TSU

The idea for SEED originated from professors at TSU who wanted to improve access to opportunities in agriculture for underserved students. They envisioned a centralized platform that would simplify the process of finding relevant internships, scholarships, and job openings. The project was funded by the USDA’s NextGen grant to build and sustain the next generation of agriculture professionals. SEED was conceived as part of this initiative to provide a platform for agriculture students to discover and access opportunities.

We visited TSU's campus in Nashville to meet with students and professors in the College of Agriculture. Through in-person interviews, we identified key pain points: students struggled to find relevant opportunities and felt overwhelmed by navigating multiple resources. These insights directly informed the app's core features and design, ensuring it addressed real user challenges.

I collaborated with another designer throughout the design process, from initial research to final handoff. We began with wireframes focused on simple and intuitive navigation. Multiple iterations, informed by user feedback, refined the app's structure and user experience.

To maintain consistency and efficiency, we developed a component library that streamlined the design process and ensured a unified visual language for the development team. We then created high-fidelity designs and conducted usability testing with students to validate our design choices and refine them as needed. In addition to the app's design, I worked on the branding, including creating the logo and app icon.

The SEED app is now live on the iOS App Store and Google Play Store, accessible to students nationwide. The designs received positive feedback during usability testing, and the development team successfully brought them to life. Although metrics are still being gathered, early responses from students and stakeholders have been encouraging, highlighting the app's potential impact in agriculture.