PROBLEM THE

The Auraria Campus is an urban commuter campus located in Denver, Colorado and is home to the Community College of Denver (CCD), Metropolitain State University of Denver (MSU), and the Univeristy of Colorado Denver (CU Denver). In addition to being shared between three higher education institutions, Auraria Campus is owned and managed by the Auraria Higher Education Institution (AHEC).

As a result of the dynamic between the institutions and AHEC calling Auraria Campus home, first-year commuting students struggle to navigate campus, campus buildings, and find campus resources. Some campus buildings are owned or operated by one institution while others are shared between all three. Throughout the campus, there exists little signage to welcome new students to campus and guide them to their classes, offices, or other resources.

By providing little support in the form of wayfinding, new students spend the beginning of their semester learning the layout of campus instead of making friends and building their sense of belonging to Auraria Campus.

How might the application of user experience design principles provide first-year commuter students on the Auraria Campus with consistently positive experiences and a stronger sense of belonging?

• Brainstorm design problem

• Identify design mentors

• Begin preliminary research

SEPTEMBER

• Continue research

• Email mentor candidates

• Draft Problem Statement

• Draft Research Question

NOVEMBER

• Finalize research

• Meet with subject matter experts

• Revise Problem Statement

• Revise Research Question