DormBo - Student dormitory task management

Three questions to the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
From our early research, we aimed to design a gamified task management app with playful animations. We believed this approach would make the experience engaging and enjoyable. However, during preliminary user testing, students felt these features misaligned with the context of dorm management and potentially distracting. They preferred a simpler experience. In response, we refined the design to retain subtle playfulness while focusing on efficiency. Clear task status categories and notifications now enable users to track and manage tasks intuitively, simplifying the dorm management process. This process highlighted the importance of aligning with user expectations and leveraging feedback to create practical, user-centered solutions.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
During the project, we faced challenges due to an initial misstep in strategy. We initially positioned DormBo as a value-generating tool for schools, focusing on an intelligent roommate matching system to address gaps in existing systems. However, this approach proved ineffective as students often concealed personal habits to secure “better” matches, undermining the system’s purpose. This prompted us to revisit the core problem. By reevaluating the university ecosystem, we identified a need for a solution that fosters collaboration and personal growth. The new DormBo app helps students build interpersonal adaptability, strengthen social connections, and enhance their dormitory experience.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
In the next five years, our team aims to become accomplished UX designers, using our expertise to advance user-centered design. We envision DormBo as a comprehensive, adaptive platform, conducting in-depth research to refine student experiences. This includes accessibility-focused designs, such as optimized color schemes, and advanced features to improve usability. Through U.S. university collaborations, we plan to expand DormBo beyond task management into a holistic platform that fosters personal growth, community building, and cultural exchange. We are committed to making DormBo a transformative tool for enhancing shared living experiences and redefining collaboration and growth in shared spaces.