Designers
Designers
Designers
APT: Academic Purpose Tool
APT, the Academic Purpose Tool, is an enterprise-level software designed for design students.
Designers
Ana Paula Kim
Key Words
SUMMARY
My Capstone 1 delved into the sentiments of why only 50% of graduating BBA students felt ready for the workforce. Through design research methods, I explored higher education structures, the teaching of design thinking, and community development at The New School and Parsons. I discovered that the intentionally industry-agnostic design of the BBA program was both a unique aspect and a source of confusion. Initially aiming to suggest more program structure through Capstone 2, I realized this contradicted the curriculum's essence. Instead, I designed an intervention to leverage the program's industry-agnostic nature, empowering students as versatile designers and enhancing graduates' adaptability in a rapidly changing job market.
challenge
Initially, my primary stakeholders were students, university faculty and staff, and administration. I identified major gaps in the communication of information and allocation of resources across stakeholders, the root cause of lack of community throughout the school. Through interviews, surveys, site observations, and secondary research, I continued to narrow down how the larger university system was affecting the development of the BBA program as well as the professional development of its students. An opportunity emerged in the shared struggle students have with bridging their unique academic experience with the “real world.” They need to feel empowered in their boundary-pushing education through building a narrative through their work.
Outcome
The solution is APT, the Academic Purpose Tool, an enterprise-level software for design students to curate, organize, and articulate their academic journey. With the students as the primary user, this digital product was designed to be an inviting and intuitive element in the academic experience with three main features: Academic Planner, Project Journal, and Application Materials Builder. It supports students visually in registration, project documentation, and translating portfolios into interview-ready materials. By guiding students to build a narrative of their work, they will feel empowered in their skills and confident to transition into a competitive workforce.
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