Métis-Centric Education and Social App
Overview
We helped the Métis Nation of Ontario design and develop the Education Hub: A Métis-centric app connecting post-secondary students, educators, and families together.
From online discussions to community events, this mobile and tablet friendly app strengthens the community through learning and connection.
When the Métis Nation of Ontario reached out, we discovered an alignment in the shared values of fostering community connection and growth — our team was excited about the opportunity to create an app that supports the Métis community.
Creating a Design that Resonates with Users
Starting with the visual design, we explored how to create a look and feel that showcases Métis culture with the accompanying blue colors of the MNO branding.
Across the app, we featured the beautiful dot art from The Métis Nation of Ontario, focusing on symmetry and use of rounded shapes across the designs. The result is a youthful and modern aesthetic.
Gathering Insights from User Research
As the Education Hub aims to connect the community, we gathered ideas from the target users on what brings them together.
We conducted a set of focus groups to get input and feedback from groups such as educators, covering areas such as:
What challenges do you face when connecting students with resources?
How do you envision using this app within your work?
What kinds of notifications would you like to receive to help you engage with the app?
User-Driven Features
Drawing insights from the data, we designed the key features.
The discussion board is where members can participate in moderated online discussions, and receive push notifications when others reply.
Members can seamlessly find upcoming events and browse resources while bookmarking the ones of interest and staying notified. As there are diverse groups of app users, we designed features to enable a tailored experience.
Compliance with Privacy Regulations
Data security and control are important requirements of the app to meet privacy regulations. From the servers that store data to the services that the app interacts with, we applied due diligence to ensure that all user data is held in Canada.
Results
The Education Hub has just recently launched with some exceptional results. We look forward to what's to come as we work with MNO together to continuously grow the platform and foster more community engagement.
• 1000+ members joining the community during the initial months of launch
• Achieved high 7-day user retention within top 75th percentile on App Store
• Increased community engagement in event participation and discussions
• App has been promoted by Ontario's Ministry of Colleges and Universities, indicating it is a valuable tool for students
• Ongoing live operations support and continuous improvements
“Raccoopack's most impressive quality during this project was their organization during our scheduled meetings - it was very clear what was required of us to move forward each meeting and what our options were with each decision."
Simon Sutherland