Humanistic and Ai-Assisted Design of A Learning Platform
Design Arts & Humanities 2025 Graduate ExhibitionPresentation by Stephanie Bowles
Exhibition Number 601
Abstract
This design project presents PathQuester, a humanistic and AI-assisted learning platform aimed at transforming career exploration for high school students and their families. The project seeks to merge AI-assisted capabilities, learning principles, and the human component to create an inclusive, data-driven career guidance system. Through an iterative, human-centered design process, PathQuester integrates machine learning and natural language processing to provide personalized career insights, predictive roadmaps, and expert-led courses. A core focus of this project is addressing the systemic barriers that limit access to career exploration resources, particularly for students from underserved communities. PathQuester prioritizes accessibility, digital literacy, and equity by simplifying career discovery and offering pathways tailored to diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. The iterative design approach ensures continuous refinement based on user feedback, expert insights, and evolving workforce demands. By leveraging AI in a way that amplifies, not replaces, the human experience, this project aims to foster agency, resilience, and informed decision-making in career development. PathQuester exemplifies how technology, when designed with intentionality and inclusivity, can bridge opportunity gaps and empower individuals in their educational and professional journeys.
Importance
This project is important because it addresses the urgent need to develop a future-ready workforce for nontraditional learners in an era where AI is rapidly disrupting industries. By leveraging human-centered design, the platform reshapes conventional career guidance, offering tailored, accessible support that respects individual learning styles and life circumstances. As AI reshapes job markets, ensuring that diverse learners can adapt and thrive is critical. This approach integrates qualitative, empathetic design with strategic workforce development, empowering users to navigate complex career transitions with clarity and confidence. It is a balanced synthesis of technology and human insight, fostering resilience and inclusivity in professional growth and lifelong learning.
DEI Statement
Built on DEI standards, PathQuester empowers nontraditional learners by providing career guidance in simplified, accessible language and a user-friendly interface. Recognizing that career guidance is often scarce beyond high school, especially for nontraditional pathways, the platform integrates multiple modes of learning, including actionable financial planning, strategic career steps, and growth-mindset motivational videos. By placing people at the forefront, it addresses the real-life challenges that hinder individuals from pursuing their dreams. This project, led through a woman, minority, a first-generation outlook a humanistic approach where technology amplifies access to inclusive, culturally sensitive resources, ensuring that every learner is equipped to navigate their unique educational and professional journeys.