Parents education program (PEP)
DESIGN RESEARCH & BRAND IDENTITY
The task is to research a global megatrend and create a design solution to solve a problem that is present. Utilizing human-centered research methods is important in developing an impactful design solution for the chosen megatrend, Demographics and Social Change.
Overview + goals
Through researching Global Innovation Megatrends, we found that there is an invisible population of students who are parents that are not getting the support necessary to obtain a college degree.
Initial problem discovered
USER empathy map
Student parents are at a disadvantage to perform well in Educational Institutions due to a lifestyle of juggling many responsibilities. Traditional Educational Institutions aren’t catered to a student parents, making it difficult for them to obtain the resources needed to thrive. In turn, student parents, their children, and loves ones all face adversity as their invisibility in academic spaces.
who is affected
What I did:
Brand Identity
Design Research
Prototyping
Website Design
Age 32
Lives in San Antonio, TX
Single father of one year old boy
Works full time
Got accepted to Texas State University
XAVIER
competitive audit - what solutions are out there?
Auburn University offers a Tiger Babies Breastfeeding Support Tent - a private enclosure for nursing available at home football games and other major campus event, as well as a food pantry.
Colorado State University has Aggie Village Family Apartments, which feature two-bedroom units, a playground area, and bus transportation to local elementary and middle schools, along with three on-campus childcare centers.
At University of Central Florida, a handful of the university’s scholarship awards give preference to single parents, such as the Kendall Shaye Herndon Endowed Scholarship, the Phoenix Scholarship, and the Thomas and Lori Cleary Endowed Scholarship.
COMPETITIVE AUDIT—what’s missing?
On-going Financial Assistance
Who I worked with:
Student Parent Specific Advisor and Resource Liaison
Affordable Childcare
survey RESULTS
takeaways/pain points
Financial Distress
Financial obligations related to family and education can be a significant source of stress and worry
Frustration
Balancing academic demands with the needs and responsibilities of raising a child can be frustrating for student parents
Overwhelmed
Juggling the roles of a parent and a student can be incredibly demanding, often leaving parents feeling overwhelmed and overworked
Mental Health
Student parents often face compromised mental health, while colleges often fail to provide sufficient support that meets the specific needs of their parenting responsibilities
How might we provide resources and funding for parents enrolled in educational institutions?
how might we statement
proposed solution
Parents Education Program (PEP) is a non-profit organization that will partner with Texas State University’s existing program Students Who are Parents (SWAP) to offer:
Benefits Enrollment Application:
Application for Benefits
Resource Liaison Program:
Eligible benefits, social and health services, campus resources, and student success strategies funded by sponsorships and fundraising events
Monthly Financial Grant:
Dollar General Literacy Grants, Barbara Bush Foundation, The Council of Foundations, etc. (funded by sponsorships and fundraising events)
Parents Education Program (PEP) aims to be a source of hope and optimism for parents living in or attending education institutions with financial, resource-connective, and social support. These three focuses establish a support network that student-parent’s can rely on to help them and their families find their footing on a forward path to upward mobility and success with their kids and in their careers.
Mission statement
sponsorships and finance partners
benefit enrollment program
website
collaborators & Roles
Brodrick Rose:
Design Research, Survey
Elisa Pedraza:
Design Research, Copywriting
Taylor Wright:
Design Research, EGD