Redesigning iSchool Commons to better Accomodate Graduate Workers

Contextual Design, Qualitative Analysis, Affinity Mapping, Data Visualization, Design Research

With the planning phase of the redesign of i-School commons underway, teams in the INST710 research methods in UX design

for Dr. Wayne Lutters,who would serve as our client for the project.

Over the course of a semester, we


We were team Arjav (don't be fooled, I did not lead our group), and we were tasked with gathering actionable feedback for the redesign of i-school commons.

Check out the current state of the project here

Collaborators Stephanie Apollon, Antariksa Akhmadi, Yabing Yang

Client Dr. Wayne Lutters (Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives, UMD iSchool)

Timeline

Role

Role

Overview

Our research evaluated the space needs of groups within the iSchool to recommend future space reallocations.

Research Question

What are the privacy needs of iSchool graduate assistants in a shared workspace, and how might a space accommodate these needs while fostering community and collaboration?

Goal

To understand the balance between privacy, sense of community, and collaboration for iSchool graduate assistants.

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Study Design

Participants

Demographics

Graduate Assistants (GAs)- Research Assistants (RAs), Graders, Teaching Assistants (TAs)

  • Age: Minimum 20 Years of Age

  • Hours Worked Per Week: 20 hours

Specific Qualifying Criteria

  • Must be enrolled in the INFO College/iSchool

  • Must be employed by the university

  • Must be a graduate student

Data collection and synthesis

We conducted contextual interviews and focus group discussions with graduate assistants to gather qualitative data.

Data Collection and Transcription

The recorded interviews were transcribed using Revoldiv and Zoom

Initial Interpretation and Affinity Notes Creation

  • Key points were identified by reviewed and interpreting the interview notes.

  • Created affinity notes from the interpreted data in Google Sheets, representing each significant point.

Grouping and Diagram Assembly

  • Grouped the affinity notes into broader themes

  • Organized the grouped notes into an affinity diagram using Figma for visual representation.

Results

  • Key points were identified by reviewed and interpreting the interview notedfs

Wall Walk and Model Creation

Wall Walk Engagement and Feedback Collection

Carried out a wall walk involving teachers, learners, and various stakeholders to share preliminary results.

Gathered responses and ideas regarding topics such as bookable study areas and safe storage.

Based on interview insights, the Space Matrix helps depict spaces categorized into quiet/open, quiet/closed, noisy/open, and noisy/closed.

This User Journey Map illustrates a typical graduate worker’s experience, highlighting emotional states throughout the day.

The Identity Model represents the graduate assistants’ perceptions of their roles, enjoyment, and workspace needs at the iSchool, showcasing common characteristics and needs despite different job types.

Feedback Interpretation and Design Visioning

  • Discussed feedback to determine which ideas to keep, learn more about, or discard.

  • Developed design visions based on feedback, including concepts like greenhouse-style indoor greenery, re-divided workspaces, and a reservable room system.

Click here to download the full report

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