NPOWER
Fostering Dignity for Food Workers at Northeastern
Fostering Dignity for Food Workers at Northeastern
Responsibilities:
Responsibilities:
Qualitative Research, Conceptualization and Design
Qualitative Research, Conceptualization and Design
Timeline:
Timeline:
September 2023 - 3 weeks
September 2023 - 3 weeks
The Team:
The Team:
Sohee Kang, Azza, Mansi, Professor Don, Northeastern Food Workers
Sohee Kang, Azza, Mansi, Professor Don, Northeastern Food Workers
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
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 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 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 NEU community leaves them feeling isolated.
A disconnect from the larger NEU community leaves them feeling isolated.
Photo by Niklas Jeromin
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.
Economic and Career Barriers
Economic and Career Barriers
Many workers rely on housing assistance due to low wages.
Many workers rely on housing assistance due to low wages.
Few have the opportunity to upskill or transition into higher-paying roles.
Few have the opportunity to upskill or transition into higher-paying roles.
Union limitations restrict direct engagement with management.
Union limitations restrict direct engagement with management.
Social and Psychological Barriers
Social and Psychological Barriers
Workers have felt disconnected from the student community.
Workers have felt disconnected from the student community.
Language barriers prevent many from speaking up.
Language barriers prevent many from speaking up.
Previous recognition efforts were short-lived, failing to address deeper concerns.
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
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
01
Survey Data Showed
Survey Data Showed
87.5% of students were open to participating in the initiative.
87.5% of students were open to participating in the initiative.
62.5% were willing to test and refine the platform.
62.5% were willing to test and refine the platform.
A structured incentive system was key to ensuring continued engagement.
A structured incentive system was key to ensuring continued engagement.
02
02
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.
They were interested in real-world collaboration, especially for class credit. They wanted opportunities that felt authentic.
03
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.
