MyKodi
MyKodi
Your personal companion to walk you through the college admissions' journey.
Your personal companion to walk you through the college admissions' journey.
ROLE
ROLE
Product Designer
Product Designer
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
August - December 2024
August - December 2024
PROJECT TYPE
PROJECT TYPE
Passion Project
Passion Project
TOOLS AND SKILLS
TOOLS AND SKILLS
Figma, User Research, Affinity Mapping, Personas, Prototyping
Figma, User Research, Affinity Mapping, Personas, Prototyping
CONTEXT
CONTEXT
Drawing inspiration from the world around me
Drawing inspiration from the world around me
I was inspired to pursue this passion project after watching the show Sky Castle, which touches on the immense challenges that high schoolers face during the college application process. At the time I started this project, many of my friends were going through their own college admissions’ journey and I could see the stress that they were facing. This also reminded me of my own hardships going through this process.
I was inspired to pursue this passion project after watching the show Sky Castle, which touches on the immense challenges that high schoolers face during the college application process. At the time I started this project, many of my friends were going through their own college admissions’ journey and I could see the stress that they were facing. This also reminded me of my own hardships going through this process.
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
Lack of college admissions readiness
Lack of college admissions readiness
Many high schoolers feel overwhelmed and anxious due to the obscurity and lack of resources, knowledge, and guidance during their college application process. This era of their life is a very pivotal moment in their academic journey, accompanied by the pressure to do well and the uncertainty of their future. Balancing this application process with their other responsibilities and commitments can become quite demanding, stressful, and emotionally taxing, especially without proper support.
Many high schoolers feel overwhelmed and anxious due to the obscurity and lack of resources, knowledge, and guidance during their college application process. This era of their life is a very pivotal moment in their academic journey, accompanied by the pressure to do well and the uncertainty of their future. Balancing this application process with their other responsibilities and commitments can become quite demanding, stressful, and emotionally taxing, especially without proper support.
SOLUTION
SOLUTION
Streamlining the admissions journey with MyKodi
Streamlining the admissions journey with MyKodi
MyKodi is a mobile application that guides students during this stressful period of their life by helping them stay organized, connect and communicate with a social network for personalized mentorship, and inform them on the various opportunities out there for them.
MyKodi is a mobile application that guides students during this stressful period of their life by helping them stay organized, connect and communicate with a social network for personalized mentorship, and inform them on the various opportunities out there for them.
Organization system to ensure your tasks keep you on track
Organization system to ensure your tasks keep you on track
Staying organized and managing time wisely helps users not get overwhelmed or miss important deadlines. Having their to-dos and due dates in one place ensures a smooth system.
Staying organized and managing time wisely helps users not get overwhelmed or miss important deadlines. Having their to-dos and due dates in one place ensures a smooth system.
One-on-one mentorship with students once in your shoes
One-on-one mentorship with students once in your shoes
A direct messaging system can facilitate personal interactions and guidance between users and other students who have gone through this process to uncover more insider info.
A direct messaging system can facilitate personal interactions and guidance between users and other students who have gone through this process to uncover more insider info.
An AI chatbot, Kodiya, to guarantee efficiency and quick learning
An AI chatbot, Kodiya, to guarantee efficiency and quick learning
Quick learning with MyKodi’s chatbot, Kodiya, helps users get inquiries answered in a convenient manner to save time on research. It provides instant, tailored assistance to users’ questions in real-time.
Quick learning with MyKodi’s chatbot, Kodiya, helps users get inquiries answered in a convenient manner to save time on research. It provides instant, tailored assistance to users’ questions in real-time.
Informational guidebook for the ins and outs of the process
Informational guidebook for the ins and outs of the process
Numerous resources for each sector of the college application can educate users on useful tips and tricks by providing access to essential information in one centralized location for users to browse through.
Numerous resources for each sector of the college application can educate users on useful tips and tricks by providing access to essential information in one centralized location for users to browse through.
PROBLEM DISCOVERY
PROBLEM DISCOVERY
Students wish they had more support in such a pivot moment in their education
Students wish they had more support in such a pivot moment in their education
I began with white paper research to get some background information into the mental effects and stressors of the college application process. Doing this research also helped me brainstorm a framework of questions to be used in the interviews later on.
I began with white paper research to get some background information into the mental effects and stressors of the college application process. Doing this research also helped me brainstorm a framework of questions to be used in the interviews later on.
Current platforms lack in relevant, personalized resources
Current platforms lack in relevant, personalized resources
I conducted a competitive analysis to see which college readiness products are currently on the market. The analysis was done using the SWOT framework for the platforms Naviance, Niche, Scoir, and BigFuture Schools. Performing this analysis allowed me to explore different opportunities for developing MyKodi.
I conducted a competitive analysis to see which college readiness products are currently on the market. The analysis was done using the SWOT framework for the platforms Naviance, Niche, Scoir, and BigFuture Schools. Performing this analysis allowed me to explore different opportunities for developing MyKodi.
Diving deeper into how students actually feel…
Diving deeper into how students actually feel…
I conducted 5 semi-structured user interviews and launched an open-ended questionnaire of the interview questions that was completed by 10 more participants. With qualitative insights from 15 participants, (70% who were going through the college application process + 30% who have previously gone through the whole process), I was able to identify major pain points and themes from the data.
Following the data collection, I organized the information through coding the important input from each of the questions and by creating a few affinity maps of the data.
I conducted 5 semi-structured user interviews and launched an open-ended questionnaire of the interview questions that was completed by 10 more participants. With qualitative insights from 15 participants, (70% who were going through the college application process + 30% who have previously gone through the whole process), I was able to identify major pain points and themes from the data.
Following the data collection, I organized the information through coding the important input from each of the questions and by creating a few affinity maps of the data.
MAJOR PAIN POINTS
MAJOR PAIN POINTS
1.) Many students feel that they do not have the proper guidance or instruction on how to get started and go through the application process.
2.) Students do not have adequate information about each college and have a hard time identifying the different opportunities for them.
3.) It is difficult to stand out in their overall application, especially with more personal things like their essays.
4.) Students have a hard time managing applications with the other responsibilities in their life.
1.) Many students feel that they do not have the proper guidance or instruction on how to get started and go through the application process.
2.) Students do not have adequate information about each college and have a hard time identifying the different opportunities for them.
3.) It is difficult to stand out in their overall application, especially with more personal things like their essays.
4.) Students have a hard time managing applications with the other responsibilities in their life.
CREATING A DIRECTION
CREATING A DIRECTION
How might MyKodi provide…
How might MyKodi provide…
1.) More guidance and counsel throughout the whole college admissions process from start to finish?
1.) More guidance and counsel throughout the whole college admissions process from start to finish?
→
Direct mentorship support system with profile cards that showcase mentor's experience and application image
Direct mentorship support system with profile cards that showcase mentor's experience and application image
2.) Knowledge and information about the various programs and paths available to the students?
2.) Knowledge and information about the various programs and paths available to the students?
→
Quick learning tool tailored to users' specific needs through AI chatbot
Quick learning tool tailored to users' specific needs through AI chatbot
3.) Tips and tricks on how to craft a unique, distinctive application?
3.) Tips and tricks on how to craft a unique, distinctive application?
→
Information center for learning at user's own pace regarding different aspects of their application
Information center for learning at user's own pace regarding different aspects of their application
4.) Ways to stay organized and manage time?
4.) Ways to stay organized and manage time?
→
All in one spot for task creation and calendar dates to stay notified with all the moving pieces of the application
All in one spot for task creation and calendar dates to stay notified with all the moving pieces of the application
IDEATION
IDEATION
Translating my ideas into sketches
Translating my ideas into sketches
To implement the elements to fit the objectives of the application, I ideated different designs of how the prototype could look. By roughly sketching various compositions, I narrowed down the best and most intuitive and created lo-fi wireframes.
To implement the elements to fit the objectives of the application, I ideated different designs of how the prototype could look. By roughly sketching various compositions, I narrowed down the best and most intuitive and created lo-fi wireframes.
ORGANIZING INFORMATION
ORGANIZING INFORMATION
How will students navigate through MyKodi?
How will students navigate through MyKodi?
Creating user flows for the various use cases of the personas and structuring the information architecture in a logical way ensured that the interactions between screens were smooth and clear. The organization of the information architecture assisted me in the visual design process by incorporation visual hierarchy into the mockups.
Creating user flows for the various use cases of the personas and structuring the information architecture in a logical way ensured that the interactions between screens were smooth and clear. The organization of the information architecture assisted me in the visual design process by incorporation visual hierarchy into the mockups.
EXPLORATIONS
EXPLORATIONS
Profile cards
Profile cards
❌ Swiping feature is unclear, too much screen to screen friction and navigation
❌ Swiping feature is unclear, too much screen to screen friction and navigation
✅ Much simpler interaction by having profile card pop up on the original screen, includes intuitive flip card icon
✅ Much simpler interaction by having profile card pop up on the original screen, includes intuitive flip card icon
Profile layout
Profile layout
❌ Profile image too large, doesn't follow typical design convention of being separated from the profile space, two column layout is hard to read
❌ Profile image too large, doesn't follow typical design convention of being separated from the profile space, two column layout is hard to read
✅ One column layout is much simpler and easier to scroll through, content is emphasized rather than image
✅ One column layout is much simpler and easier to scroll through, content is emphasized rather than image
USER TESTING
USER TESTING
Usability tests were done with 4 participants
Usability tests were done with 4 participants
The results raised important considerations for the design and layout of the prototype. Some changes made to the application after these tests are…
The results raised important considerations for the design and layout of the prototype. Some changes made to the application after these tests are…
1
1
Adding additional resources to the info center such as adding a news/update header to inform policy updates or important announcements to the user.
Adding additional resources to the info center such as adding a news/update header to inform policy updates or important announcements to the user.
2
2
Making the whole folder on the dashboards clickable rather than the top header as just having the header clickable was a poor touch target.
Making the whole folder on the dashboards clickable rather than the top header as just having the header clickable was a poor touch target.
3
3
Allowing a specific date’s note to display from clicking on the number without having to make a bunch of clicks to access that information.
Allowing a specific date’s note to display from clicking on the number without having to make a bunch of clicks to access that information.
STYLE GUIDE AND BRANDING
STYLE GUIDE AND BRANDING
Where does the name "MyKodi" come from?
Where does the name "MyKodi" come from?
Well... "Kodi" (코디) is short for the word coordinator (코디네이터) in Korean, a phrase that was used often in the show that sparked my interest in this problem. These people help students through the college application process. "MyKodi" essentially means "my coordinator"... users' companion and assistant to support them in their admissions journey.
Well... "Kodi" (코디) is short for the word coordinator (코디네이터) in Korean, a phrase that was used often in the show that sparked my interest in this problem. These people help students through the college application process. "MyKodi" essentially means "my coordinator"... users' companion and assistant to support them in their admissions journey.
FINAL PROTOTYPE
FINAL PROTOTYPE
Introducing MyKodi, your personal companion to walk you through the college admissions’ journey!
Introducing MyKodi, your personal companion to walk you through the college admissions’ journey!
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
My first solo project taught me more than I expected—and showed me exactly what I’d do differently next time.
My first solo project taught me more than I expected—and showed me exactly what I’d do differently next time.
Lessons I learned…
Lessons I learned…
1.) Importance of self-accountability. Since this was a personal project without strict deadlines, it often became difficult for me to push myself to finish everything and work in detail. After setting a deadline for myself, I was able to finalize everything. In the future, I would find ways to keep myself on track.
2.) Take a step back. At times, I found myself getting hyper fixated on a minor detail or choice that may not have been even that relevant in the bigger picture. I learned the importance of taking breaks in between your workflow so you don’t become too attached to one idea or waste time on unnecessary elements.
1.) Importance of self-accountability. Since this was a personal project without strict deadlines, it often became difficult for me to push myself to finish everything and work in detail. After setting a deadline for myself, I was able to finalize everything. In the future, I would find ways to keep myself on track.
2.) Take a step back. At times, I found myself getting hyper fixated on a minor detail or choice that may not have been even that relevant in the bigger picture. I learned the importance of taking breaks in between your workflow so you don’t become too attached to one idea or waste time on unnecessary elements.
For the future, I'd like to…
For the future, I'd like to…
1.) Implement an accountability aspect within MyKodi. Usability testing highlighted the need for better task accountability, so I’d add a mentor feature, enhanced notifications, and a home screen widget to improve task management.
2.) Seek feedback from others. I’d seek feedback from other professionals in similar fields, such as product designers, researchers, product managers, etc, to gain more targeted insights and fresh perspectives when facing design decisions.
1.) Implement an accountability aspect within MyKodi. Usability testing highlighted the need for better task accountability, so I’d add a mentor feature, enhanced notifications, and a home screen widget to improve task management.
2.) Seek feedback from others. I’d seek feedback from other professionals in similar fields, such as product designers, researchers, product managers, etc, to gain more targeted insights and fresh perspectives when facing design decisions.
NYC/NJ
Made with 🩷, ☕, 🎧
2025
NYC/NJ
Made with 🩷, ☕, 🎧
2025
NYC/NJ
Made with 🩷, ☕, 🎧
2025