College Sauce
Role
DESIGNER
TEAM
2 PROJECT MANAGERS
4 DESIGNERS
DURATION
JANUARY 2025 – MARCH 2025
Tools
FIGJAM
FIGMA
NOTION
WHITEBOARD
GOOGLE SURVEYS
SKILLS
APP INTERFACE DESIGN
1-ON-1 INTERVIEWING
USER RESEARCH
PROTOTYPING
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
College Sauce
Role
DESIGNER
DURATION
JANUARY 2025 – MARCH 2025
SKILLS
APP INTERFACE DESIGN
1-ON-1 INTERVIEWING
USER RESEARCH
PROTOTYPING
TEAM
2 PROJECT MANAGERS
4 DESIGNERS
Tools
FIGJAM
FIGMA
NOTION
WHITEBOARD
GOOGLE SURVEYS
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
College Sauce
Role
DESIGNER
TEAM
2 PROJECT MANAGERS
4 DESIGNERS
DURATION
JANUARY 2025 – MARCH 2025
Tools
FIGJAM
FIGMA
NOTION
WHITEBOARD
GOOGLE SURVEYS
SKILLS
APP INTERFACE DESIGN
1-ON-1 INTERVIEWING
USER RESEARCH
PROTOTYPING
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
CONTEXT
College Sauce is a social networking app designed “by students, for students,” started at UC Santa Barbara and serving over 10,000 college students. The application aims at getting students in the know of current events, on and off campus. Essentially, serving as a digital hub for university life, combining elements of a social calendar, messaging platform, and local guide into one student-centered application.
As a real client of Cal Poly’s design agency, Iter8, we redesigned the mobile application in an eight-week timeframe.
CONTEXT
College Sauce is a social networking app designed “by students, for students,” started at UC Santa Barbara and serving over 10,000 college students. The application aims at getting students in the know of current events, on and off campus. Essentially, serving as a digital hub for university life, combining elements of a social calendar, messaging platform, and local guide into one student-centered application.
As a real client of Cal Poly’s design agency, Iter8, we redesigned the mobile application in an eight-week timeframe.
CONTEXT
College Sauce is a social networking app designed “by students, for students,” started at UC Santa Barbara and serving over 10,000 college students. The application aims at getting students in the know of current events, on and off campus. Essentially, serving as a digital hub for university life, combining elements of a social calendar, messaging platform, and local guide into one student-centered application.
As a real client of Cal Poly’s design agency, Iter8, we redesigned the mobile application in an eight-week timeframe.
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
01
Visual Clutter & Inconsistency
The interface suffers from visual overload, inconsistent alignment, and spacing issues, creating a high cognitive load that makes it difficult to scan content.
01
Visual Clutter & Inconsistency
The interface suffers from visual overload, inconsistent alignment, and spacing issues, creating a high cognitive load that makes it difficult to scan content.
01
Visual Clutter & Inconsistency
The interface suffers from visual overload, inconsistent alignment, and spacing issues, creating a high cognitive load that makes it difficult to scan content.
02
Discovery & Navigation Friction
Users face significant barriers to finding content due to the absence of a global search bar, restrictive filtering logic, and imprecise map interactions.
02
Discovery & Navigation Friction
Users face significant barriers to finding content due to the absence of a global search bar, restrictive filtering logic, and imprecise map interactions.
02
Discovery & Navigation Friction
Users face significant barriers to finding content due to the absence of a global search bar, restrictive filtering logic, and imprecise map interactions.
03
Ambiguous System Feedback
The application fails to communicate system state effectively, lacking critical feedback loops such as loading states, error messages, or clear confirmations.
03
Ambiguous System Feedback
The application fails to communicate system state effectively, lacking critical feedback loops such as loading states, error messages, or clear confirmations.
03
Ambiguous System Feedback
The application fails to communicate system state effectively, lacking critical feedback loops such as loading states, error messages, or clear confirmations.
04
Functional & Personalization Gaps
Core usability is compromised by non-responsive elements and a lack of personalization options for user profiles.
04
Functional & Personalization Gaps
Core usability is compromised by non-responsive elements and a lack of personalization options for user profiles.
04
Functional & Personalization Gaps
Core usability is compromised by non-responsive elements and a lack of personalization options for user profiles.
SOLUTION
The project solution is a redesigned mobile application prototype, alongside a company brand revamp: logo, color palette, and mascots.
SOLUTION
The project solution is a redesigned mobile application prototype, alongside a company brand revamp: logo, color palette, and mascots.
SOLUTION
The project solution is a redesigned mobile application prototype, alongside a company brand revamp: logo, color palette, and mascots.
USER Surveys & Quantitative Synthesis
To gain an understanding of how college students find, engage, and connect through events, we sent out a Google Survey.
USER Surveys & Quantitative Synthesis
To gain an understanding of how college students find, engage, and connect through events, we sent out a Google Survey.
USER Surveys & Quantitative Synthesis
To gain an understanding of how college students find, engage, and connect through events, we sent out a Google Survey.
0
0
Students Surveyed
0
0
Students Surveyed
0
0
Students Surveyed
0%
0%
Considered somewhat involved
0%
0%
Considered somewhat involved
0%
0%
Considered somewhat involved
0%
0%
Communicate via text or SNS
0%
0%
Communicate via text or SNS
0%
0%
Communicate via text or SNS
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
To define Neurocom’s distinct market position, we conducted a competitive analysis of existing haptic technology companies and adjacent high-tech hardware websites. Our goal was not just to benchmark industry standards, but to identify any ‘usability gaps’ that Neurocom could outperform through clearer storytelling and segmented navigation.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
To define Neurocom’s distinct market position, we conducted a competitive analysis of existing haptic technology companies and adjacent high-tech hardware websites. Our goal was not just to benchmark industry standards, but to identify any ‘usability gaps’ that Neurocom could outperform through clearer storytelling and segmented navigation.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
To define Neurocom’s distinct market position, we conducted a competitive analysis of existing haptic technology companies and adjacent high-tech hardware websites. Our goal was not just to benchmark industry standards, but to identify any ‘usability gaps’ that Neurocom could outperform through clearer storytelling and segmented navigation.
USER RESEARCH & INTERVIEWS
In analyzing user research, we developed three main user personas that best embodied the target audience’s goals and frustrations. Additionally, our client additionally vocalized that the product generally serves the defense and public safety sectors.
USER RESEARCH & INTERVIEWS
In analyzing user research, we developed three main user personas that best embodied the target audience’s goals and frustrations. Additionally, our client additionally vocalized that the product generally serves the defense and public safety sectors.
USER RESEARCH & INTERVIEWS
In analyzing user research, we developed three main user personas that best embodied the target audience’s goals and frustrations. Additionally, our client additionally vocalized that the product generally serves the defense and public safety sectors.
User Personas
In analyzing user research, we developed three main user personas that best embodied the target audience’s goals and frustrations. Additionally, our client additionally vocalized that the product generally serves the defense and public safety sectors.
User Personas
In analyzing user research, we developed three main user personas that best embodied the target audience’s goals and frustrations. Additionally, our client additionally vocalized that the product generally serves the defense and public safety sectors.
User Personas
In analyzing user research, we developed three main user personas that best embodied the target audience’s goals and frustrations. Additionally, our client additionally vocalized that the product generally serves the defense and public safety sectors.
Problem Statement & How Might We
Problem Statement & How Might We
Problem Statement & How Might We
User flow: old vs new
Informed by our target audience and industry research, we restructured the user flow to guide users through a clearer narrative of Neurocom’s technology. We moved from a flat one-page structure to a comprehensive site map to support deeper exploration, with more information about the company and the product itself. I was tasked with designing the ‘Integrations’ landing page and subsequent detailed case studies webpages.
User flow: old vs new
Informed by our target audience and industry research, we restructured the user flow to guide users through a clearer narrative of Neurocom’s technology. We moved from a flat one-page structure to a comprehensive site map to support deeper exploration, with more information about the company and the product itself. I was tasked with designing the ‘Integrations’ landing page and subsequent detailed case studies webpages.
User flow: old vs new
Informed by our target audience and industry research, we restructured the user flow to guide users through a clearer narrative of Neurocom’s technology. We moved from a flat one-page structure to a comprehensive site map to support deeper exploration, with more information about the company and the product itself. I was tasked with designing the ‘Integrations’ landing page and subsequent detailed case studies webpages.
LOW FIDELITY
I developed three low-fidelity variations of the Integrations Landing Page to determine the most effective persuasion hierarchy
LOW FIDELITY
I developed three low-fidelity variations of the Integrations Landing Page to determine the most effective persuasion hierarchy
LOW FIDELITY
I developed three low-fidelity variations of the Integrations Landing Page to determine the most effective persuasion hierarchy
HIGH FIDELITY
We selected Version 2, adopting a more serious visual direction. During the High-Fidelity phase, we also defined the website’s motion strategy: implementing scroll-triggered entrance animations to guide the user's eye.
HIGH FIDELITY
We selected Version 2, adopting a more serious visual direction. During the High-Fidelity phase, we also defined the website’s motion strategy: implementing scroll-triggered entrance animations to guide the user's eye.
HIGH FIDELITY
We selected Version 2, adopting a more serious visual direction. During the High-Fidelity phase, we also defined the website’s motion strategy: implementing scroll-triggered entrance animations to guide the user's eye.
BRANDING & DESIGN SYSTEM
In analyzing user research, we developed three main user personas that best embodied the target audience’s goals and frustrations. Additionally, our client additionally vocalized that the product generally serves the defense and public safety sectors.
BRANDING & DESIGN SYSTEM
In analyzing user research, we developed three main user personas that best embodied the target audience’s goals and frustrations. Additionally, our client additionally vocalized that the product generally serves the defense and public safety sectors.
BRANDING & DESIGN SYSTEM
In analyzing user research, we developed three main user personas that best embodied the target audience’s goals and frustrations. Additionally, our client additionally vocalized that the product generally serves the defense and public safety sectors.
FINAL DESIGN
FINAL DESIGN
FINAL DESIGN
KEY TAKEAWAYS
First time in a leadership position.
This was my first time in a position of leadership leading other designers. Learning how to mentor and manage designers was a task in itself, I also had to contribute significantly as a designer. There were times of uncertainty, however, I was able to lean and ask for help from my co-leader and we were able to properly complete this project. I learned the importance of proper deadlines, planning ahead, leaving time for critique and collaboration. From this experience, I’ve been able to build a foundation in leadership and have gained more skills since.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
First time in a leadership position.
This was my first time in a position of leadership leading other designers. Learning how to mentor and manage designers was a task in itself, I also had to contribute significantly as a designer. There were times of uncertainty, however, I was able to lean and ask for help from my co-leader and we were able to properly complete this project. I learned the importance of proper deadlines, planning ahead, leaving time for critique and collaboration. From this experience, I’ve been able to build a foundation in leadership and have gained more skills since.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
First time in a leadership position.
This was my first time in a position of leadership leading other designers. Learning how to mentor and manage designers was a task in itself, I also had to contribute significantly as a designer. There were times of uncertainty, however, I was able to lean and ask for help from my co-leader and we were able to properly complete this project. I learned the importance of proper deadlines, planning ahead, leaving time for critique and collaboration. From this experience, I’ve been able to build a foundation in leadership and have gained more skills since.
THE FUTURE
THE FUTURE
THE FUTURE
Website Implementation
As a real client project under Cal Poly Iter8, we executed a full handoff to the Neurocom team. Beyond the final UI prototype, we equipped them with a design system to ensure that the client can move into the implementation phase.
Website Implementation
As a real client project under Cal Poly Iter8, we executed a full handoff to the Neurocom team. Beyond the final UI prototype, we equipped them with a design system to ensure that the client can move into the implementation phase.
Website Implementation
As a real client project under Cal Poly Iter8, we executed a full handoff to the Neurocom team. Beyond the final UI prototype, we equipped them with a design system to ensure that the client can move into the implementation phase.
Product or Company Expansion
To support future growth, the design system allows for the rapid deployment of pages for new product lines. Additionally, should the headset diversify to service new industry sectors, the flexible layout of the Home Page and Case Studies can scale to highlight these new sectors without a full redesign.
Product or Company Expansion
To support future growth, the design system allows for the rapid deployment of pages for new product lines. Additionally, should the headset diversify to service new industry sectors, the flexible layout of the Home Page and Case Studies can scale to highlight these new sectors without a full redesign.
Product or Company Expansion
To support future growth, the design system allows for the rapid deployment of pages for new product lines. Additionally, should the headset diversify to service new industry sectors, the flexible layout of the Home Page and Case Studies can scale to highlight these new sectors without a full redesign.
Testimony from Sarah Boggs, CEO of College Sauce
“The Cal Poly Iter8 team is nothing short of amazing. My company, ‘College Sauce’ was chosen to be one of their quarter long design projects and from the very first meeting, until the last, I was impressed with the professionalism, skills, creativity and commitment of the entire team. They did a copious amount of work in a relatively short amount of time and delivered a completely re-branded and redesigned app at the end of the engagement. They were engaged, thoughtful, and they delivered! I will be using their designs as we re-brand and add features to our app. If you have the opportunity to use the services iter8 provides, don’t pass it up. If you are interested in any of these team members as employees, don’t hesitate to hire them. They have proven to be professional designers with top notch skills.”
