While our group started out with a vague idea of what we might do, that is, make a space that people can come to when they were struggling with their mental health, we really wanted to figure out what our users really needed first in order to truly come up with the best design that would be the most useful when the Claremont Colleges return to on-campus living. We started by selecting our extreme users. We realized that due to the pandemic, most people we were designing for had either never been on campus, or had only been on campus for a very short amount of time over a year ago. Since this was the majority of our user base, we chose some people who fit into this category to interview.
Additionally, we interviewed two transfer students, one person who transferred into a Claremont College and one who transferred out of a Claremont College. We believe that these were important choices because these users could bring us perspectives on how two different institutions treated mental health.
Our empathy work provided us with a lot of information and insights about students experience with their own mental health and mental health services both on and off campus. These were some of our most helpful insights that helped form the rest of our design process:
"This student sacrifices their personal wellbeing in order to perform academically and to help their peers. They would thrive in a more holistic learning environment that takes a slower pace and prioritizes mental wellbeing and personal care, which could be reflected in their peers and the 5Cs."
"By creating natural spaces that are accessible yet feel separate from "school," where quietude and stillness are found, they are likely to nourish their wellbeing and increase their mindfulness. They have tools for their wellbeing, but would like a more regimented routine and access to public art spaces. Nature fills them with wonder, and wonder reenergizes them with enthusiasm and energy."
"They discovered breath work and time in nature balance her mental/physical health. If they had access to workshops sooner they likely would've been in a better mental state sooner."
POVs of all our users with important quotes that inspired our design:
Ryan: A student transferring out of the colleges partially due to social difficulties, who enjoys languages, interacting with students from different schools, and being outside to relax and decompress.
Need: Needs a way to feel less isolated and more connected to other students, even when just walking from class to class.
Insight: Despite the five colleges all in one place and the different events and socialization that takes place on campus, Ryan still experienced frequent loneliness and isolation frequently at school. He might need some outside or structural support in order to combat this.
Empathy Quote: "It would be cool if there were a rec area like a gym that were outside." (In this way he could meet new people but in an outside space).
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K: K was involved in mental health work on campus but only started focusing on their personal mental health when they went to study abroad in their junior year because they felt less stressed and less stigma.
Need: They need more time to be with themself and to prioritize taking care of themself, especially when they're busy.
Insight: This student sacrifices their wellbeing in order to perform academically and to help their peers. They would thrive in a more holistic learning environment that takes a slower pace and prioritizes mental wellbeing and personal care, which could be reflected in their peers and the 5Cs.
Empathy Quote: "I actually never used Monsour, which was something that I definitely should have done." (Although spending lots of time organizing the Mental health Initiative, her personal health was deteriorating and at the time Monsour did not feel like a place that would help her.)
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Audrey: Audrey feels that she is her own therapist and is alone on her mental health journey. She feels others do not understand her struggles and can't wait to leave home to get away from feeling trapped.
Need: Needs a way to be heard and have a safe space to be fully listened to and validated. She also needs adequate, regular mental health support in an informal setting.
Insight: Audrey strives to improve herself despite tremendous struggles. Having a group to talk to about her issues would help her process her feelings and further work on herself.
Empathy Quote: "So I had a therapist in freshman year, and but it just didn't work out. It wasn't the right fit. And then after that, I didn't try to get another one ... I kind of became my own therapist." .... She continues saying, "I'm happy with the work I've done with myself."
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Chloe: Is 22 year’s old, and she goes to Pomona College. She is a transfer student from Cornell and is now a senior; she has one semester left of college
Need: To have reenergizing natural spaces that are separate from the association with school/home-work which are draining. Workshops that teach new tools for well-being. A centralized school platform for finding community, nature, and school resources. Natural spaces that are comfortable for HW (free of computer glare). Common spaces for artistic expression.
Insight: By creating natural spaces that are accessible yet feel separate from "school," where quietude and stillness are found, Chloe is likely to nourish her wellbeing and increase her mindfulness. She has tools for her wellbeing but would like a more regimented routine and access to public art spaces. Nature fills her with wonder, wonder renergizes Chloe with enthusiasm and energy.
Empathy Quote: “I want to do school with the best mental health possible”...... “I would like to incorporate more routines or daily practices into my life.” (She knows how important mental health is and desires wellbeing to be synonymous with school.)
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Daniel: An international student who doesn't like learning from home with difficult and asynchronous classes because it makes him feel very stressed, and that he is missing out on the typical college life because college and high school feel very similar
Need: Needs to feel like a college student by engaging with others in-person, in class projects and with friends in small group gatherings.
Insight: Spending time walking in nature and talking with his friends helps him recharge. Having a quiet place at the 5Cs to walk and be in a meditative space while also having spaces for 2-3 people socialization would be ideal to nurture him away from home.
Empathy Quote: "[When doing music and art] los[ing] yourself in that activity. I think that's like a meditative process." (He likes to focus himself in activities that result in peacefulness)
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Q: Q was a student at Pitzer College. She suffered from mental health issues and often isolated herself in nature with headphones as a remedy.
Need: Upon learning breath work exercises in an African Aesthetics class, her mental health radically shifted. She wishes the 5c's provided students with more wellbeing exercises, as well as a space where students can focus on mindfulness. Q says, "All I need is a space to just breathe"
Insight: She discovered well-being exercises and time in solitude balance her mental/physical health. If she had access to wellbeing workshops and a quiet space sooner, she likely would've had a better mental health throughout college.
Empathy Quote: "The schools need to support wellbeing and not just academics" ..... "Peaceful space is important." (She feels the importance of having a space to feel peaceful in... especially one that is sponsored by the schools.)
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Maggie: A rising junior who has been going to therapy for years and is very into mental
health awareness who had really poor
mental health during the pandemic
Need: Needs a way to de-stigmatize mental health through group support, workshops, and open communication about mental health.
Insight: Despite going to therapy for several years and being into mental health awareness, going to therapy still makes her feel like not everything is due to circumstances but instead something that she can work on within herself
Empathy Quote: "If I were less active in mental health on campus I wouldn't know about all of the MH resources." (She knows the benefit of mental health, and also knows how stigmatized it is. Given her experience she wants to help others know about wellbeing resources and how beneficial they are.)