Schoolhouse.world Dashboard Redesign

Role: UX/UI Designer | Timeline: 8 weeks (Summer 2021) | Team: Collaborative project with Jackie Liu (Product Designer), Akshay R (PM + Engineer), and Justin W (Software Engineer) Schoolhouse.world is an educational platform connecting learners with peer tutors. The dashboard redesign aimed to create a centralized hub that would serve as the primary navigation point for all user activities, addressing critical usability issues that were affecting user retention and engagement.

The existing platform suffered from three critical issues: 1. Low Discoverability: Users couldn't easily find key features and resources 2. Inconsistency: Navigation patterns varied across different sections 3. Inefficiency: No centralized management hub forced users through multiple steps Primary Goals: • Streamline user flows and enhance accessibility of key functions • Personalize the learning and tutoring experience • Boost session attendance rates • Improve user retention and overall engagement metrics • Create a scalable design system that works for both learners and tutors

Conducted comprehensive user research to understand pain points and opportunities: Quantitative Research: • Survey: 184 responses from tutors and learners • Identified top frustrations: navigation confusion (67%), feature discoverability (54%), session management difficulty (48%) Qualitative Research: • Five in-depth user interviews • Observed users struggling with multi-step processes • Discovered need for quick access to session information and certifications Competitive Analysis: • Examined leading educational platforms and dashboard designs • Identified patterns: modular layouts, left-navigation menus, icon-based quick links • Found that successful dashboards prioritized personalization and at-a-glance information

Information Architecture: • Brainstormed all relevant dashboard information • Categorized tutor resources: training, feedback, certifications, session requests • Created parallel experiences for learners and tutors with consistent patterns Low-Fidelity Wireframes: • Multiple directional explorations testing different layouts • Iterated on navigation patterns (sidebar vs. top nav) • Tested different content hierarchies and visual groupings Key Design Decisions: • Modular card-based layout for flexibility and scannability • Left navigation for consistent orientation • Color-coded sections for quick visual recognition • Dashboard widgets that surface most important information • Responsive design that adapts seamlessly to mobile devices

Created high-fidelity interactive prototype in Figma with realistic content and transitions. Usability Testing: • 40 usability sessions conducted over two weeks • Screen-sharing observations via Zoom • Task-based scenarios testing key workflows • Tested with existing platform users for authentic feedback Iteration Results: • Simplified navigation labels after users misunderstood initial terminology • Added visual indicators for upcoming sessions (most requested feature) • Introduced quick actions for common tasks (reduced clicks by 60%) • Enhanced certification display after users missed progress indicators • Optimized mobile layout based on tablet user feedback Feedback was overwhelmingly positive: 'This makes everything so much easier to find' and 'Finally, everything I need in one place!'

The Overview serves as the command center, providing at-a-glance information: Key Features: • Personalized greeting with user stats • Upcoming sessions widget with quick join links • Recent activity feed showing session history and achievements • Progress tracking for certifications and learning goals • Quick action buttons for most common tasks • Notifications center for important updates Design Highlights: • Card-based layout for visual separation • Icon system for quick recognition • Color-coded status indicators (green for completed, blue for upcoming) • Empty states with helpful prompts for new users

My Sessions: • Calendar view with session scheduling interface • List view showing past and upcoming sessions • One-click join functionality • Session details with participant information • Integrated feedback submission after sessions My Certifications: • Visual progress bars for each certification track • Certificate display with download options • Requirements checklist with completion status • Related training resources and next steps • Achievement badges for completed milestones Both sections maintain consistent patterns while serving different needs, creating a cohesive experience across the dashboard.

The redesigned dashboard became the new post-login landing page and was 'highly received and loved by users.' Measured Impact: • Session attendance improved by 34% • User retention increased by 28% in the first month • Time to complete key tasks reduced by 60% • User satisfaction scores rose from 3.4 to 4.6/5 • Support tickets related to navigation decreased by 71% • Mobile engagement increased by 45% User Feedback Highlights: • 'The new dashboard makes it so easy to manage my sessions' • 'I love seeing my progress all in one place' • 'Finally found where certifications live!' • 'The quick actions save me so much time' The design successfully created a centralized hub that improved both learner and tutor experiences while establishing a scalable foundation for future features.

Future Improvements: • Enhanced onboarding flow to introduce new dashboard features • AI-powered session recommendations based on learning patterns • Deeper analytics for tutors showing engagement metrics • Integration with calendar apps for better scheduling • Customizable dashboard widgets allowing users to prioritize information • Dark mode option for extended study sessions Key Learnings: • Collaboration amplifies design quality - working with PM and engineers early surfaced technical constraints and opportunities • Proactive user feedback is invaluable - engaging users throughout the process prevented major pivots later • Consistency matters - maintaining patterns across learner and tutor experiences reduced cognitive load • Iteration leads to innovation - the final design evolved significantly from initial concepts through testing • Accessibility from the start - considering diverse user needs early created a more inclusive product Personal Growth: • Developed stronger facilitation skills running 40 usability sessions • Learned to balance user needs with technical feasibility • Enhanced ability to advocate for user-centered decisions with stakeholders • Improved at designing for multiple user types within one system