Unity Sphere

Overview

While university campuses are becoming increasingly diverse, underrepresented students—such as first-generation, commuter, LGBTQ+, and racial/ethnic minorities—still face barriers in finding and engaging with DEI resources. Existing tools lack visibility, campus-specific relevance, and long-term engagement strategies.

Unity Sphere was conceptualized as a mobile-first platform that centralizes DEI resources, fosters community connections, and makes inclusivity accessible for everyone on campus.

The Problem

"I see diversity on campus, but I don’t always feel included." — Interview participant

Despite robust DEI programming at many universities, our research uncovered:

• Low visibility of DEI programs and events

• Scattered promotion across disconnected platforms

• Lack of digital infrastructure to support engagement

• Exclusion felt most by commuter and first-gen students

This lack of centralized, accessible DEI resources results in missed opportunities for connection, belonging, and personal growth.

Target Audience

Primary Audience:

• Underrepresented college students (LGBTQ+, racial/ethnic minorities, first-generation, commuter students)

Secondary Audience:

• Faculty and staff seeking to improve DEI outreach and engagement

Example Persona: Alex Ramirez

• Age: 20

• Background: First-generation commuter student at UTD

• Frustrations:

  • DEI event info is hard to find

  • Feels excluded due to commuter status

  • Learns about events too late

• Motivations:

  • Stronger campus belonging

  • Meet diverse, like-minded peers

  • Easily discover DEI opportunities

• Scenario: Missed a DEI panel due to late discovery; Unity Sphere helps Alex find events, join a first-gen chat, and attend networking opportunities—fostering connection and inclusion.

Research Process

Methods Used:

• 4 user interviews View User Interview ->

• Survey with 21 respondents View Full Survey Data ->

• Competitive analysis of existing DEI engagement tools View Analysis ->
  
  

Key Findings

• DEI efforts are invisible or hard to access

• Commuter & first-gen students feel most excluded

• Discoverability and social connection are top priorities

• Marketing is a critical success factor

Top-Rated Features from Survey

• Mentor Match — 7.7/10

• Accessible Event Planning — 7.3/10

• Personalized Event Feed — 7.1/10

Competitive Insights

Strengths of existing tools: Structured training, bias recognition, community hubs
Weaknesses: Generic content, low campus relevance, poor personalization
Our edge: Campus-specific features, feedback loops, and real student insights

Key Insights

• Awareness gap: Students want DEI opportunities but can’t find them in time

• Connection gap: Students crave identity-based networking and mentorship

• Relevance gap: Generic tools miss the unique needs of each campus community

Proposed Solution — Unity Sphere

A mobile-first DEI engagement platform designed for underrepresented students, featuring:

1. Smart DEI Calendar

   • Centralized calendar of all campus DEI events

   • Filter by interest, identity, or academic program

2. Mentor Match

   • Connects students with mentors based on shared identities, interests, or goals

   • Supports professional and personal development

3. Accessible Event Planning

   • Tools for student orgs to easily create, promote, and manage events

   • Targeted reach to relevant student groups

4. Personalized Event Feed

   • Tailored recommendations based on student profile and interests

   • Keeps feed relevant and engaging

5. Sentiment Tracker

   • Anonymous feedback system for DEI experiences

   • Allows real-time improvements from event organizers

6. Group Finder / Affinity Spaces

   • Identity- and interest-based groups for building community

7. Inclusive UX & Accessibility Features

   • Multilingual support

   • High-contrast mode

   • Text resizing

   • Screen reader compatibility

Design Process

1. Discovery & Research

• Conducted interviews and surveys to identify user pain points

• Reviewed competitors to define opportunity areas

2. Feature Prioritization

• Selected top-rated features based on survey results

• Added accessibility options informed by qualitative feedback

3. Wireframing & Prototyping (Next Steps)

• Create high-fidelity wireframes in Figma

• Incorporate diverse visuals and inclusive design principles

4. Testing & Validation (Next Steps)

• Conduct usability tests with 5–8 underrepresented students

• Gather feedback from DEI offices and student organizations

Expected Impact

• Increase visibility of DEI events across campus by centralizing promotion

• Foster community engagement among underrepresented students

• Improve attendance rates for DEI programs and workshops

• Provide actionable feedback to DEI offices for continuous improvement

What I’d Do Next

• Usability Testing: Validate navigation, event discovery flow, and mentor matching experience

• Marketing Strategy: Partner with DEI offices for integrated promotion

• Gamification: Add participation badges or streaks to boost engagement

• Integration: Sync with campus email/calendar systems for automatic event reminders

Conclusion

Unity Sphere bridges the awareness, connection, and relevance gaps in DEI engagement. By combining research-driven features with inclusive design, it empowers students to find, join, and thrive in diverse communities—ensuring that diversity is matched with genuine inclusion.

Presentation Slide: View My Full Presentation for Unity Sphere