UX | UI | Research
Problem
Saving Languages is Hard
This language learning start-up wanted to help Indigenous communities keep their languages alive using a fun approach. While they were in the process of expanding the platform to offer more languages and allow for more courses to be created and customized by teachers, they hired me to assess their situation and design solutions for their more glaring problems.
The main issue: the platform felt like a thing to get use to.
They needed a design that was easy to maintain, fun to use, and worked well for everyone—students, teachers, and schools.
Research
Listening for Insights
1️⃣ Talk to users (students, teachers, schools, and course creators) to understand their needs.
2️⃣ Sorted users into groups and designed different experiences for each.
💡Key Result: Sorting users into groups helped the company better understand who their users are and where their needs to be met.
Learners
Students, mostly first nation as well as some not, ranged from age 6 to adult all with varying degree of experience with a first nation’s language.
Pain Points:
❌ Learning a language is hard and boring cause you got to do it consistently.
❌ It's hard to stay motivated.
Teachers
Mostly working in public K-12, these teachers come in short supply and most don’t have a fluent understanding of a first nation’s language.
Pain Points:
❌ No access to indigenous curriculum.
❌ Outnumbered and lack free time to research.
Org. Admins.
These folks administrate whole organizations like schools to ensure the relationship between teachers and students is running smoothly.
Pain Points:
❌ Stretched thin with other priorities.
❌ Often has no time to learn new software or applications.
Course Creators
Course creators make the curriculum and courses for the platform. These folks work with the operations team and address course feedback.
Pain Points:
❌ Working on power point or other tools not meant for course creation.
❌ A long and tedious workflow
My Solution
Make Learning Fun
Give teachers more control
Make learning more fun so students stay motivated
Learners can track their progress with an XP bar and engage in challenging versions of their learning activities which motivates them to out-compete themselves or their classmates.
Collect Badges
Learners can earn badges to mark their achievements on the platform and revel in their success, keeping them vested in the platform.
Make Profiles
Learners can now customize their profile by choosing their avatar and their clan further integrating themselves on the platform. Plus potentially leaving room for further online interactions.
My Impact
🚀 Students now stay motivated with XP points, badges, and profiles.
🚀 Teachers can easily track progress, edit lessons, and manage classes.
🚀 Schools can support teachers and students without extra hassle.
🚀 The platform is now scalable and ready to grow.
Looking back
My time at this start-up was truly enriching. I got to contribute and practice my eye for design to a product that I believe to be doing a very needed good. I am particularly very grateful to members of the Anishinaabe as I feel I've gained an entirely new perspective through our 1-1 interviews.
This project strongly solidified my passion for using design to create transformative experiences that impact lives and empower communities.