Redesigning key parts of an online learning platform
to make peer collaboration, group-crit booking, and progress visibility easier to understand and use.
Project
Designlab
Industry
Education
Duration
75 hours
Role
UX/UI Designer, Researcher
Tools
Figma, FigJam, Maze
Background
Designlab already offered valuable learning experiences, but several core workflows created friction. Students struggled to book group crits, track attendance and progress, and connect with peers after sessions. Those gaps made the platform feel less supportive at exactly the moments where structure and community mattered most.
Outcome
The project involved redesigning key aspects of Designlab to enhance usability, engagement, and collaboration. I streamlined the navigation to create a more intuitive structure for booking Group-Crits, improved the personal profile pages and created the “Collaboration Hub”, which allows users to effectively work together. One of the most important factors is that all of these sections are interconnected and easy to navigate. These improvements not only addressed the identified pain points but also fostered a more engaging and supportive environment.
In research and testing, participants responded positively to the integrated approach and found the added features useful and easier to understand.
Challenges
01
The product already existed, so changes had to fit an established platform and brand.
02
I approached the work as both a user and designer, which meant actively managing personal bias during research.
03
The most painful issues were cross-feature problems, not isolated screen-level issues.
04
Students relied on external tools like Discord and calendars, which created fragmented experiences.
05
The project scope allowed concept validation, but not post-launch product metrics.
Process
User research
Definition
Ideation
Prototyping & Testing
Final UI
My Role
UX
UI
Research
My work included:
User interviews and synthesis
Problem framing and feature prioritization
Information architecture and user flows
Wireframing and prototyping
Remote usability testing
UI refinement within an existing brand system
Key Decisions
1. Framing the problem as a systemic issue of an interconnected ecosystem
What changed:
Instead of treating booking, profiles, and collaboration as separate features, I redesigned them as connected entry points.
Why:
Research showed that students felt friction moving between scheduling, attendance, and collaboration tasks.
Alternative considered:
Improving only the Group Crit booking flow.°
Tradeoff:
A broader concept created a stronger product story, but also increased design scope and complexity.
2. Make Group Crit booking easier to scan and act on
What changed:
I introduced clearer booking flows, better labeling, more visible search, mentor filtering, and options like list and calendar-based access.
Why:
Interviews and testing showed that booking and attendance tracking were confusing and sometimes avoided altogether.
Alternative considered:
Keeping the existing structure and only refreshing the visuals.
Tradeoff:
New interaction patterns improved clarity, but had to remain consistent with the existing product language.
3. Introduce a Collaboration Hub instead of relying on external community channels
What changed:
I designed a dedicated place for study groups, feedback requests, and session coordination.
Why:
Participants repeatedly described Discord as disorganized and ineffective for finding peers after group sessions.
Alternative considered:
Adding only lightweight profile enhancements or contact links.
Tradeoff:
A dedicated hub adds product surface area, but better supports ongoing peer learning and accountability.
4. Use testing to refine labels, visibility, and cross-navigation before polishing the UI
What changed:
I iterated on navigation labels, icon hover labels, search prominence, privacy controls, and system feedback colors.
Why:
The most useful improvements came from usability feedback on where participants hesitated or misread the interface.
Alternative considered:
Moving to high fidelity earlier.
Tradeoff:
Slower visual progression, but stronger usability signals before final UI work.
Key takeaways
The foundation of valuable research is overcoming subjective bias and empathizing with the user
Effective research will lead to a deep understanding of the problem space
Effective research can lead to solutions which were not part of the initial idea
The most effective navigation patterns work across the whole platform and allow for multiple entry points and cross-navigation between different sections
Designing solutions which integrate well into an existing platform
The importance of constant feedback and evaluation
Next steps
Research suggested that there are more features which students of Designlab would find valuable, so the next steps would be to return to the Define-phase to expand the problem space. I discovered several recurring problems, which students of online learning platforms are having, but the scope of this project did not allow me to further investigate and tackle all of these. The next step for my work will be to present my findings, insights and the solution to Designlab and get feedback from the providers and creators of the learning platform.
Process documentation
Final UI overview
Research synthesis
Venn diagram
User Persona
User flows
Dashboard hierarchy
