To effectively communicate our concept, we created a pitch video that highlights both the problem and the innovative solution that Starship Playmate offers.

We began by observing campus life to better understand the usage context and conducted interviews to uncover students' specific needs. Based on our research data, we decided to focus on helping students onboard as they first arrive on campus. We identified key insights from our research to guide our design decisions.

During the ideation phase, we brainstormed various solutions based on these insights. Ultimately, we decided to concentrate on three intermediate solutions, with my leading the design of a scavenger hunt. We then developed prototypes for both iPad and mobile devices, allowing us to simulate interactions with the robot during usability testing.

We conducted two rounds of usability testing, which provided invaluable feedback. This feedback revealed that our design solution had the potential not only to assist students in making new friends at the start of the semester but also to foster connections throughout their time at Purdue.

We distributed a survey to first-year Purdue students, receiving 26 responses. The survey aimed to assess students’ socialization challenges, familiarity with Starship robots, and interest in interactive group activities. Key insights include:

I led the design of the scavenger hunt and created storyboards, rules, and puzzles. As the interviewees mentioned, the games should foster collaboration and interaction between participants and will be better if related to the Purdue campus.

Based on feedback from the first usability test, we made several key improvements:

1. Revised Trivia Questions: Converted to multiple-choice and focused on campus-related topics for better engagement.

2. Renamed Small Games: The “Small Games” section was renamed “Icebreakers” to better reflect its purpose.

3. Refined Icebreakers: Added rounds to mini-games and removed underperforming ones like "Make a Story."

4. Voice Interaction Concept: Introduced text-to-speech for a more personable robot interaction, planned for future implementation.

These iterations addressed key challenges from the first phase, improving the ease of use, engagement, and relevance of the prototype’s activities.

The second phase introduced group usability testing with three participants interacting as a group. This approach replicated the social interaction environment intended for the final product.

Key Findings:

The project has the potential to significantly improve the social experience for new students by fostering connections in a fun and engaging way. Activities like the scavenger hunt and icebreaker games can help overcome initial social barriers, creating a more inclusive campus environment.

By introducing gamified activities tied to Purdue landmarks and traditions, the project can promote a deeper connection with the university’s culture. This not only enhances the student experience but also increases awareness of campus facilities and resources.

The reimagined Starship robots go beyond their traditional delivery function to become facilitators of social interaction and learning. This innovative use could inspire further development of interactive technologies for educational and community-building purposes​.

I conducted two out of three user interviews and learned the power of utilizing silence during the interview. Initially, I felt that silence could be awkward during the interview. However, during the co-design part of our interview, I realized that silence can give the participants more time to think and come up with a lot of interesting ideas.

During user interviews, I discovered the challenge of designing unbiased questions, particularly when discussing personal experiences. Additionally, giving examples could introduce another type of leading question, as participants may tend to answer in a way they think aligns with what we want to hear.