Sustainable Campus Move-Out User Research

User Experience Research
SI 422: Usability Needs and Evaluation

Role
UX Researcher

Timeline
September - December 2023

Methods
Interviews, collaging, personas, journey mapping, affinity diagramming

At A Glance
In this user experience research project, I investigated how we might mitigate waste generated by students living off-campus during move-out at the University of Michigan.

The Problem

How might we mitigate waste generated by students living off-campus during move-out at the University of Michigan?

Students in both dorms and off-campus housing produce mass amounts of waste during move-out at the end of the year, but the accommodations for off-campus donations are far fewer. Valuable items with only a couple of semesters worth of use end up in landfills, and other students repurchase these same items, brand new, the following semester. Planet Aid estimates that the average college student produces 640 lbs of waste per year, the majority of which accumulates at the end of the year during move-out.

While students moving out of on-campus dorms are provided with donation bins right in their hallways for different categories such as food, clothes, and shoes, the Michigan Dean of Students advises those living in off-campus housing to drop their items at Goodwill or the Ann Arbor PTO Thrift Shop. This seems like a simple solution, but the reality is that many students will not do this because it requires extra effort to transport their waste, especially for students without access to car, or students in a rush to move out.

  1. What barriers prevent students from reducing waste and choosing to donate during move-out?

  2. How does the university support or neglect sustainable, waste-reducing, move-out practices for off-campus students?

Research Questions

Research Process

To investigate my research questions, I conducted small-batch user interviews and collaging. I employed these methods with a goal of understanding why students feel and behave in certain ways during move-out, identify broad themes and shared attitudes, and target similarities between users.

User interviews and collaging

Collaging materials

After conducting five interviews in combination with the collaging activity, I analyzed the interview data to identify common themes across participants. I organized these patterns into an affinity diagram.

Data analysis and affinity diagramming

Affinity diagram

Some common barriers to sustainable move-out practices included time constraints, challenges related to moving out independently, lack education surrounding donation options, inconvenience, lack of transportation, and stress from school and finals. Additonally, most students were unaware of University waste-reduction initiatives.

Persona creation and journey mapping

Using these key findings, I developed a user persona and a journey map that illustrates the emotions, motivations, and frustrations of an off-campus student. The journey map complements the persona by visualizing the user’s end-to-end move-out process.

Persona, “Student Sam”

Student Sam’s journey map

Based on the needs uncovered through my research, I see an opportunity for the University to better advertise available Ann Arbor resources, and develop a pick-up

Recommendations

Most significant among common challenges were students’ lack of education surrounding resources in Ann Arbor, and a lack of convenience and transportation required for donations.

To meet students where they are, I believe the University could employ stronger campaigns towards the end of the year to advertise various thrift shops, donation centers, and services, rather than simply listing them as an option on their website. It seems that students would also be far more likely to donate if the transportation aspect was cut out completely, and their belongings could be picked up from their residence.

The result may look like a more sustainable campus, in addition to decreased stress in students.

  1. Avoiding bias is difficult, yet essential.
    Through each step of my research, I found it difficult to avoid bias, as I myself am an off-campus student facing the same challenges, and I was interviewing my own peers. It was hard not to intervene with my own opinions, as well as remain objective while conducting research on classmates and friends. However, throughout the process, it became easier, and I increasingly understood the importance of separating my perspective from my research.

  2. Build trust with your participants.
    Conducting research requires key steps such as informed consent and ensuring transparency with your research participants. Not only does this make the research more ethical, but it also makes your participants more comfortable and willing to share.

Key Takeaways & Lessons Learned

Check out some of my other projects!