Engineered Learning.

Engineered Learning aims to revolutionise education by offering hands-on engineering programs for young people. As a UX/UI Designer and Web Developer hired to help with onboarding potential new referrals, my role was pivotal in shaping the digital experience to align with their vision.

The challenge was to create a digital platform that reflects Engineered Learning's mission of empowering youth through practical engineering education and converting this into contact with potential clients in educational establishments. Understanding their objectives and aligning UX goals with their vision was crucial.

Research showed that one of the key audiences of the website (teachers) primarily used the time between lessons to find out what Engineered Learning could offer their students. We found out that there was specific content that they wanted to see with ease, such as video of students on site to get a feel for what the placement was like day to day, as well as outcomes that students could achieve.

The primary audience included students (primarily those at risk of exclusion from their mainstream school), parents, teachers, and educational stakeholders. Tailoring the platform to meet the diverse needs of these user groups was essential for its success.

As the UX/UI Designer and Web Developer, my responsibilities included:

• conducting discovery and research
• developing personas
• creating user flows and prototypes
• designing visuals and interactions
• conducting usability and A/B testing
• ensuring brand consistency and responsiveness.

Collaboration with the Engineered Learning team was vital to understanding their unique approach to education and aligning digital efforts accordingly.

The project had a broad scope, encompassing the entire user journey from onboarding to engagement. Tight timelines and the need for seamless collaboration presented challenges throughout the process.

1. Mission and objectives:
   • Aligned UX goals with Engineered Learning's vision for nationwide impact.
   • Strategically onboarded to understand their unique educational approach.
2. Hopes and challenges:
   • Facilitated a collaborative kick-off exercise to address stakeholder aspirations and concerns.
   • Identified and strategised around potential challenges to project initiation.
3. Discovery and context:
   • Explored how Engineered Learning supports and empowers young people through hands-on engineering education.
   • Immersed in the context of their educational impact, including community manufacturing and anti-social behaviour reduction efforts.
4. Research and data:
   • Conducted extensive research into the broader educational landscape and industry-specific needs.
   • Analysed the demand for hands-on engineering skills to inform a user-centric design approach.
5. Interviews and insights:
   • Conducted interviews to validate personas and gain insights into user motivations and frustrations.
   • Unearthed key themes that directly informed the design strategy.
6. Persona development:
   • Created diverse user profiles representing students, parents, and teachers.
   • Tailored design to meet the specific needs of each user group.
7. Experience mapping:
   • Mapped functions and features to ensure a tailored experience for all users.
   • Validated user journeys through ethnographic research and feedback loops.
8. Interaction design:
   • Mapped interactions, focusing on foundational elements such as registration and engagement.
   • Prioritised simplicity and user control in critical processes, incorporating user feedback for refinement.

The resulting platform successfully reflected Engineered Learning's mission and provided a user-friendly experience for students, parents, and teachers. Lessons learned included the importance of collaborative alignment and iterative design refinement in achieving project goals.