Southern New Hampshire University Layout and Publication Design GRA 470 Module One Activity Template Empathy Map and Reflection Persona: Persona: High school Student Preparing for College applications Empathy Map Says · "I'm so stressed about getting into my dream college." [high] · "I wish I had more time to study and work on my applications." [medium] . "I hope my test scores and grades are good enough." [high] Does · Spend long hours studying and doing homework. [high] · Research colleges, majors, and admission requirements. [high] . Seek advice from parents, teachers, and counselors. [medium] Thinks . "Will my application stand out among all other applicants?" [high] · "Which colleges should I apply to base on my interests and qualifications?" . "What are the admission officers looking for in an ideal candidate?" [medium] Feels · Anxious about the future and the application process. [high] . Overwhelmed by the pressure and expectations. [high] · Uncertain about their chances of getting accepted. [medium] Reflection Empathy mapping is a crucial step in user-centered design process as it allows UX designers to understand their target users' behaviors, attitudes, and emotions. According to Gibbons (2018fi, empathy is the foundation of human-centered design process, and the empathy map is a collaborative visualization tool designers use to articulate assumptions of their end users and then validate them through research. This exercise has helped step into the shoes of a high school student who is preparing for college applications. Rather than approaching the design process with my own understanding, I imaginatively think of the challenges a high school student might face and the decision they might make. In doing so, I learned of the stress, anxiety and overwhelming pressure high school students may face when preparing for college. I also learned that designers must be mindful of creating solutions that meet diverse needs and demands of the client. Moving forward, I will validate and expand my assumptions made in the empathy map through user experience research. I will use focus groups, interviews or surveys targeting high school students who are planning to start their college application process. I will also obtain data from secondary sources such as articles that correlate with my project aim. The data obtained through these data collection tools will help me fill gaps and understand my target user.
Layout and Publication Design Southern New Hampshire University Works Cited Gibbons, Sarah. " Empathy Mapping: The First Step in Design Thinking." _NN/g UX Newsletter_, 14 January 2018, https://www.nngroup.com/articles/empathy-mapping/