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Tariq Horan 

BSc [Hons] Creative Computing

With a strong foundation in software development principles and a passion for leveraging technology to assist others, I am a diligent and dedicated 1:1 software development graduate. Through projects and internships, I've honed skills in front-end, back-end development, and user experience design. I spearheaded projects as a software developer enhancing the student services offered by IADT. A graduate of BSc (Hons) Computing from IADT, I possess diverse skills in web development and emerging technologies.

The project aims to revolutionize the student services platform for the Institute of Art Design and Technology (IADT), enhancing accessibility and efficiency. Built with React JS and styled with Tailwind CSS, the frontend promises a sleek and intuitive user experience. Behind the scenes, Strapi serves as the robust backend CMS, seamlessly managing content stored in an SQL database. Azure hosts the application, ensuring reliability and scalability. Central to the platform is the powerful search functionality, powered by Algolia, addressing current pain points in IADT's student services. Students will benefit from lightning-fast access to information, while admins enjoy full CRUD capabilities through Strapi. Accessibility is paramount, with special provisions for students requiring extra support. Admins can easily manage team access by assigning roles within Strapi, streamlining collaboration and workflow. With a focus on user-centric design and functionality, the platform promises to elevate the student services experience at IADT to new heights.
Integrating Algolia Analytics into your project provides valuable insights into user search behavior. Through Algolia's analytics dashboard, you can track various metrics, including what users are searching for, the frequency of searches, and popular search queries. This data empowers you to make informed decisions about your search functionality, such as optimizing search relevance and improving the overall user experience. By leveraging Algolia Analytics, you gain valuable feedback on user behavior, enabling you to refine and enhance your search interface based on real-time insights.
In the app I built, responsiveness is a key feature that ensures a seamless experience across multiple devices and screen sizes. By implementing responsive design principles, the app dynamically adjusts its layout and content to fit various screen sizes, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones. One way the app achieves responsiveness is through the use of flexible and fluid layouts. CSS techniques such as media queries enable the app to adapt its styling based on the device's screen width, ensuring that content remains readable and usable regardless of the viewport size. Additionally, the app utilizes responsive design patterns for interactive elements such as navigation menus, buttons, and form inputs. These elements are designed to be touch-friendly on mobile devices, with larger tap targets and optimized spacing to accommodate touchscreen interaction.
The app was meticulously developed following industry best practices to guarantee top-notch performance. By adopting an efficient codebase structure and optimizing resource usage, the app ensures rapid loading speeds and seamless interactions for users. Its responsive design allows it to adapt flawlessly to various screen sizes and devices, ensuring accessibility across the board. Furthermore, adherence to accessibility guidelines ensures that the app remains usable for all individuals. Through thorough testing and continuous monitoring, any potential performance bottlenecks were swiftly identified and addressed, resulting in an application that not only meets but exceeds benchmarks across all metrics assessed by Lighthouse. This commitment to excellence translates into a superior user experience, characterized by fast response times and smooth navigation.
This video is an overview of the application and how it was built.
Project Description

This project aimed to construct a system that allows students at IADT to efficiently access information regarding the institute's services. Initiated by a group within IADT, it was identified that the existing student services page was inadequate and required redevelopment. Subsequently, the project proposal was submitted to and won the N-TUTORR competition, securing funding for its development. With a focus on inclusivity, the application caters to neurodivergent students' needs. This report will outline the project's progression and the resulting system. The development process encompassed various stages, including planning, design, implementation, and testing. Testing was conducted iteratively throughout and after implementation, revealing positive results regarding usability and functionality.


Thesis PDF PDF Thesis Word Doc DOCX

Thesis Title

Reimagining the student services


Thesis PDF PDF Thesis Word Doc DOCX
Creative Computing
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