Introducing the Teacher’s Toolbox:

The idea for the Teacher's Toolbox originated during a ​conversation with my sister while brainstorming capstone project ​ideas. Inspired by her encouragement, I developed this tool to ​improve the educational experience for students and teachers. ​Research revealed that teachers spend an average of $500 out-​of-pocket on classroom supplies. The Teacher's Toolbox aims to ​alleviate this financial burden by connecting teachers with ​community donors for supplies and enabling teachers to create ​specific supply wishlists."

My Role:

I was the sole ideator, researcher, architect, and designer for this app.

Initial Concepts:

For my capstone project, I was tasked with creating a project for ​social good. Initially, I struggled to choose something meaningful to ​me that would also be a viable app and website design.

A consistent part of my work is collaboration and discussion. ​Verbalizing my ideas and receiving feedback is a crucial part of my ​design process. For this project, I sat down with my mom and sister to ​discuss areas they identified as needs in their communities. Our ​conversations covered various topics, but many circled back to ​education, a subject close to my heart.

As the new school year approaches, with school supplies appearing in ​stores and my social media feeds filled with teachers discussing ​discounts and financial struggles, I realized there should be a platform ​where teachers can receive free supplies. Donations could come from ​corporations, businesses, or local citizens. My idea was to create a ​supply hub where teachers could request, collect, and donate ​supplies.

I began my design process by conducting a competitive audit, ​examining three existing programs across the US. While only one fully ​aligned with my vision, the other two offered valuable insights and ​solutions I had not previously considered. One program, in particular, ​raised additional questions and possibilities that could inspire future ​design ideas.

To gather more information, I sought feedback from fellow teachers. I ​wanted to know what they were purchasing for their classrooms and ​how much they were spending annually. I found that the average ​teacher spends around $500 on basic supplies like notebooks, ​pencils, and bins. Some teachers purchase larger items such as ​bookcases, curtains, tables, and chairs. Arts teachers, in particular, ​spend the most, buying a wide variety of materials for everything from ​collages to musicals.

This comprehensive research and collaborative brainstorming led me ​to create a platform that supports teachers and addresses a pressing ​need in education. I am proud of the outcome and the potential ​impact it can have on the community.

Target Audience:

I identified 5 possible audiences for app.

• Comunity Members
• Teachers
• Specific Content Area Teacherss
• Admin/Counselors
  

User Journeys:

Takeaways from the Teachers:

• Frustrations:
  
• not being supported for supplies by the district
  
• often having to rethink projects due to supply limitations.
  

Takeaways from Administration/Counseling:

• Frustrations:
• Support from the district often doesn’t cover the costs of ​many initiatives.
  
• Principals and counselors often have to use out-of-pocket ​funds for student based inititaitves.
  

Paper Wireframe/Sketches

Information Architecture

Figma Wireframe

Transitioning from sketches to ​wireframes required ​intentional focus, as I was ​eager to dive into visual ​design. However, prioritizing ​the learning of new UI ​techniques and layout ​principles was essential for ​building a strong foundation.

Challenges Faced or Constraints:

One of the challenges I faced in this project was finding the sweet spot between my UI ​design ideas and my current skillset. While I'm happy with the initial design, there are still ​areas I'd refine as the project progresses. Collaboration with an app engineer would be ​invaluable to bridge the gap between my design aspirations and real-world implementation.

Choosing the right color palette was another hurdle. I wanted to move away from the ​ubiquitous blue found in most apps, but still pick something that resonates with teachers. ​Colorhunt.co came in handy, helping me identify a dynamic, energetic, and playful palette ​that remained welcoming. The chosen colors strike a balance – the pink adds a touch of ​energy, while the dark blue signifies reliability and trust. The warm yellow and teal complete ​the picture by contributing warmth and calmness. Ultimately, the chosen palette creates a ​warm and inviting atmosphere while retaining a sense of vibrancy.

Usability testing also revealed some errors with the UI, such as unclear navigation elements ​and confusing button functions. Additionally, users expressed a need for clearer wording in ​the UX writing, particularly regarding donation options.

High - Fi Prototype

Next Steps:

The next steps in this project would be to ​encourage my school district to bring this idea ​to fruition. During usability testing, it was clearly ​stated many times that this idea is needed.

As I continue developing the site and the app, I ​hope to redevelop the forms' pages to make ​them more streamlined and user-accessible. I ​would like to make the visual interface blend ​more with the overall design and have seen a ​few UI examples of design ideas I would like to ​try. Additionally, I would like to add more ​options for teachers to select quantities of ​items as they are either shopping or creating a ​wishlist.

Finally, I would like to add the option to donate ​financially.

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