Case Study — EdTech / University Onboarding
Hello Uni
Helping international students transition to the UK safely — a cross-platform application enabling students to research British universities before relocating, built for ICANFutureStar.
Role
Designer & Developer
Duration
January – June 2020
Client
ICANFutureStar
Services
UI/UX · Branding · Web
Project Gallery
10+
Universities supported
85+
Courses available
4
Software engineers
2
Logos designed
Overview
About the project
HelloUni is a cross-platform application built for ICANFutureStar, enabling international students to research British universities before relocating to the UK. The platform targeted Chinese students in particular, bridging the gap between overseas education aspirations and the reality of UK university life.
I joined as a Graphic Designer with responsibilities spanning logo design, event materials, website redesign, and visual design aligned with company branding — eventually taking full ownership of the simplified navigation structure on WordPress.
UI/UX Design · App Design & Dev · Graphic Design · Website Redesign · Branding · Event Materials · Logo Design
Research & Discovery
Understanding the students.
Persona 01
Mei Tan, 21
Computer Science Student · Shenzhen
“I’m eager to explore universities abroad, and I wish for technology to help me seamlessly connect with potential academic opportunities without disrupting my social life.”
Persona 02
Sofia Ra, 19
Marketing Intern · Burgas
“I dream of studying in a vibrant European city. Technology should enhance my journey by connecting me with potential universities seamlessly.”
Persona 03
Wei Chan, 22
Computer Science Major · Beijing
“I aspire to pursue a top-notch education overseas. Technology should help me seamlessly explore international universities while respecting my cultural values.”
Design & Execution
What was delivered.
Deliverables
✦ Logo design — ICAN Futurestar & HelloUni
✦ Event materials — business cards, brochures, beermats, banners
✦ Website redesign with new layouts and navigation
✦ High-fidelity mockups for iOS and Android
✦ Android Material Design reskin
✦ Responsive web design
Key App Features
✦ Collaborative libraries for team file management
✦ Notification system for international users
✦ Ambassador hub functionality
✦ SMS-based onboarding for worldwide users
✦ Resource sharing platform
✦ Feedback and insights management
Design Approach
User studies leveraging partner connections provided authentic insights. Iterative design testing using 0–10 rating scales yielded both quantitative and qualitative feedback, supporting the decision for icon-focused design and simplified navigation — important for a young international audience with varying levels of English.
Brand Colour Palette
Primary colours developed for the HelloUni product
Key Findings
What worked, what I’d change.
What Worked Well
“In the project, I demonstrated a commendable understanding of the nuanced task of appealing to a predominantly young Chinese audience while ensuring the design seamlessly translates to the British marketplace and remains attractive to users abroad.”
User studies leveraging partner connections gave authentic feedback from real international students. The icon-focused design and simplified navigation — validated through 0–10 rating scales — resonated strongly with the target demographic and supported both iOS and Android experiences.
What I’d Do Differently
✦ Enhanced communication with the target demographic through dedicated focus groups
✦ Deeper exploration of contemporary design trends relevant to the target audience
✦ Usability testing on the navigation redesign before implementation
✦ Real-time user behaviour observation during interactions for richer feedback
Interested in working together?
Book a free discovery call or browse more of my work below.