2025
UI/UX
University City
Helping residents of University City neighborhood navigate their community by staying well informed through a practical and supportive experience.
Timeline
5 Months
Role
Designer
Team
Ashley Yeboah
Stephanie Du
Sara Hall
Tools
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
2025
UI/UX
University City
Helping residents of University City neighborhood navigate their community by staying well informed through a practical and supportive experience.
Timeline
5 Months
Role
Designer
Team
Ashley Yeboah
Stephanie Du
Sara Hall
Tools
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
Overview
Overview
Established for the West Philadelphia neighborhood, University City is an accessible district website that transforms a guiding experience for residents and business owners to access local support services. As well as connecting and informing the community of news and local, nearby events happening in the area through an easy processed and researched experience.
Established for the West Philadelphia neighborhood, University City is an accessible district website that transforms a guiding experience for residents and business owners to access local support services. As well as connecting and informing the community of news and local, nearby events happening in the area through an easy processed and researched experience.
Research
Research
Primary Research
Primary Research
Before our initial start to our project, primary and secondary research was required to understand the history of University City, its current state, and community to understand who and why users would be using a district centered website.
Through primary research, we went and explored University City’s focal areas, including its student campuses such as Penn and Drexel University, nearby hospitals like Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, residential areas and businesses. Along with taking any necessary pictures to add to any future research and assets for the website.
Before our initial start to our project, primary and secondary research was required to understand the history of University City, its current state, and community to understand who and why users would be using a district centered website.
Through primary research, we went and explored University City’s focal areas, including its student campuses such as Penn and Drexel University, nearby hospitals like Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, residential areas and businesses. Along with taking any necessary pictures to add to any future research and assets for the website.
Research
Research
Secondary Research
Secondary Research
From our secondary research, we gathered deeper insight into University City to better understand its resident demographics, history, and current status as a neighborhood. We identified key takeaways regarding the demographic, which included students, professors, business owners, and university and hospital employees who travel to or reside within the area.
In addition, we examined the historical foundation of the University City neighborhood, formerly known as Black Bottom, which was predominantly home to Black residents. The area underwent significant transformation when notable institutions such as University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University expanded into the community, displacing long-term residents and reshaping the neighborhood into the campus-oriented environment it is today.
We also established user complaints from residents of University City to understand pain points of the current status of the area, combining our information to designate who and why users would be using a government website.
From our secondary research, we gathered deeper insight into University City to better understand its resident demographics, history, and current status as a neighborhood. We identified key takeaways regarding the demographic, which included students, professors, business owners, and university and hospital employees who travel to or reside within the area.
In addition, we examined the historical foundation of the University City neighborhood, formerly known as Black Bottom, which was predominantly home to Black residents. The area underwent significant transformation when notable institutions such as University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University expanded into the community, displacing long-term residents and reshaping the neighborhood into the campus-oriented environment it is today.
We also established user complaints from residents of University City to understand pain points of the current status of the area, combining our information to designate who and why users would be using a government website.
Research
Research
User Flow
User Flow
Through our solutions, we each created user flows for both an event calendar and a survey tool as a path guide for how users should navigate through the website.
Through our solutions, we each created user flows for both an event calendar and a survey tool as a path guide for how users should navigate through the website.
Research
Research
User Personas
User Personas
From our gathering of primary and secondary research, we crafted three user personas of potential users who lived in the neighborhood of University City and highlighted the current challenges, goals, and needs they are facing without a district website to go to. While also thinking of potential solutions to resolve their current problems, which can be added to the website
From our gathering of primary and secondary research, we crafted three user personas of potential users who lived in the neighborhood of University City and highlighted the current challenges, goals, and needs they are facing without a district website to go to. While also thinking of potential solutions to resolve their current problems, which can be added to the website
Initial Hypothesis
Initial Hypothesis
How Might We
How Might We
1
1
Support Idony in exploring and connecting with her new community in University City?
Support Idony in exploring and connecting with her new community in University City?
2
2
Help William discover resources to sustain and grow his business during challenging times?
Help William discover resources to sustain and grow his business during challenging times?
3
3
Help Wendy access financial, food and child assistance with ease?
Help Wendy access financial, food and child assistance with ease?
Research
Solution
After creating user personas and acknowledging each of their obstacles, we produced 3 solutions based on each of the personas' needs, which involved creating a flexible student events platform that highlights local spots and academic-friendly activities around University City, developing a centralized, easy-to-navigate resource hub that guides the user through applying for restaurant grants and support programs, and launch a simple survey tool to help a user assess eligibility for financial and food assistance.
Research
Solution
After creating user personas and acknowledging each of their obstacles, we produced 3 solutions based on each of the personas' needs, which involved creating a flexible student events platform that highlights local spots and academic-friendly activities around University City, developing a centralized, easy-to-navigate resource hub that guides the user through applying for restaurant grants and support programs, and launch a simple survey tool to help a user assess eligibility for financial and food assistance.
Design
Design
Logo Sketches
Logo Sketches
Most of our sketches for the logos were intended to match the historical and classical life look of University City while also keeping a present-day aesthetic to relate to students, but also non-students of University City. Many of the sketches were inspired by other University Logos to keep a scholarly look, but also simple text logos as well, to keep a modern look to match the overall aesthetics of the neighborhood.
Most of our sketches for the logos were intended to match the historical and classical life look of University City while also keeping a present-day aesthetic to relate to students, but also non-students of University City. Many of the sketches were inspired by other University Logos to keep a scholarly look, but also simple text logos as well, to keep a modern look to match the overall aesthetics of the neighborhood.
Research
Research
Final Brand Identity
Final Brand Identity
Through the original iteration and multiple feedback changes. University City’s final brand Identity gives off an old-fashioned look with modern-day elements of simplicity through logos, color, and typography.
Through the original iteration and multiple feedback changes. University City’s final brand Identity gives off an old-fashioned look with modern-day elements of simplicity through logos, color, and typography.
Research
Research
Event Calendar Research
Event Calendar Research
Most of my main research for developing the Event Calendar was looking at common uses of Event Calendars across multiple state/county government and entertainment-based websites. In most cases, there was frequent use of a filter system, a search function, and event cards for a user to navigate through the calendar to find what they were looking for. I wanted to make the Event Calendar simple to use and understandable for a user to navigate through, so I took most of those common functions to make up the portion of the event calendar, whilst not adding any extra material to make it confusing for a user.
Most of my main research for developing the Event Calendar was looking at common uses of Event Calendars across multiple state/county government and entertainment-based websites. In most cases, there was frequent use of a filter system, a search function, and event cards for a user to navigate through the calendar to find what they were looking for. I wanted to make the Event Calendar simple to use and understandable for a user to navigate through, so I took most of those common functions to make up the portion of the event calendar, whilst not adding any extra material to make it confusing for a user.
Research
Final Event Prototype Calendar
After creating user personas and acknowledging each of their obstacles, we produced 3 solutions based on each of the personas' needs, which involved creating a flexible student events platform that highlights local spots and academic-friendly activities around University City, developing a centralized, easy-to-navigate resource hub that guides the user through applying for restaurant grants and support programs, and launch a simple survey tool to help a user assess eligibility for financial and food assistance.
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
University City Homepage
University City Homepage
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Event Calendar Homepage
Event Calendar Homepage
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Event Calendar Alternative Page
Event Calendar Alternative Page
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Event Page
Event Page
Research
Research
Reflection
Reflection
Before our initial start to our project, primary and secondary research was required to understand the history of University City, its current state, and community demographics. Through primary research, we went and explored University City’s focal areas, including its student campuses, nearby hospitals, and homes. Along with taking any necessary pictures to add to any future research and assets for the website.
Before our initial start to our project, primary and secondary research was required to understand the history of University City, its current state, and community demographics. Through primary research, we went and explored University City’s focal areas, including its student campuses, nearby hospitals, and homes. Along with taking any necessary pictures to add to any future research and assets for the website.