Designers
Carlo Mailänder, Kevin Costa, Alexander Struppe, Darcy Maguire
Year
2024
Category
New Talent
Country
Germany
School
Hochschule für Gestaltung Schwäbisch Gmünd
Teacher
Jens Döring, Fabian Rauch
Three questions for the project team
What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
The primary challenge from a UX perspective was the target audience, which consisted of teenagers. It was crucial to regularly test with them and understand the current trends within this age group. Furthermore, the testing process had to be straightforward to ensure it was accessible and engaging for young users. Another significant aspect was adapting the AI to the language used by teenagers. The chosen models were initially complex and not easily understandable for this age group. Simplifying the language and ensuring the models resonated with the way teenagers communicate was a critical hurdle that needed to be addressed to make the project successful.
What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
When we first started the project, the primary focus was on finding an alternative to traditional school grades. However, a significant breakthrough occurred after consulting with experts, leading us to discover portfolio work. This method, already used in some German schools, helps students reflect on their personal development. The realization that this approach could be perfectly applied to career orientation was a major 'aha!' moment for us. It shifted our perspective and direction, proving to be a pivotal turning point. While there were challenges, this discovery reinvigorated our efforts and provided a clear path forward for our project.
Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
This project served as our bachelor's thesis and has now laid the foundation for our own startup. Our vision is to launch the app early 2025 and make a significant impact on career orientation for students. We aim for the app to be widely adopted not just within Germany but internationally as well. In the next five years, we hope to have expanded our reach globally, offering our innovative approach to career guidance to students worldwide. Our goal is to establish a presence in the international market and continuously improve our app based on user feedback and evolving trends in career orientation.
