Learning management system

Problem

Despite strong content, learners were dropping off — not because they couldn’t learn, but because the system didn’t help them continue.

Key issues included:

• Difficulty navigating between video lessons, text content, and modules

• Unclear sense of progress through a course

• Confusion around what to do next after finishing a lesson

• Drop-offs during longer courses, especially after breaks

The learning experience worked functionally, but did not adequately support students while consuming course content over time.

Key challenges included:

• Learning sessions were frequently interrupted, but the system didn’t support resuming smoothly

• Progress existed, but wasn’t visible or motivating

• Navigation required context-switching between modules, topics, and content

• Learners lacked a clear sense of “what’s next” after each step
  
  

As a result, many students disengaged mid-course despite enrolling with clear intent.

Context & Constraints

• The platform served students and very early career professionals learning alongside college or work

• Learning sessions were short, interrupted, and resumed across devices

• Course structure, curriculum, and content were already defined

• The experience needed to support video-first learning with supporting text

• The redesign focused on improving content consumption and continuity without altering course material

These constraints meant the focus was on improving navigation, clarity, and motivation within the existing learning structure.

Users & Goals

Primary Users

• Students and early career professionals enrolled in skill-based online courses

User Goals

• Navigate lessons and modules easily

• Understand progress across the course

• Resume learning quickly after interruptions

• Stay motivated through longer learning journeys

• Complete courses with confidence
  
  

Insights

1. Students often stopped after completing a video due to unclear next steps

2. Progress felt abstract when spread across multiple lessons and formats

3. Interruptions made it harder to regain momentum

4. Visual feedback increased confidence more than reminders or instructions

5. Clear structure mattered more than visual novelty

The biggest blocker wasn’t information overload — it was uncertainty about what to do next

Design Strategy

Mental Model Shift
From “content consumption” → “guided progression”

The strategy was to reduce cognitive effort required to continue learning so motivation didn’t depend on willpower.

The solution focused on three principles:

• Make learning progress visible during content consumption

• Reduce friction between lessons, videos, and modules

• Design for interrupted, real-world learning behavior

This meant treating the LMS as a guided learning journey, not just a content viewer.

Key Design Decision

Decision 1: Structured Lesson Navigation

Why:
Students needed a clear sense of where they were within the course.

Tradeoff:
Reduced flexibility in free exploration to maintain continuity.

Decision 2: Progress Indicators Across Content

Why:
Visible progress reinforced motivation during long courses.

Tradeoff:
Introduced additional UI elements that required careful hierarchy.

Decision 3: Clear “What’s Next” Guidance

Why:
Uncertainty after completing a lesson caused drop-offs.

Tradeoff:
Limited optional branching to preserve momentum.

Decision 4: Resume-Friendly Content Flow

Why:
Most students returned to learning after pauses or interruptions.

Tradeoff:
Prioritized continuity over deep content browsing.

After identification of different elements and classifying them into groups, wireframes were made to incorporate them visually with their interactions

Visual System

Solution Overview

• Made progress visible at every step

• Allowed learners to resume seamlessly after interruptions

• Reduced navigation effort by unifying content and controls