MĀNOA NOW • UX LEAD • APP REDESIGN
Redesigning Mānoa Now to be a campus essential
TIMELINE
Mar 2026 → Now
Tools
Figma
Claude
Codex
Adobe Suite
ROLE
UX Design Lead
Team
1 UX/UI design lead
2 UI designers
1 Team lead
2 Developers
1 UX/UI design lead
3 UI designers
1 Team lead
2 Developers
TLDR;
I guided a design team and collaborated cross functionally to improve user retention and usability
I guided a design team and collaborated cross functionally to improve user retention and usability
My role
UX/UI Design Lead
UX/UI Design Lead
• Led key design decision making for features and usability points
• Planned the research approach & analyzed data to find user pain points and opportunities
• Created the overall design system, home page, and deals section of the app
• Oversaw the high-fidelity execution of the design
• Led key design decision making for features and usability points
• Planned the research approach & analyzed data to find user pain points and opportunities
• Created the overall design system, home page, and deals section of the app
• Oversaw the high-fidelity execution of the design
• Led the mid-to-end redesign, directing a three-person team from strategy through execution
• Directed the mid-to-end redesign
• Planned the research approach & analyzed data to find user pain points & opportunities
• Regularly oversaw the high-fidelity execution of the design
• Set the research agenda, translating survey and usability data into a clear, prioritized redesign roadmap
• Oversaw the high-fidelity execution across the team, keeping design quality and consistency on track
FEATURE 01
New interface with key features at front & center
FEATURE 02
FEATURE 03
Map with switch tabs to easily search dining options, deals, and campus facilities
Dining page with tailored categories and ability to order through the app
FEATURE 03
FEATURE 02
Dining page with tailored categories and ability to order through the app
Map with switch tabs to easily search dining options, deals, and campus facilities
01 • DISCOVERY & THE PROBLEM
The Mānoa Now app only had a 4.3% retention rate of users coming back
Users are lost when navigating the existing app & aren't satisfied visually
From examining retention rates of the app, on day 1 only ~4.3% of users were coming back to the app. By day 14, user retention went down to ~.15%. To better understand the problem, we conducted user testing and a survey.
From examining retention rates of the app, on day 1 only ~4.3% of users were coming back to the app. By day 14, user retention went down to ~.15%.
Discovering pain points through user research methods
Discovering pain points through user research
I conducted a survey with 38 respondents to evaluate the old Mānoa Now app. Clarity was rated highly positive, while motivation & overall satisfaction were rated lower.
I conducted a survey with 38 respondents to evaluate the old Mānoa Now app. Clarity was rated highly positive, while motivation & overall satisfaction were rated lower.
I conducted a survey with 38 respondents to evaluate the old Mānoa Now app.
38
survey responses gathered for quantitative metrics
survey responses gathered for quantitative metrics
survey responses used to prioritize redesign decisions
survey responses gathered
6
usability tests conducted on the live app and prototype
usability tests conducted on the live app and prototype
usability tests conducted
I then used Codex to analyze the data from the survey and give me a detailed HTML site to report the findings. Many users were not satisfied with the blocky and outdated visuals and that the app lacked functionality.
USER TESTER 1
"I deleted the old app because I was so confused and also because I didn't think any of the features were useful."
"I deleted the old app because I was so confused and I didn't think any of the features were useful."
"I deleted the old app because I was so confused and also because I didn't think the features were useful."
USER TESTER 2
"Why does it take so long to load" "What is this is it just a picture?" (Deals section)
"Why does it take so long to load" "What is this, is it just a picture?" (Deals section)
"What is this is it just a picture?" "How do I use this part?"
USER TESTER 3
"It'll have a picture and I don't understand what I'm clicking onto" / "I thought it would be a better campus map than the one on Apple maps"
To gather more research, I conducted user testing to see how users naturally interact with the app. There was a noticeable drop off point at food and dining due to confusion, along with frustration with long loading times.
I created an affinity map to sift through qualitative user feedback and highlight pain points from users. I noticed that many users were struggling with navigation and clarity in the interface, along with outdated visual systems.
02 • THE SOLUTION
Mānoa Now: A clearer, accessible student app that motivates continued use
Design a clear, accessible, & satisfying student essentials app
I led the redesign of Mānoa Now to be a student campus hub with clearer navigation, strong information architecture, and an intuitive interface.
I led the redesign of Mānoa Now to be a student campus hub with clearer navigation, organized content, and key resources brought earlier into the product. The redesign focuses on helping students find campus information without needing to guess where to go next.
I led the redesign of Mānoa Now to be a student campus hub with clearer navigation and an intuitive interface.
03 • final design + key design decisions
03 • Final Design + key design decisions
A clean and intuitive interface, with campus life easily accessible and in one place
A clean and intuitive interface, with campus life easily accessible and in one place
When creating the app, we focused on a sleek and concise app interface that highlights key features in the front or in the nav bar. We added many features that would enhance the app and encourage continued use, such as ordering and checking parking.
When creating the app, we focused on a sleek and concise app interface that highlights key features in the front or in the nav bar. We added many features that would enhance the app and encourage continued use, such as ordering and checking parking.
The product had a semi-established interface, so I focused on UX suggestions based on data.
Insight
Students already valued quick access to student essentials on the home screen
Decision
Kept the essentials module in place, but refined it to feel more professional and visually minimal.
Insight
Students struggled to browse and compare different areas of campus
Decision
Added switchable category tabs on Maps, plus "hotspots" that guide students to the nearest relevant location, reducing choice fatigue
Kept the essentials module in place, but refined it to feel more professional and visually minimal.
Added switchable category tabs on Maps, plus "hotspots" that guide students to the nearest relevant location
Insight
Students wanted an easier way to track campus events
Students struggled to browse different areas of campus
Decision
Added event calendar for users to see what's happening on campus and an events section
Added switchable category tabs on Maps, plus "hotspots" that guide students
04 • TESTING & OUTCOME
04 • TESTING & OUTCOME
Testing to validate what worked and areas for improvement
Testing to validate what worked and areas for improvement
I tested the prototype with Mānoa students to observe how they navigated key flows and to identify the next questions the team should validate.
Currently conducting user testing on Mānoa students to see how they went through the app & asked for their feedback.
USER TESTER 1
USER TESTER 1
"It's intuitive and easy to use. I love that the calendar makes it easy for me as a student to see what's going on on campus."
"It's intuitive and easy to use. I love that the calendar makes it easy for me to see what's going on on campus."
USER TESTER 2
USER TESTER 2
"I like how there's events and facilities easily accessible. I never know what's going on on campus."
USER TESTER 3
USER TESTER 3
"It's easy to navigate. I like the dining features, it's always hard to find the dining and the hours. It would be useful to search for cuisine, and food items"
"It's easy to navigate. I like the dining features, it's always hard to find the dining and the hours. It would be useful to search for food items"
"It's easy to navigate. I like the dining features, it's always hard to find the dining and the hours.
USER TESTER 4
USER TESTER 4
"I think it's a great app to organize everything that's on campus, I often don't know what's going on and I didn't know how to navigate around campus"
"It's easy to navigate. I like the dining features, it's always hard to find the dining and the hours. It would be useful to search for food items"
"It's easy to navigate. I like the dining features, it's always hard to find the dining and the hours.
Participants described the prototype as easier to navigate and found the dining page useful, specifically the ability to order through the app.
Participants described the prototype as easier to navigate and found the dining page useful, specifically the ability to order through the app.
final reflection
final reflection
Leading this UX project, I learned the importance of communicating often and clearly cross functionally. There are numerous factors after the design is done and during, especially with developers. The overall design and process was successful, with many features implemented to improve the experience of users.
This was the first project where I led and also did this much user research. I felt a stronger sense of certainty in design decisions and leading my team with confidence.
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