NPower.
NPower.
Fostering Dignity for Food Workers
in the Northeastern Community.
Fostering Dignity for Food Workers
in the Northeastern Community.
GOAL STATEMENT
Empower food works to pursue their lifelong passions through: collaboration, integrity, and devotion
Empower food works to pursue their lifelong passions through: collaboration, integrity, and devotion
COLLABORATORS
COLLABORATORS
Sohee Kang
Sohee Kang,
Azza
Azza,
Mansi
Sohee Kang,
Azza,
Mansi
The Problem: Invisible Hands, Unheard Voices
The Problem: Invisible Hands, Unheard Voices
The Problem:
Invisible Hands, Unheard Voices
Every day, students at Northeastern University rush through dining halls, grabbing their meals
without a second thought.
Behind the counters, food service workers prepare and serve with efficiency—but often, their presence fades into the background.Their work fuels the campus, yet their voices go unheard,
their struggles unnoticed.
Every day, students at Northeastern University rush through dining halls, grabbing their meals
without a second thought.
Behind the counters, food service workers prepare and serve with efficiency—but often, their presence fades into the background.Their work fuels the campus, yet their voices go unheard,
their struggles unnoticed.
Low wages force many to live paycheck to paycheck.
Low wages force many to live paycheck to paycheck.
Limited career growth keeps them trapped in the same roles for years.
Limited career growth keeps them trapped in the same roles for years.
A disconnect from the larger NU community leaves them feeling isolated.
A disconnect from the larger NU community leaves them feeling isolated.
Despite working on campus, many don’t feel like they belong to it.
The question wasn’t just how to acknowledge them—it was how to empower them.
Despite working on campus, many don’t feel like they belong to it.
The question wasn’t just how to acknowledge them—it was how to empower them.
A Platform for Opportunity,
Not Just Recognition
A Platform for Opportunity,
Not Just Recognition
Instead of a simple appreciation initiative, we envisioned something more.
A collaborative platform that connects food service workers with students to foster career growth, skill-building, and real-world project opportunities.
By bridging the gap between workers and students, the platform turns unnoticed efforts into shared success stories.
Instead of a simple appreciation initiative, we envisioned something more.
A collaborative platform that connects food service workers with students to foster career growth, skill-building, and real-world project opportunities.
By bridging the gap between workers and students, the platform turns unnoticed efforts into shared success stories.
Identifying themes
Community
Community
gratification
Gratification
identification
Identification
Understanding the User's Journey through Storyboards
Understanding the User's Journey through Storyboards
Key Insights
Understanding the Barriers
Understanding
the Barriers
To create an effective solution, we conducted secondary research, stakeholder analysis,
and empathy mapping.
To create an effective solution, we conducted secondary research, stakeholder analysis,
and empathy mapping.
01
Economic & Career Barriers
Many food service workers rely on housing assistance due to low wages.
Few have opportunities to upskill or transition into higher-paying roles.
Union limitations restrict direct engagement with management.
01
Economic & Career Barriers
Many food service workers rely on housing assistance due to low wages.
Few have opportunities to upskill or transition into higher-paying roles.
Union limitations restrict direct engagement with management.
02
Social & Psychological Barriers
Workers feel disconnected from the student community.
Language barriers prevent many from speaking up.
Previous recognition efforts were short-lived, failing to address deeper concerns.
Introducing NPower:
A Bridge Between Workers and Students
Introducing NPower:
A Bridge Between Workers and Students
Design Decisions
01
01
User Goal Selection
User Goal Selection
Simple radio button selection ensures clarity and minimizes cognitive load.
Simple radio button selection ensures clarity and minimizes cognitive load.
02
02
Project Goals
Project Goals
Icon-based multi-selection improves discoverability and supports diverse project requirements.
Icon-based multi-selection improves discoverability and supports diverse project requirements.
03
03
Project Onboarding Process
Project Onboarding Process
AI-powered voice-to-text simplifies project creation for non-English speakers.
AI-powered voice-to-text simplifies project creation for non-English speakers.
04
04
Home Screen
Home Screen
Displays potential student matches with skill-based tags, facilitating quick decision-making.
Displays potential student matches with skill-based tags, facilitating quick decision-making.
05
05
Guided Overlay
Guided Overlay
Swipe gestures provide intuitive decision-making, and portfolio previews enable informed matching. Inspired by dating apps
Swipe gestures provide intuitive decision-making, and portfolio previews enable informed matching. Inspired by dating apps
06
06
Candidate Selection
Candidate Selection
Tag-based skills and interests improve scanability, with a swipe-based selection system inspired by dating apps.
Tag-based skills and interests improve scanability, with a swipe-based selection system inspired by dating apps.
Designing for Dignity
Designing for Dignity
Workers can control their level of participation, ensuring a safe space for career conversations.
Privacy & Safety
Workers can control their level of participation, ensuring a safe space for career conversations.
Privacy & Safety
Workers can control their level of participation, ensuring a safe space for career conversations.
Privacy & Safety
Workers shouldn’t be passive recipients; they should be active participants in their own growth.
Empowerment
Workers shouldn’t be passive recipients; they should be active participants in their own growth.
Empowerment
Workers shouldn’t be passive recipients; they should be active participants in their own growth.
Empowerment
Choice & Autonomy
Engagement should be voluntary, without adding extra stress or obligations.
Choice & Autonomy
Engagement should be voluntary, without adding extra stress or obligations.
Choice & Autonomy
Engagement should be voluntary, without adding extra stress or obligations.
Validating the Solution
Validating the Solution
01
Interviews with Students revealed
Interviews with Students revealed
They were interested in real-world collaboration, especially for class credit.
They wanted opportunities that felt authentic, not performative.
They were interested in real-world collaboration, especially for class credit.
They wanted opportunities that felt authentic, not performative.
02
Survey Data Showed
Survey Data Showed
87.5% of students were open to participating in the initiative.
62.5% were willing to test and refine the platform.
A structured incentive system was key to ensuring continued engagement.
87.5% of students were open to participating in the initiative.
62.5% were willing to test and refine the platform.
A structured incentive system was key to ensuring continued engagement.
03
Key Takeaway
Key Takeaway
NPower needed academic integration to ensure sustainability beyond a social initiative.
NPower needed academic integration to ensure sustainability beyond a social initiative.
Other projects
Other projects
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Have a question, some feedback,
or an outrageous idea? - Send it my way!
© 2025 Dharini Kamdar | All Rights Reserved
Have a question, some feedback,
or an outrageous idea? - Send it my way!
© 2025 Dharini Kamdar | All Rights Reserved
Have a question, some feedback,
or an outrageous idea? - Send it my way!
© 2025 Dharini Kamdar | All Rights Reserved