UX Research Case Study with Cornell Cooperative Education (CCE) Suffolk to increase engagement and long-term participation in 4H programs for teenagers and young adults.

January 2021 - May 2021

UX Researcher/Designer- Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Suffolk

Project teammate:
Julia Lyons

Value Proposition

Connect4H is a social media platform that connects children with like-minded individuals and allows them to share media and interact in many program activities unlike Facebook, Discord, and Instagram.

Problem Statement

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCE Suffolk) had a problem with under-enrollment and retentive participation in their various programs with teenagers and young adults around the ages 14-18. Our goal of this project was to create a solution to increase engagement and activity among these demographics. This would also directly result in an increase of new membership by teenagers and increased support for the program all-around.
Information Board near the entrance of the farm

User Research

11 Interviews
7 Boys/4 Girls
2 4H Members/9 Kids unaware of 4H

Research Analysis

2 types of high schoolers in interviews
  • Type 1, who only communicate electronically through text, Snapchat, and once in a while with Instagram and Messenger
  • Type 2, who communicate through Discord and Teamspeak, and actively speak to each other through calls.
Type 1 showed signs of their friend groups falling apart while Type 2 kept their social relationships in tact.

Meaningful vs. Hollow Online Interaction

There are people on the internet who stay friends even when they are millions of miles away. The evolution of the internet has allowed people from the farthest distances to connect closer than ever before.
  • Meaningful interactions: Interactions that emerge the user into what ever is happening online. While these don't replace real life interaction, they strengthen them when they occur.
  • Hollow interactions: Interactions that feature very little depth to the conversation and present a lack of connection in alternative ways.

User Archetype

Persona

Journey Map

Empathy Map

Storyboards

Wireframes

UI Comps

Final Prototype

View Prototype