Constanet


Constanet


Constanet


Tackling time poverty and lack of career networks for low SES university students, through the design of a specialised immersive walkway and interface.

Tackling time poverty and lack of career networks for low SES university students, through the design of a specialised immersive walkway and interface.

Tackling time poverty and lack of career networks for low SES university students, through the design of a specialised immersive walkway and interface.

Experience Design

Project Overview


Client: University Project (2nd Year)
Timeframe: 3 months (2026)
Team: Amanda Yu, Grace Amarante, Corynne De Vohct
My Role: Research, User Testing, Visual & Spatial Design
Tools: Figma, Sketchup, Enscape

Project Overview


Client: University Project (2nd Year)
Timeframe: 3 months (2026)
Team: Amanda Yu, Grace Amarante, Corynne De Vohct
My Role: Research, User Testing, Visual & Spatial Design
Tools: Figma, Sketchup, Enscape

Project Overview


Client: University Project (2nd Year)
Timeframe: 3 months (2026)
Team: Amanda Yu, Grace Amarante, Corynne De Vohct
My Role: Research, User Testing, Visual & Spatial Design
Tools: Figma, Sketchup, Enscape

Context

Constanet is a hybrid spatial-digital networking system designed to help low SES university students access career opportunities in time-efficient, emotionally accessible ways, combining a physical walkway installation with a companion mobile app.
Context

Constanet is a hybrid spatial-digital networking system designed to help low SES university students access career opportunities in time-efficient, emotionally accessible ways, combining a physical walkway installation with a companion mobile app.
Context


Constanet is a hybrid spatial-digital networking system designed to help low-SES and first-in-family university students access career opportunities in time-efficient, emotionally accessible ways.


The system combines a physical walkway installation with a companion mobile app, connecting on-campus discovery with digital engagement.

Design Process


*Major contributions in bold

Design Process


*Major contributions in bold

Design Process


*Major contributions in bold

Skip to Solution

Skip to Solution

Understanding the Problem

Understanding the Problem

Understanding the Problem

The "Ideal" University Student
The "Ideal" University Student
The "Ideal" University Student

Through interviews, ethnography and timescaping activities, we found that low SES students often experience networking as inaccessible due to external commitments and the misplaced assumption of an "ideal" university student with time, money and connections.


I contributed to designing, conducting and synthesising the research phase, discovering themes of time poverty, institutional mismatch and structural exclusion.

Through interviews, ethnography and timescaping activities, we found that low SES students often experience networking as inaccessible due to external commitments and the misplaced assumption of an "ideal" university student with time, money and connections.


I contributed to designing, conducting and synthesising the research phase, discovering themes of time poverty, institutional mismatch and structural exclusion.

32%

of survey respondents were first-generation students, and among these, nearly half were also balancing work alongside study.

32%

of survey respondents were first-generation students, and among these, nearly half were also balancing work alongside study.

"I would say that working has affected my university experience, academically and socially, it is extremely hard to work enough hours to support myself as well as keep up with friends and networking…"

"I would say that working has affected my university experience, academically and socially, it is extremely hard to work enough hours to support myself as well as keep up with friends and networking…"

★ Problem Statement

★ Problem Statement

How might we help low-SES and first-in-family students create more meaningful pathways to academic success, social belonging, and career opportunity?

How might we help low-SES and first-in-family students create more meaningful pathways to academic success, social belonging, and career opportunity?

Ideation & Testing

Ideation & Testing

Ideation & Testing

Designing for students, by students
Designing for students, by students
Designing for students, by students

Early ideation through storyboarding and sketching produced concepts including study hubs and campus networking screens, but felt too visible and stigmatising for the very students we were designing for.

Early ideation through storyboarding and sketching produced concepts including study hubs and campus networking screens, but felt too visible and stigmatising for the very students we were designing for.

Our first concept "OppoHub" saw faculty hubs placed along the Redfern route with live industry screens and a community dome, but felt static and passive.


Inspired by ACMI's immersive exhibition in Melbourne, we iterated towards something spatial, physical and digital: using event recap blocks and video projection recaps to create genuine engagement.

Our first concept "OppoHub" saw faculty hubs placed along the Redfern route with live industry screens and a community dome, but felt static and passive.


Inspired by ACMI's immersive exhibition in Melbourne, we iterated towards something spatial, physical and digital: using event recap blocks and video projection recaps to create genuine engagement.

Inspiration: ACMI Exhibition, Melbourne

Inspiration: ACMI Exhibition, Melbourne

A hybrid spatial-digital experience
A hybrid spatial-digital experience
A hybrid spatial-digital experience

The “Constanet” concept emerged from our constellation metaphor: networking as visible, cumulative progress. I translated this into early wireframes for the app, establishing core information architecture before development in Figma.

The “Constanet” concept emerged from our constellation metaphor: networking as visible, cumulative progress. I translated this into early wireframes for the app, establishing core information architecture before development in Figma.

Usability Testing & Prototyping
Usability Testing & Prototyping
Usability Testing & Prototyping

We conducted usability testing (think-aloud, heuristic) and interviews to evaluate the experience. The general feedback validated the low-pressure networking model and personalised event recaps. I facilitated testing sessions and synthesised key findings to refine our user flows.

We conducted usability testing (think-aloud, heuristic) and interviews to evaluate the experience. The general feedback validated the low-pressure networking model and personalised event recaps. I facilitated testing sessions and synthesised key findings to refine our user flows.

84

Average SUS Score

84

Average SUS Score

"It’s really great… you choose the urban space as an interface instead of digital… I really like that you integrate it with the space, it’s playful… I can just take 10 minutes and do it."

- Unit Coordinator, Bow Wu

"It’s really great… you choose the urban space as an interface instead of digital… I really like that you integrate it with the space, it’s playful… I can just take 10 minutes and do it."

- Unit Coordinator, Bow Wu

Feedback Implementation
Feedback Implementation
Feedback Implementation

However, user testing revealed 3 main friction points:

However, user testing revealed 3 main friction points:

To address these, we decided to simplify our user app flow, integrate a seamless scan handoff, and introduce better guidance/wayfinding throughout the journey to create a more cohesive experience.

To address these, we decided to simplify our user app flow, integrate a seamless scan handoff, and introduce better guidance/wayfinding throughout the journey to create a more cohesive experience.

The spatial interface
The spatial interface
The spatial interface

I developed Sketchup renders to demonstrate the spatial logic of the walkway.

I developed Sketchup renders to demonstrate the spatial logic of the walkway.

Solution

Solution

Solution

Solution & Impact
Solution & Impact
Solution & Impact

Constanet combines a faculty-based walkway on the student commute with a companion app providing jobs, progress tracking and an easy way to build networks. Students collect event recap blocks and place them on Constellation tables to generate a personalised video recap, in under 10 minutes.


User testing returned an average SUS score of 84, with our unit coordinator describing the experience as "playful, integrated with space". If scaled, Constanet could meaningfully close the opportunity gap for time-poor students in an engaging way.


*Concept Renders produced with Veras AI, based off my 3D model:

Constanet combines a faculty-based walkway on the student commute with a companion app providing jobs, progress tracking and an easy way to build networks. Students collect event recap blocks and place them on Constellation tables to generate a personalised video recap, in under 10 minutes.


User testing returned an average SUS score of 84, with our unit coordinator describing the experience as "playful, integrated with space". If scaled, Constanet could meaningfully close the opportunity gap for time-poor students in an engaging way.


*Concept Renders produced with Veras AI, based off my 3D model:

Figma Link

Figma Link

Reflection

Reflection

Reflection

Learnings & What I'd Change
Learnings & What I'd Change
Learnings & What I'd Change

If developed further, I would prioritise earlier pilot testing in a real commute environment to pinpoint physical-digital friction points sooner, such as the QR transition handoff. What worked well was our research depth: the strong foundations helped us ground all design decisions in lived student experience.

If developed further, I would prioritise earlier pilot testing in a real commute environment to pinpoint physical-digital friction points sooner, such as the QR transition handoff. What worked well was our research depth: the strong foundations helped us ground all design decisions in lived student experience.

★ Le Fin!

★ Le Fin!

← Back to All Works
← Back to All Works

Ready to build something amazing?

I'd love to connect with you!

Email

amandayu06@icloud.com

LinkedIn

amanda-yu06

Website

amandayu.design

Resume

download here!