Project

Overview

CHALLENGE

To eliminate user’s everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of completing an online professional certificate on an online learning platform

PROJECT TYPE

Design research | UI/UX Design

Athena Online Learning Experience

*This project is under an NDA; name of the client cannot be disclosed.

CLIENT

Subject to NDA

TIME FRAME

10 Weeks
[Jan. - Mar. 2022]

MY ROLE

UX Research | User Flow Design | UI Design

TEAM MEMBERS

Ada Michaels Shapiro | Emmie Fister
Yaritza Chavez | Sherry Xu

Project

Overview

CHALLENGE

To eliminate user’s everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of completing an online professional certificate on an online learning platform

PROJECT TYPE

Design research | UI/UX Design

Athena - Online Learning Platform

*This project is under an NDA; name of the client cannot be disclosed.

CLIENT

Subject to NDA

TIME FRAME

10 Weeks

[Jan. - Mar. 2023]

MY ROLE

UX Research | User Flow Design | UI Design

TEAM MEMBERS

Ada Michaels Shapiro | Emmie Fister

Yaritza Chavez | Sherry Xu

Project

Overview

CHALLENGE

To eliminate user’s everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of completing an online professional certificate on an online learning platform

PROJECT TYPE

Design research | UI/UX Design

Athena - Online Learning Platform

*This project is under an NDA; name of the client cannot be disclosed.

CLIENT

Subject to NDA

TIME FRAME

10 Weeks

[Jan. - Mar. 2023]

MY ROLE

UX Research | User Flow Design | UI Design

TEAM MEMBERS

Ada Michaels Shapiro | Emmie Fister | Yaritza Chavez |

Sherry Xu

Project

Overview

CHALLENGE

To eliminate user’s everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of completing an online professional certificate on an online learning platform

PROJECT TYPE

Design research | UI/UX Design

Athena Online Learning Experience

*This project is under an NDA; name of the client cannot be disclosed.

CLIENT

Subject to NDA

TIME FRAME

10 Weeks
[Jan. - Mar. 2022]

MY ROLE

UX Research | User Flow Design | UI Design

TEAM MEMBERS

Ada Michaels Shapiro | Emmie Fister
Yaritza Chavez | Sherry Xu

Project

Overview

CHALLENGE

To eliminate user’s everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of completing an online professional certificate on an online learning platform

PROJECT TYPE

Design research | UI/UX Design

Athena - Online Learning Platform

*This project is under an NDA; name of the client cannot be disclosed.

CLIENT

Subject to NDA

TIME FRAME

10 Weeks

[Jan. - Mar. 2023]

MY ROLE

UX Research | User Flow Design | UI Design

TEAM MEMBERS

Ada Michaels Shapiro | Emmie Fister

Yaritza Chavez | Sherry Xu

Project

Overview

CHALLENGE

To eliminate user’s everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of completing an online professional certificate on an online learning platform

PROJECT TYPE

Design research | UI/UX Design

Athena - Online Learning Platform

*This project is under an NDA; name of the client cannot be disclosed.

CLIENT

Subject to NDA

TIME FRAME

10 Weeks

[Jan. - Mar. 2023]

MY ROLE

UX Research | User Flow Design | UI Design

TEAM MEMBERS

Ada Michaels Shapiro | Emmie Fister | Yaritza Chavez |

Sherry Xu

Project

Overview

CHALLENGE

To eliminate user’s everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of completing an online professional certificate on an online learning platform

PROJECT TYPE

Design research | UI/UX Design

Athena Online Learning Experience

*This project is under an NDA; name of the client cannot be disclosed.

CLIENT

Subject to NDA

TIME FRAME

10 Weeks
[Jan. - Mar. 2022]

MY ROLE

UX Research | User Flow Design | UI Design

TEAM MEMBERS

Ada Michaels Shapiro | Emmie Fister
Yaritza Chavez | Sherry Xu

Project

Overview

CHALLENGE

To eliminate user’s everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of completing an online professional certificate on an online learning platform

PROJECT TYPE

Design research | UI/UX Design

Athena - Online Learning Platform

*This project is under an NDA; name of the client cannot be disclosed.

CLIENT

Subject to NDA

TIME FRAME

10 Weeks

[Jan. - Mar. 2023]

MY ROLE

UX Research | User Flow Design | UI Design

TEAM MEMBERS

Ada Michaels Shapiro | Emmie Fister

Yaritza Chavez | Sherry Xu

Project

Overview

CHALLENGE

To eliminate user’s everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of completing an online professional certificate on an online learning platform

PROJECT TYPE

Design research | UI/UX Design

Athena - Online Learning Platform

*This project is under an NDA; name of the client cannot be disclosed.

CLIENT

Subject to NDA

TIME FRAME

10 Weeks

[Jan. - Mar. 2023]

MY ROLE

UX Research | User Flow Design | UI Design

TEAM MEMBERS

Ada Michaels Shapiro | Emmie Fister | Yaritza Chavez |

Sherry Xu

This is a piece of extensive work~ please view on a tablet or a computer for a better reading experience :)

BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND

ABOUT ATHENA

ABOUT ATHENA

Athena (codename for the project due to NDA) is the world’s largest online learning platform. They partner with companies and universities to bring flexible, affordable, and job-relevant learning to 100M learners, globally.

Athena (codename for the project due to NDA) is the world’s largest online learning platform. They partner with companies and universities to bring flexible, affordable, and job-relevant learning to 100M learners, globally.

OUR CHALLENGE

OUR CHALLENGE

Create and prototype digital experiences that give everyone the power to transform their lives by opening paths to new careers. For our group more specifically, how might we remove the everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of students realizing their goals?

Create and prototype digital experiences that give everyone the power to transform their lives by opening paths to new careers. For our group more specifically, how might we remove the everyday challenges and moments of friction that stand in the way of students realizing their goals?

ABOUT ONLINE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE

ABOUT ONLINE PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE

For this project, we are focusing on the Online Professional Certificate programs. Professional Certificates on Athena are designed to help learners get job-ready for an in-demand career in less than a year. Many programs also provide a pathway to an industry-recognized certification. They are affordable, flexible, and credible that many people such as career-path changer, newbies in an industry, students are interested in enrolling.

For this project, we are focusing on the Online Professional Certificate programs. Professional Certificates on Athena are designed to help learners get job-ready for an in-demand career in less than a year. Many programs also provide a pathway to an industry-recognized certification. They are affordable, flexible, and credible that many people such as career-path changer, newbies in an industry, students are interested in enrolling.

THE PROCESS OVERVIEW

Week 1

Week 1

Week 6

Week 6

Week 10

Week 10

Sprint 1: Foundational Research and Problem Definition

Sprint 1: Foundational Research and Problem Definition

Understand the Current Journey

Foundational Research

Market Research

Competitive & Comparative Analysis

Social Listening

Initial User Interviews

Research Synthesis

Understand the Current Journey

Foundational Research

Market Research

Competitive & Comparative Analysis

Social Listening

Initial User Interviews

Research Synthesis

Mid-term Client Presentation

Mid-term Client Presentation

Present research insights, design opportunities, guiding principles, early design concepts and early features

Present research insights, design opportunities, guiding principles, early design concepts and early features

Sprint 2: Design, Prototype, Iterate, and Test

Sprint 2: Design, Prototype, Iterate, and Test

Concept storyboards

User flow

Low-fi Prototypes

Concept Validation Interviews

Findings Synthesis

Hi-fi Prototypes

Hand-off Presentation to Client

Concept storyboards

User flow

Low-fi Prototypes

Concept Validation Interviews

Findings Synthesis

Hi-fi Prototypes

Hand-off Presentation to Client

DESIGN OUTCOME

Time is Broken into Blocks

Time is Broken into Blocks

The solution focuses on optimizing the use of time blocks in people’s busy life

The solution focuses on optimizing the use of time blocks in people’s busy life

FEATURE 1

FEATURE 1

Learn they way you like

Learn they way you like

When learners only have a small time block, they get to choose how they would like to learn

When learners only have a small time block, they get to choose how they would like to learn

FEATURE 2

FEATURE 2

Learn according to your own availability

Learn according to your own availability

The length of the content matches with the time block they input, so that learners will be able to finish learning within their available time block.

The length of the content matches with the time block they input, so that learners will be able to finish learning within their available time block.

FEATURE 3

FEATURE 3

Reels that makes you occupied

Reels that makes you occupied

The generated content will automatically play and scroll itself, instead of being addicted to TikTok, we want them “get addicted” to learning.

The generated content will automatically play and scroll itself, instead of being addicted to TikTok, we want them “get addicted” to learning.

FEATURE 4

FEATURE 4

We celebrate what you’ve done in a time block

We celebrate what you’ve done in a time block

We want learners to feel a sense of achievement after dedicating their time block into learning. Meanwhile, encouraging them to continue learning.

We want learners to feel a sense of achievement after dedicating their time block into learning. Meanwhile, encouraging them to continue learning.

FEATURE 5

FEATURE 5

Play some games to refresh your mind

Play some games to refresh your mind

Refreshing learners’ knowledge from previous learning by providing a gamifying experience so that they feel confident moving forward and engaged in learning.

Refreshing learners’ knowledge from previous learning by providing a gamifying experience so that they feel confident moving forward and engaged in learning.

FEATURE 6

FEATURE 6

Mark your achievement and share it as you like

Mark your achievement and share it as you like

Wrap up learners’ week to show progress and achievement they have made. And they can share it with their friends, family, or network on LinkedIn.

Wrap up learners’ week to show progress and achievement they have made. And they can share it with their friends, family, or network on LinkedIn.

SPRINT 1: UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT JOURNEY

Affinity Mapping Activity: In order to understand the current journey of taking an untraditional career pathways experience, we have first experienced the experience ourselves with Athena and have done an affinity mapping to group the experience.

IDENTIFY

Identify the needs of completing an online course. Go online to search courses suitable for needs

CONSIDER

Browse through classes from different platforms, learn about reviews from different platforms, compare potential courses & make decision.

ENROLL & ONBOARD

- Select interested course, set up payment options, either try 7-day free trial or pay directly.

- Receive onboarding emails and instruction

START LEARNING

Enter course through home page, read the introduction and syllabus, browse through course contents, start with first content in Module 1.

CONTINUE

Click ‘Resume’ button on the home page, or click on interested content, or click on checked/unchecked content. Continue watch/read/do course contents.

COMPLETE

Completion page showed up on screen.

User is celebrated and provided with course certificate to download.

TRANSITION

User adds their certification to their LinkedIn, or shares their achievement with friends, and utilize skills learned in new job.

“Overwhelmed by the massive information and don’t know where to start. Lack of guidance and support.”

“No support in doing compare and contrast similar courses, too many buzzwords or jargons that complicate the understanding.”

“Lack of building trust before entering payment information. No preview of courses and too many texts on the main page.”

“No clear progress is showed for the users, dull design of the page makes users drift away after a while of learning. Life changes and things happen, users stop learning in the middle of the course.”

“No personalization in the certification. Long certificate No. that is difficult to be copied to anywhere else.”

IDENTIFY

Identify the needs of completing an online course. Go online to search courses suitable for needs

CONSIDER

Browse through classes from different platforms, learn about reviews from different platforms, compare potential courses & make decision.

ENROLL & ONBOARD

- Select interested course, set up payment options, either try 7-day free trial or pay directly.

- Receive onboarding emails and instruction

START LEARNING

Enter course through home page, read the introduction and syllabus, browse through course contents, start with first content in Module 1.

“Overwhelmed by the massive information and don’t know where to start. Lack of guidance and support.”

“No support in doing compare and contrast similar courses, too many buzzwords or jargons that complicate the understanding.”

“Lack of building trust before entering payment information. No preview of courses and too many texts on the main page.”

CONTINUE

Click ‘Resume’ button on the home page, or click on interested content, or click on checked/unchecked content. Continue watch/read/do course contents.

COMPLETE

Completion page showed up on screen.

User is celebrated and provided with course certificate to download.

TRANSITION

User adds their certification to their LinkedIn, or shares their achievement with friends, and utilize skills learned in new job.

“No clear progress is showed for the users, dull design of the page makes users drift away after a while of learning. Life changes and things happen, users stop learning in the middle of the course.”

“No personalization in the certification. Long certificate No. that is difficult to be copied to anywhere else.”

SPRINT 1: UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT MARKET

Competitor Analysis: We have conducted extensive market competitor analysis to understand the market by using SWOT Analysis, and conducted a comparative analysis on each competitor’s design styles and flows.

Social Listening: We went online to different social media platforms such as Youtube, Tiktok, Quora, and Reddit to learn about people’s opinions on online learning platforms.

FINDING 1

FINDING 1

Course content representations vary.

Course content representations vary.

Course contents are highly customizable and vary from platform to platform. Most common ones are videos, readings, games, quizzes, assignments, etc.

Course contents are highly customizable and vary from platform to platform. Most common ones are videos, readings, games, quizzes, assignments, etc.

FINDING 2

FINDING 2

Fun experiences attract and keep users.

Fun experiences attract and keep users.

Platforms that provide fun experiences for users are the ones that attract most people and tend to have a higher retention rates. Some examples are Duolingo, Skill Share, and Masterclass.

Platforms that provide fun experiences for users are the ones that attract most people and tend to have a higher retention rates. Some examples are Duolingo, Skill Share, and Masterclass.

FINDING 3

FINDING 3

“Micro-learning”

“Micro-learning”

One of the competitors - Masterclass provides classes that are only 5-minute long on a specific skill by a celebrity. This type of “micro-learning” attract a lot of learners because they are short, quick, and fun.

One of the competitors - Masterclass provides classes that are only 5-minute long on a specific skill by a celebrity. This type of “micro-learning” attract a lot of learners because they are short, quick, and fun.

FINDING 4

FINDING 4

Information overload seems common.

Information overload seems common.

One thing all the competitors share is the overwhelming information that is presented on one screen. Since learning is a complicated process, it is very easy to fall into the trap of “just get everything out there and leave it to the learners to digest”.

One thing all the competitors share is the overwhelming information that is presented on one screen. Since learning is a complicated process, it is very easy to fall into the trap of “just get everything out there and leave it to the learners to digest”.

SPRINT 1: UNDERSTAND THE USERS

PRIMARY RESEARCH: INITIAL INTERVIEW

PRIMARY RESEARCH: INITIAL INTERVIEW

With understanding of the product and current market from secondary research, we constructed a discussion guide for a 30-min interview. The interviews have been conducted with 6 participants through a platform called dScout. In the interview, our objectives are:

  • What exactly are the moments of friction/ challenges that stand in the way of completing the course for a user?

  • Do the concepts of everyday challenges and moments of friction differ for users and in what ways?

  • What motivates learners to complete a task that requires effort, time, technology, mental and physical energy?

  • What emotions come to users’ mind when thinking about completing a course online?

With understanding of the product and current market from secondary research, we constructed a discussion guide for a 30-min interview. The interviews have been conducted with 6 participants through a platform called dScout. In the interview, our objectives are:

  • What exactly are the moments of friction/ challenges that stand in the way of completing the course for a user?

  • Do the concepts of everyday challenges and moments of friction differ for users and in what ways?

  • What motivates learners to complete a task that requires effort, time, technology, mental and physical energy?

  • What emotions come to users’ mind when thinking about completing a course online?

RESEARCH STIMULI

RESEARCH STIMULI

In order to foster efficient results from the interview, we came up with a research stimuli where we asked our participants to co-create this journey map with us. In this process, we were able to probe around their emotions, challenges, and the support resources they have used to overcome the challenges.

In order to foster efficient results from the interview, we came up with a research stimuli where we asked our participants to co-create this journey map with us. In this process, we were able to probe around their emotions, challenges, and the support resources they have used to overcome the challenges.

PARTICIPANTS

PARTICIPANTS

Age: 24-42

Age: 24-42

Race & Ethnicity: African American / Asian / White

Race & Ethnicity: African American / Asian / White

Employment Status: Full time (30 hours+)

Employment Status: Full time (30 hours+)

Experience with Online Learning Platform:

Actively working on a professional certificates

Started but not finished a processional certificate program

Experience with Online Learning Platform:

Actively working on a professional certificates

Started but not finished a processional certificate program

FINDING SYNTHESIS: INSIGHTS

INSIGHT 1

INSIGHT 1

Learners want to be confident in finishing a course

Learners want to be confident in finishing a course

Learners don't have a lot of confidence in their own ability to finish the course before they've even started.

Learners don't have a lot of confidence in their own ability to finish the course before they've even started.

“I didn't want my friends or family, you know, seeing me embark on this course and either not completed or kinda slack off...” - Jondae

“I didn't want my friends or family, you know, seeing me embark on this course and either not completed or kinda slack off...” - Jondae

“Kind of just, like, irritated and frustrated... oh, I'm falling behind”

- Sequoia

“Kind of just, like, irritated and frustrated... oh, I'm falling behind”

- Sequoia

INSIGHT 2

INSIGHT 2

Time is precious and broken into pieces

Time is precious and broken into pieces

People value the flexibility online learning platforms have and find ways to fit learning into their windows of availability. Learners utilize tools to schedule time blocks for learning.

People value the flexibility online learning platforms have and find ways to fit learning into their windows of availability. Learners utilize tools to schedule time blocks for learning.

“...targeted for people who are working full time that they don't have seven hours a day to go in...I'm on my lunch break and, like, let me go in. ”

- Danielle

“...targeted for people who are working full time that they don't have seven hours a day to go in...I'm on my lunch break and, like, let me go in. ”

- Danielle

“So I would watch a video to videos, take notes, and then, you know, come back to regular job, finish that.”

- Muhammad

“So I would watch a video to videos, take notes, and then, you know, come back to regular job, finish that.”

- Muhammad

INSIGHT 3

INSIGHT 3

Learners want sufficient and high quality support

Learners want sufficient and high quality support

The current platform doesn't provide sufficient resources to learners when they have difficulty understanding the material.

The current platform doesn't provide sufficient resources to learners when they have difficulty understanding the material.

“... I have stopped online learning once before because I did not find the material engaging.” - Gretchen

“... I have stopped online learning once before because I did not find the material engaging.” - Gretchen

“It's just not possible for you know, the instructor or the team is to give, like, proper time and attention to each student.” - Muhammad

“It's just not possible for you know, the instructor or the team is to give, like, proper time and attention to each student.” - Muhammad

FINDING SYNTHESIS: KEY OPPORTUNITIES

Efficient Use of Time

Efficient Use of Time

Allow for users to learn as much as possible in the small blocks of time they have.

Allow for users to learn as much as possible in the small blocks of time they have.

Motivation & Incentives

Motivation & Incentives

Utilizing the motivations that brought learners to the platform initially to motivate them to finish the course.

Utilizing the motivations that brought learners to the platform initially to motivate them to finish the course.

Better Support

Better Support

Learners need better tools to alleviate the anxiety they have to finish the course and better academic resources to support their study

Learners need better tools to alleviate the anxiety they have to finish the course and better academic resources to support their study

Personalization

Personalization

Tailoring each course to user's abilities while still keeping them engaged and having fun.

Tailoring each course to user's abilities while still keeping them engaged and having fun.

FINDING SYNTHESIS: USER PERSONA

JANE

JANE

Age: 35

Age: 35

Occupation: Graphic Designer

Occupation: Graphic Designer

Education: Bachelor

Education: Bachelor

Employment Status: Full time

Employment Status: Full time

Household: Mother of two kids

Household: Mother of two kids

GOALS

GOALS

Jane is looking for a career shift since she has reached the senior level of graphic designer in her current company, there is not much space for growth in her career. She would like to learn more about UX design since it has been a trendy and rising field recently with a decent pay. In order to take a career shift while working full time, she needs to take a flexible professional certificate program that is recognizable by employers.

Jane is looking for a career shift since she has reached the senior level of graphic designer in her current company, there is not much space for growth in her career. She would like to learn more about UX design since it has been a trendy and rising field recently with a decent pay. In order to take a career shift while working full time, she needs to take a flexible professional certificate program that is recognizable by employers.

FRUSTRATIONS

FRUSTRATIONS

Jane has a very busy schedule since she works from 9 to 5 and she is a mother of a 7-year-old kid and a 10-year-old kid. She is currently taking a UX course on Athena that meant to take her 1 month to finish, but since she is very busy, she can only dedicate 0-5 hours of learning every week. This process has been taking so long that she is feeling giving up at this point.

Jane has a very busy schedule since she works from 9 to 5 and she is a mother of a 7-year-old kid and a 10-year-old kid. She is currently taking a UX course on Athena that meant to take her 1 month to finish, but since she is very busy, she can only dedicate 0-5 hours of learning every week. This process has been taking so long that she is feeling giving up at this point.

REFRAMING THE PROBLEM

After talking to the interviewees who have shared their experiences with online learning platform, expressed their emotions and feelings towards current learnings, pointed out challenges that stand in the way of completing online learning courses, and shared their ways of overcoming those challenges, we found out that people’s time is broken into pieces and often have very busy schedule. They do not prioritize learnings over their life, thus, they need learnings to fit into their schedule, not fitting their schedule into learnings.


At first, we started out generating design concepts around Athena website, however, we figured that people need a more accessible and on-the-go way of learning. With our discovery research on Athena APP on phones, we found out there is a big potential in developing a feature on the Athena APP for learners to utilize the small time blocks (i.e., chunk of spare time such as lunch break, on transportation, etc) that are in between their important tasks.

After talking to the interviewees who have shared their experiences with online learning platform, expressed their emotions and feelings towards current learnings, pointed out challenges that stand in the way of completing online learning courses, and shared their ways of overcoming those challenges, we found out that people’s time is broken into pieces and often have very busy schedule. They do not prioritize learnings over their life, thus, they need learnings to fit into their schedule, not fitting their schedule into learnings.


At first, we started out generating design concepts around Athena website, however, we figured that people need a more accessible and on-the-go way of learning. With our discovery research on Athena APP on phones, we found out there is a big potential in developing a feature on the Athena APP for learners to utilize the small time blocks (i.e., chunk of spare time such as lunch break, on transportation, etc) that are in between their important tasks.

How might we optimize the use of time blocks to fit in Jane’s busy life?

How might we optimize the use of time blocks to fit in Jane’s busy life?

SPRINT2: LOW-FI PROTOTYPE

GUIDING PRINCIPLE: MOTIVATIONS

Redesign the home page to visualize the progress so that learners know where they are right after they open Athena APP.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE: EFFICIENT USE OF TIME

Learn is one of the modes of learning for learners who have small chunk of time to learn new contents. “Snackable” contents will be generated based on available time block.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE: PERSONALIZATION

A wrap-up page will provide information on hours learners have spent in a week, points they have gained, progress on each course, and skills they have learned.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE: BETTER SUPPORT

Review is one of the modes of learning for learners who don’t have enough time to learn new contents.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE: MOTIVATIONS & INCENTIVES

Games are provided to gamify the review process to make learning more fun and engaging. Common games like flashcards, trivia, matching are provided for learners.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE: MOTIVATIONS

Redesign the home page to visualize the progress so that learners know where they are right after they open Athena APP.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE: EFFICIENT USE OF TIME

Learn is one of the modes of learning for learners who have small chunk of time to learn new contents. “Snackable” contents will be generated based on available time block.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE: PERSONALIZATION

A wrap-up page will provide information on hours learners have spent in a week, points they have gained, progress on each course, and skills they have learned.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE: BETTER SUPPORT

Review is one of the modes of learning for learners who don’t have enough time to learn new contents.

GUIDING PRINCIPLE: MOTIVATIONS & INCENTIVES

Games are provided to gamify the review process to make learning more fun and engaging. Common games like flashcards, trivia, matching are provided for learners.

SPRINT2: CONCEPT VALIDATION INTERVIEWS

PARTICIPANTS

PARTICIPANTS

Age: 22-45

Age: 22-45

Race & Ethnicity: African American / Asian / White

Race & Ethnicity: African American / Asian / White

Employment Status: Full time (30 hours+) & Part time

Employment Status: Full time (30 hours+) & Part time

Experience with Online Learning Platform:

Actively working on a professional certificates

Started but not finished a processional certificate program

Experience with Online Learning Platform:

Actively working on a professional certificates

Started but not finished a processional certificate program

VALIDATION & TESTING

VALIDATION & TESTING

We present our user flow through low-fi prototype and A/B testing, we gained valuable feedback from interviewees that helped us make final design solution.

We present our user flow through low-fi prototype and A/B testing, we gained valuable feedback from interviewees that helped us make final design solution.

SPRINT2: HI-FI PROTOTYPE

Course Progress

Before

After

“Course titles tend to be long so a longer tab-style design is preferred”

“Course titles tend to be long so a longer tab-style design is preferred”

Discussion from Team Meeting

Discussion from Team Meeting

Completion

Before

After

“Need to differentiate the buttons to encourage users to do certain action.” - David

“Need to differentiate the buttons to encourage users to do certain action.” - David

Quote from Concept Validation Interview

Quote from Concept Validation Interview

Review

Before

After

“I’d like to swipe the summary to see different key points” - Soben

“I’d like to swipe the summary to see different key points” - Soben

Quote from Concept Validation Interview

Quote from Concept Validation Interview

NEXT STEPS

  • Feasibility of course contents provided in Portrait View

  • Further research and validation on the length of time people will input

  • Feasibility of syncing learners’ calendar with the APP so that the learning time is more tailored

  • Alternative concept where contents are “stackable” by learners instead of “snackable” that’s auto-generated

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Design concept should be research-driven: Athena is mainly based on web APP based on obvious reasons: larger screen provides better learning experience, course contents tend to be landscape view, and it’s easier for both the learners and platforms to conduct exams and assignments on websites. However, as more research we have done, we found out that people need something more portable in order to fit learnings into their busy life, thus, we decided to redesign Athena mobile APP. This would not be done without the extensive preliminary research we have done.

Embrace ambiguity and leave it to the users to define: In concept validation interviews, we tend to avoid defining any visual components we have made on the stimuli, instead, we asked our interviewees to tell us what they would like to see happening if they tap on this component.

A clean design file smooths the collaboration process: In order to communicate our ideas smoothly on Figma, I organized our design file in a way that is clear in logic and representation. By doing so, the collaboration process is much smoother without confusion and misunderstanding.

Let me know what you think!

Let me know what you think!

Let me know what you think!

© Sherry Xu 2022

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