Odyssey
A platform to explore passions and careers
Senior Thesis
UX Design
UI Design
Information Architecture
Storytelling
[2023]
Overview:
Many young adults struggle to choose a career path, especially during high school and the beginning of college. This often leads to high dropout rates and dissatisfaction with their chosen profession.
Odyssey provides a cohesive ecosystem of resources. It offers a user-friendly website and app, engaging classes, and hands-on activities. Together, these experiences encourage students to explore their passions in a fun and supportive environment.
Project: Senior Thesis
Timeframe: 20 weeks
Platform: Desktop, Mobile, Interactive classes, In-Person Experiences
Role: UX / Project Lead
Awards Submitted: 5
My Role
As the UX Lead on Odyssey, I led a team of seven through a 20-week project focused on reimagining career exploration for high school students. We conducted deep user research, mapped journeys, and identified key pain points to design a supportive ecosystem tailored to real needs.
Our work culminated in a final presentation to top industry experts at our senior show, highlighting both our process and impact.
Why we chose education?
We chose education because we empathize with the uncertainty young people face when exploring careers. Our team came from diverse backgrounds including graphic design, computer science, and photography, and none of us had a clear direction early on.
That shared experience inspired us to create a tool that offers students the guidance and support we wished we had.
What we aimed to solve?
We knew this problem couldn’t be solved with just an app or website. Instead, we designed a full experience that combines personality tests, hands-on workshops, real-world simulations, and mentorship to help students explore careers in a meaningful way.
Through design, we created a space where they can try, learn, and confidently shape their future paths.
Research
We conduct in-depth secondary research to understand current problems and areas of opportunity.
Interviews & Surveys
Interviewed 16 participants and gathered survey responses from 160 students and parents.
Participated in college open studio day and conducted card sortring with high school students.
Photos from our field study and card-sorting activities with high school students
What did we learn from our research?
Unique Market Opportunity
No other competitor is solving this exact problem, giving us a chance to stand out in the market.
Passion Over Perks
When choosing a career, personal passion and fulfillment matter more than outside rewards like money or status.
Career Exploration is Hard
Many young adults feel overwhelmed when trying to choose the right career, so a simple and easy-to-use solution is important.
Need for Better Resources
Young adults want more tools and information to explore careers, showing the value of offering diverse and helpful resources.
Personas & User Journeys
We developed a comprehensive set of personas representing all key stakeholders in the problem space, including students at different stages of their journey, parents, and career counselors. These personas served as tools to guide our decisions, map the problem space, and highlight the collaborative nature of career planning.
We mapped the relationships, interactions, and milestones of multiple personas, uncovering design opportunities and challenging our initial assumptions.
Solution & Framework
1- Before Class
Invitation: Students receive custom invitations through their school or county, inviting them to apply.
Onboarding: They create an account on our platform and take a custom personality test to better understand their strengths and interests.
Exploration: Students can browse available classes and discover opportunities aligned with their results.
Guidance: They schedule an appointment with their school career counselor to sign up for Odyssey.
Welcome Kit: Based on the class they choose, students receive a personalized welcome kit we designed to prepare them for their journey.
2- During Class
Exploration: Students are introduced to a variety of career paths, research them, and connect with experts across different fields.
Immersion: After choosing a path, students participate in hands-on experiences, workshops, and real-world projects. They collaborate with professionals and gain internship-like exposure to see if the path is right for them.
Final Presentations & Networking: Toward the end of the program, students present their work to parents and industry leaders. This showcase helps them build networks across schools, gain recognition, and prepare for real-world opportunities.
3- After Class
Certification: Students receive an Odyssey certification, confirming they have completed the program.
Career & Academic Resources: They gain access to resume-building support, connections to universities, and internship opportunities designed for high school students.
Ongoing Support: Students remain part of the Odyssey system, ensuring they continue to receive guidance and resources as they transition into college or their chosen career path.
Design
00. Brainstorming, Information Architecture, Wireframes
01. Visual Identity Exploration
02. The Final Experience
Beyond the core experience
Welcome Kit
Class syllabus and schedule
Hands on experience activities
Industry night
Takeaways
Odyssey was never about designing a pretty UI to pass my thesis. It was about using design thinking, research, and collaboration to build something that could truly help people. The process pushed me to think differently about how design can reach the right audience and make an impact beyond the classroom.
In 20 weeks, working closely with other students taught me the value of collaboration, adaptability, and trust. Leading the team showed me how to leverage each person’s strengths and keep us moving toward a shared goal.
Most importantly, I learned that good design isn’t about perfection, it’s about people. Asking the right questions, testing openly, and adapting when needed shaped a mindset I’ll carry forward: design as a tool for real change, powered by teamwork, empathy, and curiosity.