Mobile application

Learning App to Empower Growth in Hard & Soft Skills

ROLE

Lead UX Designer

EXPERTISE

UX/UI Design

YEAR

2024

Project Overview

The app is designed to provide learners with a flexible and interactive way to acquire both technical and soft skills, offering a combination of video tutorials, quizzes, exercises, and progress tracking tools.

Background

Since the pandemic, online learning has become a go-to for career growth. But while access has improved, consistency hasn't. Many learners, overwhelmed by daily commitments, struggle to stay motivated and finish what they start.

Problem

Users look for a learning platform to teach them the foundation of new skills they are interested in. However, because of their daily commitments, they struggle with time management and they get easily demotivated when they lose track of their progress.

Goals

Objectives

Understand which learning formats (videos, quizzes, exercises) users find most effective.
Evaluate how users interact with key features like progress tracking and exercises.
Assess if the app supports flexible, self-paced learning.
Identify how users perceive their skill development.
Uncover pain points that affect learning or engagement.
Discover ways to boost motivation and improve the overall learning experience.

Understand which learning formats (videos, quizzes, exercises) users find most effective.
Evaluate how users interact with key features like progress tracking and exercises.
Assess if the app supports flexible, self-paced learning.
Identify how users perceive their skill development.
Uncover pain points that affect learning or engagement.
Discover ways to boost motivation and improve the overall learning experience.

Interviews

I gathered insights into how users interact with a skill-learning app, focusing on their learning experience, motivation, pain points, and overall satisfaction.

Participants are

Ages 21-35
Experienced in learning a skill online
Have various learning styles

“ I always found myself struggling with time management. “

— Lauren, Interviewee

“ With my full-time job and personal errands, taking even a short course seems like a big commitment. “

— Paul, Interviewee

Affinity Map

Few participants had to do some adjustments when it comes to accountability
Some participants mentioned having a better experienced if they can communicate with instructors; Participants who have this feature liked that they have support system in their learning journey
3 of them stated how a progress tracker help with getting them on track, while one participant claimed the ineffectiveness of it.
3 participants used skill learning app to grow their careers or boost their resume.

POV

I want to explore ways to boost accountability and motivation in online learning, helping people complete their courses with confidence in their skills.

HMW

How might we increase users’ productivity on an online learning platform?

POV

I want to explore ways to boost accountability and motivation in online learning, helping people complete their courses with confidence in their skills.

HMW

How might we increase users’ productivity on an online learning platform?

User Persona

William, 27

Barista

“I work full time, but I will always spent at least 2-5 hours a week learning something new.”

BIO

William is a social butterfly and a very goal-oriented person. William is always up to challenges and love to keep studying to improve his skills and grow in his career.

GOALS

Test his ability and boost his resume with skills related to his dream career.

NEEDS

Learn skills to grow career

Work on his own pace
Practice skills though hands-on projects
Community that shares similar journey

Learn skills to grow career
Work on his own pace
Practice skills though hands-on projects
Community that shares similar journey

Learn skills to grow career
Work on his own pace
Practice skills though hands-on projects
Community that shares similar journey

FRUSTRATIONS

Learning platforms are expensive

Learning materials are more on reading than visual presentations
Struggles with deadlines

Learning platforms are expensive
Learning materials are more on reading than visual presentations
Struggles with deadlines

Learning platforms are expensive
Learning materials are more on reading than visual presentations
Struggles with deadlines

PERSONALITY

Extrovert

Creative

Adaptability

Sophie, 24

Preschool Teacher

"I start strong, but once I miss a day, I lose track of where I left off and just... stop."

BIO

A recent college graduate working as a Preschool Teacher. Also passionate about business, she tries to learn its foundation through skill-learning platforms.

GOALS

Take and complete an intro short course about business while working full time with young students.

NEEDS

Be able to manage her time as a teacher and learner

Increase the motivation to learn online effectively
Track her progress

Be able to manage her time as a teacher and learner
Increase the motivation to learn online effectively
Track her progress

Be able to manage her time as a teacher and learner
Increase the motivation to learn online effectively
Track her progress

FRUSTRATIONS

Struggles with time management

No mentor and classmates to learn with
Inconsistent learning loses track of her progress
Struggles with motivation

Struggles with time management
No mentor and classmates to learn with
Inconsistent learning loses track of her progress
Struggles with motivation

Struggles with time management
No mentor and classmates to learn with
Inconsistent learning loses track of her progress
Struggles with motivation

PERSONALITY

Introvert

Analytical

Adaptability

Feature Set

To initiate the development of ideas for my product, we conducted a brainstorming session to outline a feature set grounded in the previously conducted research and design-thinking process. This task was particularly challenging as it required me to generate ideas that were both unique and differentiated from competitors. To support this effort, I continued to analyze and refine the concepts I had developed earlier in the design phase.

User flows

Flow #1: Onboarding/ signing up for an account

Signing up and onboarding are critical steps to help users get started with the app and ensure they feel confident and ready to engage. Our goal is to make the process simple, informative, and welcoming—so users can quickly realize the value of our app without feeling overwhelmed

Flow #2: User to continue a course and use Pomodoro

A returning user has completed a few lessons in the course before taking a break. Now, they’re back to continue where they left off. Their goal is to pick up where they left off, maintain focus, and make efficient progress using the Pomodoro technique to maximize productivity.

Wireframes

Flow #1: Onboarding/ signing up for an account

While first-time visitors can browse courses as guests, this user flow focuses on guided account creation. During registration, users provide information on their skills and learning availability, enabling the platform to deliver personalized course recommendations

Flow #2: User to continue a course and use Pomodoro

The second set of wireframes involved more iterations than the first, as it introduced a unique feature—the Pomodoro timer. After testing various placements, I chose to position the icon in the bottom right corner above the navigation bar. This makes it easily accessible, especially for right-handed users starting a lesson.

Brand Identity

— COLOR PALETTE

The primary colors, #9B5B4B and #CA7A66, convey a sense of warmth and a welcoming tone while also promoting activity and playfulness. Complementing these, two shades of blue are used as secondary colors. Blue represents intelligence, community, and the future—reflecting the brand's core values.

— BRAND LOGO

After several sketches, this logo emerged as the most suitable representation of the brand. Reflecting the platform's core values, it symbolizes knowledge, creativity, activity, and playfulness. The warm-toned colors used in the design are inspired by the established color palette.

— TYPOGRAPHY

For the typography, I selected Yrsa and Poppins due to their complementary qualities that balance readability with a modern and approachable aesthetic. Together, they create harmonious typographic system that enhances the user experience by ensuring both clarity and personality.

UI Component Library

Visual Design

Select your skills
Easily select the soft skills you want to master to personalize your learning journey and grow professionally.
track your progress
Quickly launch the Pomodoro timer to stay focused, boost productivity, and track your learning progress with ease.
Get into Pomodoro
Learn how Pomodoro works and boost your productivity.

Select your skills
Easily select the soft skills you want to master to personalize your learning journey and grow professionally.
track your progress
Quickly launch the Pomodoro timer to stay focused, boost productivity, and track your learning progress with ease.
Get into Pomodoro
Learn how Pomodoro works and boost your productivity.

Usability Test

After analyzing user behavior, feedback, and usability testing results, we organized our findings into four categories: successes, areas for improvement, questions, and ideas. This structure provided clarity and helped the design team focus their efforts for the final iteration.

Iteration

To enhance user understanding, we introduced an educational link that clearly explains the distinction between soft and hard skills, addressing potential knowledge gaps among users.

On the homepage, we introduced a feature that displays a returning user's most recent course activity, providing quick access to their ongoing or completed learning progress.

Wrap up

Designing this learning app taught me the importance of addressing both the practical and emotional sides of skill development. By combining structured content for hard and soft skills with features like a progress tracker and Pomodoro timer, we created a more motivating and focused experience. Integrating a community aspect added an essential layer of accountability, turning solo learning into a more supportive journey.

This project deepened my understanding of how to design for long-term engagement, not just usability. It also reinforced the value of aligning user needs—like motivation and connection—with purposeful design. Moving forward, I see opportunities to expand personalization and deepen social interaction to further empower learners on their path.

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