GDS Platform – Alagu Soundari

Global Design Studio (GDS) - Building Global Connections Through Design

Overview

The Global Design Studio (GDS) collaborative platform connects educators and students worldwide, fostering creative learning and cultural exchange, setting out on a mission to bridge continents through design.

I was directly involved in:

- Contributed to the user research efforts.
- Building the project's core idea.
- Designing moodboards to guide the design direction.
- Crafting the user interface, selecting colors and typography.

Tool Used

Figma, FigJam
Google Forms
Adobe After Effects

Team

Maria Novik
Alagu Soundari

Research &
brainstorming

University researchers excel in identifying complex problems, while companies specialize in developing solutions. Their complementary skills and shared interests create new opportunities.

Student can gain hands-on industry experience while staying current on best practices and fostering diverse collaborations for a successful career.

"Working together can lead to promising discoveries such as innovative devices & new technology."

Takeaways from
platforms we liked

01 Learning platforms

Offers great structured landing pages & thoughtful information presentation

02 Collaborative study

A 24/7 virtual study space not only serves as a motivation booster for studies but also offers a great user experience for seamless communication

03 Spatial VR meeting

An easy-to-use VR meeting tool that hosts virtual rooms and galleries, offering a unique and out-of-the-box experience

Collecting ideas for the platform

Brainstorming session with the team

Insights & learnings
from audience

How did we personify
our audience?

Moodboards
for design directions

Colours &
typography

Defining our
design vision

"Our design vision is to create a platform where collaboration meets knowledge, bridging the boundaries of creativity."

Iterative wireframes &
screen designs

Home screen &
navigations

Student projects &
tracking

GDS Team Management

Challenges

Diverse Time Zones:
Coordinating activities across different time zones poses a challenge, affecting real-time collaboration and communication.

Cultural Sensitivity:
Balancing cultural differences and ensuring that content and activities are culturally sensitive and relevant to all participants.

Feedback Incorporation:
Streamlining the process of collecting and incorporating feedback from participants to continuously enhance the platform's functionality.

Future work

Gamification Elements:
Incorporating gamification elements to enhance engagement and motivation for participants.

Community Building:
Creating an active online community that fosters connections among educators, students, and industry partners.

Responsive Design:
Ensuring that the platform is accessible and user-friendly on mobile devices to accommodate users with diverse preferences.

"Nelson Mandela's words remind us that education is a force for change. The Global Design Studio empowers individuals to use education as a powerful tool to transform the world, one collaborative space at a time."

Other Works