In-Class Project Showcase December 2024

Filling empty spaces in shopping malls.

This project aims to investigate consumer preferences regarding shopping malls by analyzing factors that influence their choice of malls to visit. Through a structured survey, we will gather data on various aspects such as location, store variety, promotions, dining options, and entertainment facilities. The insights gained will help identify key trends and preferences among shoppers, ultimately providing valuable recommendations for mall management and retailers to enhance customer experience and increase foot traffic.

Fostering Fall Prevention at Garry J. Armstrong: A Focus on Sustainability

Last year, a group of students worked on a fall reduction project in Garry J. Armstrong Long Term Care Home (GJA) by implementing several strategies. These strategies were not sustained, prompting a reevaluation to address underlying issues. This project built on their work, focusing on two key strategies: the “Falling Leaf” initiative and the “Call, Don’t Fall” poster. After identifying gaps, we educated the staff to support long-term implementation and reduce falls at GJA.

Heart and Sole

Heart disease is the leading cause of hospitalization and premature death for women in Canada, and is the number one killer of women over 35 worldwide.

In collaboration with the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Center, this project aimed to raise awareness regarding cardiovascular risk factors for women through a community event that took place as a walk. This walk brought the community together to discuss key differences between men and women with heart disease.

Bridging the Nap Gap

Our project explored the napping habits of Algonquin College students. Through our survey, we found that the majority of Algonquin students would nap on campus. However, the outstanding issue remains that students are not aware of the limited napping resources available to them on campus.

Data Business Intelligence

Our platform provides small businesses with powerful, machine learning-driven insights across four critical areas: social media, cybersecurity, portfolio investment analysis, and SEO. By leveraging advanced analytics and customizable dashboards, businesses gain actionable insights to drive informed decision-making, even without having the expertise or resources for complex data management. Our solution focuses on ease of use, flexibility, and the ability to adapt to the specific needs of each client, making advanced analytics accessible for everyone.

New roots, New Routes: Exploring Immigrant Experiences on Trails

This project is a research study conducted by ‘Trailbenders’, a team of four student researchers with the Human-Centered Design Lab at Algonquin College, in collaboration with Sentiers Wakefield Trails (SWT). This research addresses the experiences and motivations of recent immigrants in the Ottawa/Gatineau and Wakefield regions regarding the use of local trails. As a not-for-profit organization, SWT faces hurdles related to resource limitations and inclusivity in trail use, providing a unique opportunity to understand how trails can better serve diverse communities.
Through an extensive mixed-method research, including a survey and interviews with relevant participants and subject matter experts, we explored insights into how newcomers perceive and experience trails, their motivations for exploring these spaces, and their expectations for improvement. The project seeks to answer the key question: How do recent immigrants residing in the Ottawa-Gatineau and Wakefield region view and experience trails, and what can be done to make these trails more inclusive?
Our research focused on developing solutions that enhance trail inclusivity by addressing the unique needs of new immigrant users. By understanding the barriers they face, we aim to foster stronger connections between newcomers and the local community through outdoor recreation, ultimately making trails more accessible and enjoyable for all.
The long-term vision for this project is to support SWT in creating more inclusive recreational practices that cater to the needs of diverse populations. This will not only help build a stronger sense of belonging for immigrants but also benefit the broader community by enhancing trail experiences for everyone.
Throughout this project, we gained valuable insights into collaborative design and research work, utilizing tools such as Google Docs, Zcal, Google Forms, and Zoom for effective teamwork and communication. The project emphasized attention to detail, empathy, inclusion , responsiveness to participant feedback, and the importance of maintaining clear communication channels within the team.

New roots, New Routes: Exploring Immigrant Experiences on Trails

This project is a research study conducted by ‘Trailbenders’, a team of four student researchers with the Human-Centered Design Lab at Algonquin College, in collaboration with Sentiers Wakefield Trails (SWT). This research addresses the experiences and motivations of recent immigrants in the Ottawa/Gatineau and Wakefield regions regarding the use of local trails. As a not-for-profit organization, SWT faces hurdles related to resource limitations and inclusivity in trail use, providing a unique opportunity to understand how trails can better serve diverse communities.
Through an extensive mixed-method research, including a survey and interviews with relevant participants and subject matter experts, we explored insights into how newcomers perceive and experience trails, their motivations for exploring these spaces, and their expectations for improvement. The project seeks to answer the key question: How do recent immigrants residing in the Ottawa-Gatineau and Wakefield region view and experience trails, and what can be done to make these trails more inclusive?
Our research focused on developing solutions that enhance trail inclusivity by addressing the unique needs of new immigrant users. By understanding the barriers they face, we aim to foster stronger connections between newcomers and the local community through outdoor recreation, ultimately making trails more accessible and enjoyable for all.
The long-term vision for this project is to support SWT in creating more inclusive recreational practices that cater to the needs of diverse populations. This will not only help build a stronger sense of belonging for immigrants but also benefit the broader community by enhancing trail experiences for everyone.
Throughout this project, we gained valuable insights into collaborative design and research work, utilizing tools such as Google Docs, Zcal, Google Forms, and Zoom for effective teamwork and communication. The project emphasized attention to detail, empathy, inclusion , responsiveness to participant feedback, and the importance of maintaining clear communication channels within the team.

Multi-Fixit

Our Multi-Fixit project is a versatile, cross-platform solution aimed at transforming the home maintenance, repair, and renovation experience by seamlessly connecting clients with vetted local professionals. Designed to cater to both clients and service providers, the platform offers an intuitive, user-friendly interface that simplifies the entire process—from posting a service request to selecting a provider and finalizing the job. By integrating core elements from established gig economy platforms like Jiffy, Fiverr, and Uber, Multi-Fixit provides a streamlined, efficient marketplace for home services.

With a focus on user-centric design, responsive layout, and seamless functionality, Multi-Fixit is positioned as a comprehensive, trusted platform for home services—giving clients a reliable way to connect with skilled professionals and empowering local experts to find more work. The platform’s structured yet flexible approach aims to make every part of the process, from initial search to final review, as simple and satisfying as possible.

SELF JUSTICE

The Self Justice website is a thorough resource designed to assist self-represented litigants (SRLs) in Ontario, Canada, with complicated family law matters such as child custody, property division, and divorce. Self Justice was established to meet the increasing demand for easily available, user-friendly legal resources after realizing that the exorbitant expenses of traditional legal counsel had become a deterrent for many. The technology bridges a critical gap as more people represent themselves in court, enabling users to approach their cases with more assurance and knowledge.
To make legal processes easier for people who are not familiar with the legal system, Self Justice offers a variety of tools, such as support calculators, court form auto-fill choices, and step-by-step teaching materials. But as demand increased, the project team realised how critical it was to make the platform more mobile-friendly so that users could access it easily on smartphones and tablets.

LetterSub Mobile App

The mobile app will introduce features such as bookmarking, search, and personalized reader engagement, addressing the need for a streamlined and efficient way for users to access and manage newsletters on mobile devices. This project aims to offer mobile users a better experience, increasing reader engagement and providing access to features that go beyond basic content viewing. LetterSub’s strategic goal is to leverage mobile technology to improve subscription growth and reader retention by delivering key functionalities such as subscription management.