Cecap App
Introducing a new app designed specifically for adults! This innovative platform is the perfect tool for adults looking to learn new technical skills, stay up-to-date on the latest topic information, and discover new opportunities to grow and learn.
Project duration: January 2023 to March 2023.
Project Overview
The Problem:
For many adults, learning technical courses can be a daunting and costly task. Moreover, technical courses usually demand a considerable amount of time, which many adults may not have due to other commitments; This makes it challenging for them to attend physical classrooms and study for extended periods.
The Goal:
Our app aims to enhance and develop technical skills through self-paced learning. Users are free to choose their preferred topic and will access all the necessary information, including images and videos. Additionally, our app allows interaction with classmates for question-and-answer sessions.
My Role:
UX designer leading the app and responsive website design from conception to delivery
Responsibilities:
Conducting interviews, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, iterating on designs, determining information architecture, and responsive design.
Understanding the User
User Research:
I utilized Cecap’s data on learning new technical skills to develop interview questions for usability studies. The interviewed participants expressed interest in learning new skills in their own time but found it difficult to find the appropriate time to do it. Based on the feedback received from the research, it is evident that users are eager to learn new tech skills and would like to eliminate the need for expensive books, long hours in classes, and the ability to learn different languages. The app will interact with peers and include tasks for practicing each topic.
Personas
Elba is a single mom; who works in a warehouse and has one child. She works a lot and has a car, but she is tired of paid car maintenance; She would like to learn technical skills to make appropriate maintenance for her car.
Jeremy is a warehouse manager who works long hours in the office. He wants to learn new technical skills but with media guidance and some classmates’ interaction.
Competitive Audit
An audit of a few competitors’ products provided direction on gaps and opportunities to address with the Cecap app.
Ideation
Here are some ideation exercises. I came up with ideas to address gaps identified in the competitive audit. My focus is delivering the course supported by media and interaction with classmates.
Starting the Design
Digital Wireframes
After ideating and drafting some paper wireframes, I created the initial designs for the Cecap app. These designs focused on teaching technical skills with personalized guidance to help manage their time and other options as languages.
Low-Fidelity Prototype
To prepare for usability testing, I created a low-fidelity prototype that connected the user flow of picking a course and using it.
Usability Study
Parameters
Study Type
Unmoderated Usability Study
Location
EEUU, remote
Participants
5 participants
Length
30-60 minutes
Findings
Easy Access
People want easy access to tasks from the global bar that helps users easily track their accomplishments.
Languages
Users want access to choose the different types of languages for a better understanding of the courses.
Interact with peers
People want to have access to interact with classmates and exchange ideas about any topic of the lesson.
Refining the Design
Mockups
Based on the insights from the usability studies, I applied design changes like providing a clear section from the home screen to change the languages and incorporate more item options on the global navigation bar.
Additional design changes included improving the Task page and providing a bar percentage indicator of the progress of the course.
High Fidelity Prototype
The high-fidelity prototype followed the same user flow as the low-fidelity prototype, including design changes made after the usability study.
Accessibility Considerations
Interactive elements with clear labels that can read by screen readers.
The initial focus of the home screen on Top Rated Courses helps define the primary action for the user.
Languages option on each page of the app will help with some diversity of users.
Responsive Design
Sitemap
With the app designs completed, I started designing the responsive website. I used the Cecap sitemap to guide the organizational structure of each screen’s layout to ensure a cohesive and consistent experience across devices.
Responsive Designs
The designs for screen size variation included mobile, tablet, and desktop. I optimized the designs to fit specific user needs of each device and screen size.
Going Forward
Impact
According to feedback from users, the tutoring platform for adults to learn technical skills is highly convenient and flexible. Users can access the platform and learn at their own pace and time. One user remarked, "CECAP is an excellent resource for acquiring new technical skills, can be used in future employment or personal development. The platform is easy to understand and keeps me engaged."
What I learned
Creating a platform to help adults learn new tech skills was a challenging task. However, I dedicated myself to the design process and focused on the specific needs of potential users. Through this approach, I was able to develop practical solutions that were both feasible and useful for my app.
Next Steps
Research how successfully the app engages adults to learn new technical skills.
Add more educational resources for users to learn about new tech skills.
Provide incentives and discount offers to users when completing the course.