centered approach and embracing iterative testing. By actively involving users during the design phase, I was able to hone in on features that directly resonate with their needs, like tailored program recommendations and a dynamic community platform.
I had the opportunity to present this app design at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in front of an audience of over 100 and received positive feedback. My next steps involve developing and testing prototypes to evaluate their business value, user engagement, and impact, ensuring the app effectively meets the needs of its target audience.
@2025 Olivia Yan
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