Empowering Workplace Communication for College Students
An innovative educational tool to bridge the communictiaon skills gap between College Students and U.S. workplace through personalized learning experiences.
Type: Partnered on an academic project
Role: Product Designer & Manager
Timeline: 1 month (2024)
Tools Used: Figma, User Interviews, Surveys, Curriculum Design, Competative Analysis, User Testing, Wireframe & Prototype
Objective: To bridges the gap between academia and workplace communication by providing scenario-based lessons, AI feedback, interactive activities, peer collaboration, and networking opportunities.
Transitioning from college to the workplace presents a significant challenge for students, with communication skills being one of the most cited deficiencies by employers.
Research shows that while 80% of employers value oral and written communication as critical competencies, fewer than 40% of recent graduates are proficient in these areas.
Traditional education systems often fail to integrate real-world communication training, leaving students ill-prepared for workplace interactions.
Additionally, students aged 17–24 spend 8–10 hours daily on mobile devices, signaling a clear opportunity to engage them through an accessible, technology-driven solution.
CommUnity is a mobile-first platform that equips college students with the skills they need to communicate confidently and effectively in the U.S. workplace. Through scenario-based learning, interactive activities, AI-driven feedback, peer collaboration, and networking opportunities developed based on learning sciences and theories, CommUnity bridges the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application.
Primarily targeting non-native College students aged 17–24, preparing for internships or full-time roles in the U.S. workplace who are seeking to improve oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
The platform also appeals to native students aiming to improve their communication skills, as well as career services and academic institutions looking to integrate a scalable communication training tool.
CommUnity bridges the gap between academia and workplace communication by providing:
Scenario-Based Lessons: Real-world workplace scenarios, inspired by popular culture and designed to simulate challenging conversations.
AI Feedback: Real-time evaluations on grammar, tone, and content for written and verbal communication.
Interactive Activities: Role-playing, video analysis, and guided reflections to reinforce learning.
Peer Collaboration: Features like group evaluations and a social forum to foster a supportive learning community.
Learning with Professionals: Introduced broadcast and news features produced by professionals that seamlessly connect students with the industry. Opportunities for students to participate in mock interviews, virtual coffee chats, and collaborative projects with experienced professionals through synchronous workshops.
1. Research and Insights:
Conducted user surveys and interviews to identify pain points in students’ communication skills.
Analyzed employer feedback to align curriculum goals with workplace expectations.
2. Planning:
Prioritized must-have features that have high values to the objectives and success of the app.
Developed a Product Roadmap to map out future implementation of features that have values and in the could-have categories.
3. Prototyping:
Designed and tested interactive modules, focusing on ease of use and engaging visuals.
Incorporated feedback to refine app features, such as AI-powered assessments and role-play scenarios.
Developed a curriculum of 3 units, 13 lessons, and 4 synchronous workshops.
Structured lessons to include mini-modules, quizzes, and self-paced learning paths.
4. Gamification:
Added streaks, certifications, and a personalized progress dashboard to motivate learners.
Unit 1: Foundational Communication Skills (e.g., professional introductions, email etiquette).
Unit 2: Workplace Scenarios (e.g., giving feedback, active listening).
Unit 3: Real-World Application (e.g., negotiations, managing crises).
Final Capstone Project.
AI-powered feedback on written and verbal tasks.
Simulated conversations with branching choices.
Peer evaluation and group collaboration tools.
No scheduling needed—jump into a session anytime and build confidence at learner's own pace.
Receive personalized feedback reports and skill improvements, helping learners track their growth.
Practice without fear of mistakes—perfect for anyone looking to improve.
Social features that enable learners to share tips, experiences, and feedback with peers.
Built-in features such as broadcasts and news forum for connecting with professionals in relevant fields.
Opportunities for students to attend virtual workshops and participate in mentorship programs.
Confidence in Workplace Communication: Measure user-reported confidence levels before and after completing key modules, aiming for at least a 70% improvement in self-assessed communication skills.
Lesson Completion Rates: Track engagement metrics, such as the percentage of users completing role-play scenarios and interactive exercises, with a goal of maintaining a 75% completion rate.
Networking Engagement: Monitor the number of students participating in networking activities, such as virtual coffee chats, mentorship sessions, and mock interviews. Aim for 50% of active users engaging in at least one networking feature per month.
Peer Collaboration Impact: FAnalyze the effectiveness of group evaluations and social forums by tracking the frequency of user interactions and their perceived value. Target a 30% increase in collaboration over the first six months post-launch.
Scalability Metrics: Evaluate the adaptability of the curriculum across different academic institutions and industries by tracking the adoption rate and gathering institution-specific feedback.
Retention and Return Rates: Measure user retention over 3, 6, and 12 months, aiming for a 60% monthly active user rate. Track how often users return to refresh skills or engage with new modules.
Through CommUnity, I demonstrated the ability to design scalable, user-centric solutions that address real-world challenges. By integrating research, iterative design, technological innovation, and networking opportunities, this project showcases my ability to bridge gaps between education and workplace readiness.
Check out the research paper that explained our design below.