SKILLSWAP
A campus of infinite possibilities
Case Study
7 min read
Role
UI/UX designer
Illustrator
TIMELINE
September -
October (2024)
Skills
Product Design
Research
Introduction
The idea for SkillSwap started with a simple conversation. I was brainstorming ways to create an engaging app for college communities when I turned to ChatGPT for inspiration.
Goal
Building a Network Where Skills and Connections Thrive
What is SkillSwap’s aim?
By connecting students through their talents, the app encourages teamwork, builds networks, and makes learning feel less like a lonely process and more like an adventure.
Why Students Lose Interest while learning alone
Even with countless resources available, learning alone can feel overwhelming and unmotivating. The lack of guidance, real-world application, and collaborative feedback often leads to dropout.
Research outcomes
Unveiling the Real Challenges in Skill Learning
To validate the flow, surveys and interviews were conducted with college students about their learning experiences. The findings revealed the following reasons why students give up halfway while learning skills:
Journey to Swapping Success
How did I decide that collaborative learning is more effective and to design this app? The journey includes:
Existing Theories and Evidence
User Research
1. Existing theories and evidences
I went through numerous online articles and research papers to delve deeper into the concept of collaborative learning and its advantages.
I listed the factors that support the theory that collaborative learning is more effective than self-learning, which helped me gain greater clarity on the solution.
Conclusion
Enhancing Learning through Collaborative Barter Systems and Gamification
What I’ve found is that collaborative learning, especially when combined with barter systems and gamification, significantly enhances engagement, improves critical thinking, strengthens social bonds, and makes learning much more effective and interactive.
2. User Research
Learning preferences
The online research validated my solution, but I wanted insights from college students-the target audience (my friends)-on their experiences with solo learning and their intake on collaboration learning.
Conclusion
From Struggles to Synergy: The Case for Collaborative Learning
While solo learners often faced isolation, lack of guidance, and slower progress, collaborative learning emerged as a game-changer. Users shared how collab with peers not only accelerated their learning but also fostered a sense of community and mutual motivation.
Features ideation
What information do users expect in key pages?
Swap details page
I conducted a survey (Google Forms) with 5 of my active friends and let them choose from 12 options that I felt would fit on the page. This helped me shortlist the necessary features.
Rough sketch
A clear breakdown of what’s needed and what’s being offered, making every skill exchange straightforward.
Final version
After the magic of colors, icons, graphical elements and a lot of iterations later...
Some notable feature ideations
Similiarly, the other major components and screens were also ideated. My aim was to design fun yet less head scratching screens.
The Heart of SkillSwap
A central feature designed to streamline collaborations and make the skill exchange process intuitive and engaging.
Peer profile
Before collaborating with a peer, find more about them and their work to gain confidence.
Current swap tracker
A collaborative checklist that keeps both swappers aligned on tasks and progress, ensuring every swap is completed seamlessly and on time.
Final design & flow of the app
Designing a simple and manageable experience
I crafted the main flow with new users in focus, making it easy for them to explore the app's essential features in a simple and intuitive manner. By adhering to the app's core goals and functionality, I was able to maintain a streamlined and purposeful approach.
The app is
For exchanging skills and learning from peers.
For fostering collaboration and building connections.
Meant to be simple and quick to use.
The app is not
A platform for formal courses or certifications.
For dictating how or what to teach or learn.
A tool requiring extensive time commitment.
Natalie & Emma: A SkillSwap Tale
Discover how Natalie and Emma connected, collaborated, and grew through SkillSwap, showcasing the app's seamless flow and features.
Natalie gets a message from Emma regarding the swap!
They dived into their skill swap, ticking off every item with ease
They finished the swap & built a great connection along the way
Conclusion
Reflections and Future Directions
The idea for SkillSwap took shape in September 2024, and within 2 months, I went through the complete process of designing the app from start to finish. After publishing the initial case study, I sought valuable feedback from peers and industry professionals. Their insights encouraged me to revisit and refine my work, pushing me to:
Reevaluate user feedback to uncover deeper opportunities.
Enhance the visual design and address previously overlooked features.
Focus on a more seamless and user-friendly app experience.
What’s next?
While SkillSwap has grown into a solid foundation, there’s still room to innovate and expand.
Here’s what I’d like to explore next:
Introducing Swap Points, a system where users can earn credits and redeem them for skill swaps or college events, encouraging participation and adding value.
Enhancing community engagement by integrating features that foster meaningful connections.
Streamlining the swap process to make it faster and more engaging for users.
