DeConnect, DePaul Companion App

Our idea was to create an app called DeConnect which connects which would showcase the Jarvis Student Center, the ESports teams, and the clubs in the Game Design sphere to appeal to prospective students who are interested in those aspects of DePaul. Game Design, graphic design, film and other niche or tech majors that are specific to DePaul’s loop campus were often mentioned in our interviews or surveys as reasons for attending.

After our research we crafted the following questions to guide our concept: How might we encourage prospective students to attend DePaul by appealing to their interests which would help them see DePaul as a place for them? How might we increase awareness towards prospective and current students for DePaul by showcasing the excellent facilities which would make them feel more secure in their choice? Finally, how might we utilize design patterns found on applications like social media to appeal to the recognition and usability of our target user base?

The app will have photos and a tour of the Jarvis Center, it has a page to show the eSports teams, clubs like DeFrag and VR, as well as the events being held to appeal to students' lives outside the classroom. During our research, many students who are currently attending weren’t fully aware of these options before attending and wished they knew earlier. This app will not only show these features of DePaul to prospective students, but will show them to students currently attending. This would encourage them in their pursuits at DePaul and could motivate prospective students to attend.