SmartStart UK
✨ Highlights
THE PROBLEM
Important information is often scattered across different platforms
Students feel overwhelmed during their first weeks in a new country
Lack of clear, personalized support makes adaptation more difficult
WHAT ARE THE USER NEEDS?
Users need a clear and simple way to access essential information
They want to reduce confusion and overwhelm
They want step-by-step guidance during their first weeks
They value feeling supported while adapting to a new environment
They need relevant and practical support, not scattered information
Design Brief
• International students face challenges adapting to life in a new country
• Support is often scattered across different platforms and hard to navigate
• Students need both practical guidance and emotional support during transition
Timeline
January 2025 — May 2025
Role
End-to-end UX design (research → ideation → prototyping → testing)
✨ Research Summary
I analysed existing student support, relocation, and onboarding platforms to understand how newcomers currently access essential information and navigate the challenges of settling into a new environment.
The research highlighted an opportunity to bring scattered resources into one clear, personalised experience — combining practical guidance, structured onboarding, and support for key tasks such as housing and settling in.
UNDERSTANDING THE USER
To understand how international students adapt to life in the UK, I conducted both secondary research and primary user research.
Conducted
• Pilot study (1)
• User interviews (5)
• User group session (4 participants)
Key Insights
• International students struggle with GP registration, banking, and proof-of-address requirements.
• Transport and everyday living costs are a major source of stress after arrival.
• Students often feel unsure about where to find reliable, step-by-step information for essential UK tasks.
• Housing requirements, such as guarantors and documentation, can be confusing and difficult to navigate.
• Students value having personalised university and wellbeing support in one accessible place.
Market Insights & Competitor Analysis
MID-FIDELITY WIREFRAMES
✨ Key Features
FEATURE (01) — Essential Setup
🌱 Follow a structured checklist for key arrival tasks
🌱 Track progress step by step during the first weeks
🌱 Access practical guidance for SIM, bank, GP, and accommodation
🌱 Return anytime and continue incomplete tasks
🌱 Reduce confusion during the initial settling-in period
FEATURE (02) — Find a Job
🌱 Browse student-friendly job opportunities
🌱 Filter roles by location, hours, job type, and pay
🌱 View detailed job information and required skills
🌱 Compare role requirements with profile insights
🌱 Save relevant opportunities and apply directly through the app
FEATURE (03) —Accommodation
🌱 Browse accommodation options based on location and budget
🌱 Filter by property type, amenities, and student-friendly criteria
🌱 View detailed property information, pricing, and nearby amenities
🌱 Compare options more easily with clear listing details
🌱 Save suitable properties for later review
FEATURE (04) — Mental Health & Wellbeing Support
🌱 Access counselling, peer support, and 24/7 helplines
🌱 Chat with an AI support bot for everyday emotional challenges
🌱 Get guidance for homesickness, study pressure, and adjustment
🌱 Explore relevant support resources in one clear place
🌱 Join upcoming wellbeing sessions and workshops
FEATURE (05) — Social / Community
🌱 Share experiences and advice with other students
🌱 Discover community posts from people in similar situations
🌱 Build a personal profile and connect with peers
🌱 Find students from the same university or with similar interests
🌱 Use PeerMatch to make new connections and feel less isolated
FEATURE (06) — Personalised Home / Support Hub
🌱 Bring key services together in one clear dashboard
🌱 Surface relevant tasks, resources, and updates
🌱 Personalise support based on student needs
🌱 Reduce time spent searching across scattered information
🌱 Create a clearer and more guided onboarding experience
Design System
User Testing – High-Fidelity Evaluation
✨ Reflections
Supporting international students in adapting to life in the UK.
✨ The Challenge
✨ The Solution
✨ Design Process
The ideation phase translated research insights into practical support concepts for international students settling into the UK. Through sketching, Crazy 8s and brainwriting, I explored ways to simplify essential tasks, personalise support, and bring key parts of student life into one clear experience.
PROBLEM STATEMENT & HMW QUESTIONS
Ideation
WHAT ARE THE END GOALS OF SMARTSTART UK?
SmartStart UK
Supporting international students in
adapting to life in the UK.
Timeline
January 2025 — May 2025
Role
End-to-end UX design (research → ideation → prototyping → testing)
Design Brief
• International students face challenges adapting to life in a new country
• Support is often scattered across different platforms and hard to navigate
• Students need both practical guidance and emotional support during transition
✨ The Challenge
✨ Highlights
THE PROBLEM
Important information is often scattered across different platforms
Students feel overwhelmed during their first weeks in a new country
Lack of clear, personalized support makes adaptation more difficult
WHAT ARE THE USER NEEDS?
Users need a clear and simple way to access essential information
They want step-by-step guidance during their first weeks
They need relevant and practical support, not scattered information
They want to reduce confusion and overwhelm
They value feeling supported while adapting to a new environment
✨ The Solution
WHAT ARE THE END GOALS OF SMARTSTART UK?
Market Insights & Competitor Analysis
✨ Research Summary
I analysed leading streaming, wellbeing and conversational AI platforms to understand how mood and emotion are currently used in content discovery.
The comparison revealed an opportunity for a low-friction, cross-media experience that responds to users’ current emotional state rather than relying mainly on past behaviour or open-ended interaction.
UNDERSTANDING THE USER
To understand how international students adapt to life in the UK, I conducted both secondary research and primary user research.
Conducted
• Pilot study (1)
• User interviews (5)
• User group session (4 participants)
Key Insights
• International students struggle with GP registration, banking, and proof-of-address requirements.
• Transport and everyday living costs are a major source of stress after arrival.
• Students often feel unsure about where to find reliable, step-by-step information for essential UK tasks.
• Housing requirements, such as guarantors and documentation, can be confusing and difficult to navigate.
• Students value having personalised university and wellbeing support in one accessible place.
PROBLEM STATEMENT & HMW QUESTIONS
The ideation phase translated research insights into practical support concepts for international students settling into the UK. Through sketching, Crazy 8s and brainwriting, I explored ways to simplify essential tasks, personalise support, and bring key parts of student life into one clear experience.
MID-FIDELITY WIREFRAMES
✨ Design Process
Ideation
✨ Key Features
FEATURE (01) — Essential Setup
🌱 Follow a structured checklist for key arrival tasks
🌱 Track progress step by step during the first weeks
🌱 Access practical guidance for SIM, bank, GP, and accommodation
🌱 Return anytime and continue incomplete tasks
🌱 Reduce confusion during the initial settling-in period
FEATURE (02) — Find a Job
🌱 Browse student-friendly job opportunities
🌱 Filter roles by location, hours, job type, and pay
🌱 View detailed job information and required skills
🌱 Compare role requirements with profile insights
🌱 Save relevant opportunities and apply directly through the app
FEATURE (03) —Accommodation
🌱 Browse accommodation options based on location and budget
🌱 Filter by property type, amenities, and student-friendly criteria
🌱 View detailed property information, pricing, and nearby amenities
🌱 Compare options more easily with clear listing details
🌱 Save suitable properties for later review
FEATURE (04) — Mental Health & Wellbeing Support
🌱 Access counselling, peer support, and 24/7 helplines
🌱 Chat with an AI support bot for everyday emotional challenges
🌱 Get guidance for homesickness, study pressure, and adjustment
🌱 Explore relevant support resources in one clear place
🌱 Join upcoming wellbeing sessions and workshops
FEATURE (05) — Social / Community
🌱 Share experiences and advice with other students
🌱 Discover community posts from people in similar situations
🌱 Build a personal profile and connect with peers
🌱 Find students from the same university or with similar interests
🌱 Use PeerMatch to make new connections and feel less isolated
FEATURE (06) — Personalised Home / Support Hub
🌱 Bring key services together in one clear dashboard
🌱 Surface relevant tasks, resources, and updates
🌱 Personalise support based on student needs
🌱 Reduce time spent searching across scattered information
🌱 Create a clearer and more guided onboarding experience
✨ Reflections
Design System
User Testing – High-Fidelity Evaluation