ConnectDes
ConnectDes is a design research project focused on creating a dedicated digital space "where design minds connect". Developed to address the communication gaps and cohort fragmentation at Texas State University, the platform serves as a centralized hub for student work-sharing and peer-to-peer critiques. By fostering a culture of active discovery, the project aims to build a more cohesive community that supports professional skill development and collaborative growth.
Team Roles
Isaias Perez: Led design and prototyping for the ConnectDes app.
Nathalia Posadas: Led ConnectDes branding, as well as research.
ConnectDes
ConnectDes is a design research project focused on creating a dedicated digital space "where design minds connect". Developed to address the communication gaps and cohort fragmentation at Texas State University, the platform serves as a centralized hub for student work-sharing and peer-to-peer critiques. By fostering a culture of active discovery, the project aims to build a more cohesive community that supports professional skill development and collaborative growth.
Screens
Research
Communication Design students at Texas State lack a central, dedicated space to showcase their work and connect with peers across cohorts. This absence fragments the community, limiting collaboration, inspiration, and mentorship opportunities within the program.
“Students often only share work with their regular collaborators, I wish we had a way to share and get feedback from new people...”
—Student at Texas State
38%
of students feel somewhat connected to other students outside of their classes.
84%
of students have wanted to collaborate but didn't know how to reach out.
53%
of students don’t know where or have a platform to share their work.
38%
of students ask friends or classmates for feedback on their work.
This research directly informed out core features. Here's what we learned.
Class Divide:
Class hierarchy hurts underclassmen.
Students are drawn to see work from classes they aren’t in or can’t take.
Students are uncomfortable sharing WIP work outside of class.
Support Systems:
Most students connect as a result of professors.
Walls like the ADRC encourage students to share/display their work.
In class/process critiques are very valuable for connecting students.
Connections & Sharing Work:
Exposure to other medias builds comfort to share.
Most students lead on closest friends for immediate feedback.
Limited resources to share work results in less opportunities to learn from each other.
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