Stumble
Stumble is a event discovery and ticket booking Android app for Northeastern University students. You can “swipe” through events, book and view tickets, and share them with friends.
Stumble is an work in-progress, cross-collaborative project between CS 5430 (Computer/Human Interaction) and CS 5520 (Mobile App Development). The app is expected to complete its design and development by the end of Fall 2024. You can view the complete timeline below.
This page will evolve as and when the project progresses.
Ideation
The idea for Stumble initially came from an 'Ideation' assignment in the CS 5430 course. I was tasked with generating 15 ideas around this semester's course theme - “adulting”. After a quick feedback session with a peer, I narrowed it down to the three most promising ideas. Here are the ideas I came up with:
The ideas highlighted in green were selected as the most promising. These were intended to help shape my final project concept.
Heuristic Evaluation
Next, I was tasked with performing a heuristic evaluation of a website or app in the same category as my planned final project. Since some of my ideas centered on university life and events, I chose to evaluate the Northeastern University Events page (https://nuhuskies.evenue.net/)
I reported three usability issues in the form of “Usability Aspect Reports (UARs)”. One sample UAR is shown below.
This heuristic evaluation provided valuable insights into the user experience challenges present in Northeastern University's current event booking page. By identifying usability issues, I was able to better understand common pain points in event discovery and booking, which informed my design choices for Stumble to create a more intuitive and engaging experience for students.
Contextual Inquiry
I then conducted a contextual inquiry with a current MSCS graduate student during an event hosted by the Center for Student Involvement (CSI) called “Coffee Connections”. A contextual inquiry involves the user actively performing a task, allowing for real-time observation and feedback. I interviewed the student as he navigated through the event and gathered his insights afterward. Here are a few of the questions and answers (paraphrased):
Q (Anikesh): How easy was it to find and register for this event?
A (student): It was easy to find this event through CSI’s Instagram page. There was no registration required; I could simply walk up and enter using my Husky Card.
Q (Anikesh): What was something you felt good about after finishing the event?
A (student): Firstly, it was interesting to learn about the Center for Intercultural Engagement and the support available for first-generation, undocumented, and low-income students. It’s heartening to see the university encouraging students from underrepresented backgrounds to pursue higher education and achieve their goals. Secondly, I found the stamp card system for the “Coffee Connections” event series enticing—attending four events to receive a free tumbler is a great way to promote participation.
I also had the opportunity to conduct a brief contextual inquiry with Dr. Andrew Finn, the Director of Student Engagement at the Center for Student Involvement, who oversees the “Coffee Connections” event. Here is an excerpt from our interview:
Q (Anikesh): What do you think is the biggest challenge right now with student engagement at Northeastern University?
A (Dr. Andrew): Students are often overwhelmed by the numerous information sources and unsure where to find relevant events. The main challenge appears to be translating the myriad of digital webpages into exploration of the physical world.
After conducting contextual inquiries with both the graduate student and Dr. Andrew Finn, I gained a comprehensive understanding of events from multiple perspectives. This dual insight allowed me to appreciate not only the student experience but also the institutional challenges related to event engagement. By understanding the needs and concerns of students alongside the strategic goals of the Center for Student Involvement, I am better equipped to design Stumble in a way that effectively addresses these challenges, ultimately creating a more user-friendly and engaging platform for event discovery and participation.
Paper Prototyping
The next assignment involved building low-fidelity prototypes and conducting paper prototyping with several test users. In the sections below, I have included images that illustrate the evolution of the paper prototype through various iterations.
Iteration #1: NU Compass (paper prototype)
In the first iteration, the app was called “NU Compass” and revolved around a map of Northeastern University. The app also had other components like “flash cards” which would provide tips and tricks about the university - apart from event discovery.
Iteration #2: Stumble (paper prototype)
In the second iteration, the app was re-named to “Stumble”, the focus was streamlined into only event discovery and ticket booking. Although this meant losing features like the “flash cards”, the overall app experience became more cohesive.
High Fidelity Prototype
The high fidelity prototype was created in Figma: