

Homeslice
Homeslice is a community-driven platform that connects students with local families or individuals who are keen to share their cultural traditions. An intuitive and user-friendly interface, empowering students to connect with families open to hosting them for cultural celebrations. At the same time, students can reciprocate by inviting these families to participate in their own cultural festivals.
Timeline
Nov - Dec 2023
Role
UX designer
Team
Avishkar Shinde, Ravleen Matharu, Saksham Rajput

My story begins with observing a concerning trend:
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The overlooked impact of homesickness on emotional well-being, especially among students. Witnessing high levels of unhappiness and poor mental health, we recognized the need to address this issue. Through our research, I discovered the significant influence of factors like relocation, stress, and lack of support on emotional health, particularly among international students. This struck a chord, especially considering the challenges faced by the 200,000 Indian students studying abroad, adapting to new environments and customs.

Understanding the users
The design journey was initiated by addressing these questions first:
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Who is our target audience?
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Why only them?
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How is the problem affecting the target audience?
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What are the effects of the problem on the target audience?
Research method used

User Surveys -
We conducted a research study with Indian international students in the United States experiencing homesickness. Using surveys and one-on-one interviews, we gathered responses from 30 participants in just 38 hours. Our analysis of the 12 questions revealed valuable insights into their experiences and emotions.
75%
Percent of Indian graduate students
moved to the states
18-35
Age group
65%
New Students
 (Being in the US for less than a year)

Participants reported poor academic performance due to the feeling of homesickness. It hinders their productivity and may impact their self-esteem, creating a sense of self-doubt.

Participants shared that they experienced various physical symptoms like low energy, headaches and changes in appetite. Apart from these, homesickness has also resulted in symptoms like difficulty concentrating, sleeping problems, and anxiety

Some participants experienced the sense of not fitting in, impacting their ability to function in a social environment. This can often lead to isolation and social withdrawal.

All participants mentioned that cultural shock was one of the major factors which contributed to homesickness.
User Interviews -
To better grasp the challenges of homesickness in our target audience, we conducted one-on-one interviews. The 8 participants we interviewed exhibited varying degrees of homesickness during the initial weeks of college.






This helped us to create a persona that was kept front and center while designing.

Brainstorming & Ideation




Sketching & Prototyping


Proposed Solution
Our solution is a user-friendly platform that connects students with local families willing to share their cultural traditions.
Our goal is to simplify the process for students to connect with these families, who can host them for cultural celebrations. In return, students have the opportunity to invite these families to join in their own cultural festivals.


Final Designs
Profile Building
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Ensuring a secure and user-friendly sign-up process. Upon registration, users embark on a journey to craft a personalized profile, tailoring their feed to align seamlessly with their interests
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Commitment to security is woven into every step. As users build their profiles, we prioritize the authenticity of their information, fostering a reassuring sense of safety and confidence.

Creating a Post
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Streamlining the post-creation process for students to connect with families is our focus. Prioritizing simplicity, ensuring an easy and efficient way for students to engage with these families.
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In addition, following cultural guidelines, ensuring that all events and traditions align with the rules and cultural needs. Committing to a respectful and inclusive approach to fostering connections between students and families.

Private Events
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Organizing a curated event with limited capacity and tailored guidelines according to the host's preferences. Ensuring a smooth and interactive process for participants to connect with hosts and enhance their event experience.
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To join the event, participants can send a quick request to the host and patiently await approval. A convenient chat option is available to facilitate communication, allowing attendees to seek clarification and gather additional details from the event owner.

Public Events
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Welcoming everyone to join an inclusive event where capacity is not a limiting factor. Embracing a first-come, first-served basis, the event promises a plethora of entertainment for all participants.
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Moreover, participants have the option to save events for future registration, providing flexibility and convenience. Ensuring that individuals can easily engage with and register for events that they are interested in at their own pace.

Product Evaluations
User Evaluations
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To gain insights into how potential users interact with our solution, we performed usability testing with four individuals who have either experienced homesickness in the past or are currently feeling it.
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We assessed the system's user-friendliness by having participants explore the application and complete specific tasks.

Expert Evaluations
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We asked four professionals to assess our app. We evaluated our app using experts in the area of human-computer interaction (HCI).
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Our expertise included a Lead UX Designer, a Design Consultant, and two second-year master's students in the discipline of HCI. After providing a quick overview of the app's idea, we asked participants to complete four tasks, as a part of the evaluation

The performance breakdown of each task, by each expert, is illustrated below

Future Scope
We plan on integrating user and expert feedback to enhance our platform's functionality. Our goal is to improve user engagement and event completion rates. We’d also focus on regularly assessing new features to refine the design and enhance the user experience. Plus, we’ll be testing social connection features to foster a stronger community vibe. Continuous improvement through iterative design and user input is at the heart of what we do.
Takeaways
This project has been pivotal in my growth as a designer, deepening my grasp of user research and its impact on crafting exceptional user experiences. It has not only honed my technical skills but also ignited my creativity. I look forward to applying these skills to future projects, pushing the boundaries of design innovation and user engagement.