Paola Amparan

Project Overview

Company: Leading Education Technology Company
Product: Lesson Builder
Role: Lead Product/UX Designer
Duration: Ongoing (MVP released, 3 updates released, 2 more planned by 2025)
Team Size: Approximately 30 interdisciplinary members

Introduction

As a Senior UX Designer at a leading Education Technology company, I spearheaded the design and implementation of Lesson Builder, a new authoring tool within the the company's Authoring and Content Ecosystem. This project aimed to address the specific needs of a key line of business, streamline content creation, enhance efficiency, reduce training costs, and meet the demands of high-profile clients requiring interactive, multimedia-rich content. Our mission was not only to create a standalone solution from the ground up but also to develop features that could be integrated back into our legacy products, enhancing the entire product suite and ensuring consistency and interoperability.

Quick Overview

The Challenge

A critical line of business within the company was hindered by content creation processes spread across five legacy tools within the product suite. This fragmentation led to inefficiencies, high training costs, and difficulties in meeting clients' customization and interactivity requirements. Existing tools lacked support for H5P, limiting our ability to produce engaging content. Additionally, H5P's form-based structure posed customization challenges within tight release timelines, and limited timeframes constrained extensive UX research.

The Solution

As the Lead UX Designer, I orchestrated the development of Lesson Builder—a unified authoring platform tailored to this line of business. Leveraging the [product suite] design system ensured cohesion and interoperability within the ecosystem. Despite challenges with H5P's limitations and constrained UX research time, we strategically navigated these hurdles by utilizing past research, prototype testing, and agile workflows. Crucially, we designed new features with the foresight to integrate them back into our legacy products, enhancing the entire product suite. We conducted User Acceptance Testing (UAT) between every release, refining designs based on user and stakeholder feedback.

The Impact

Efficiency Boost: Reduced vendor training time by 70%, significantly cutting onboarding costs.
Enhanced Interactivity: Enabled creation of engaging, interactive content, delighting clients.
Accessibility Compliance: Achieved AAA accessibility standards, promoting inclusivity.
Ecosystem Enhancement: Integrated new features back into legacy products, revitalizing the product suite.
Continuous Improvement: Iteratively enhanced the product through agile workflows and feedback.
Scalability: Designed with future growth in mind, paving the way for new features and integrations.

In-Depth Case Study

Background

As a global leader in educational technology, committed to improving learning experiences worldwide, the company authoring and content ecosystem is comprised of 12 (and growing) products that empower educators in content creation and delivery. A specific line of business within the company faced unique challenges requiring a tailored solution, all while ensuring consistency and interoperability within the product ecosystem. We also saw an opportunity to enhance our legacy products by incorporating innovative features developed for Lesson Builder.

Problem

Fragmented Authoring Tools: Content creation was spread across five legacy tools, causing workflow inefficiencies and confusion among vendors.
High Training Costs: Vendors needed cross-training on multiple platforms, increasing onboarding time and expenses.
Lack of Interactive Content Support: Existing tools didn't support H5P, limiting our ability to produce engaging, multimedia-rich content demanded by clients like Disney and Marvel.
Customization Constraints: H5P's form-based structure restricted design flexibility, complicating client branding efforts and user experience enhancements.
Tight Timelines: Aggressive release schedules limited the opportunity for comprehensive UX research and development.
Accessibility Requirements: Meeting AAA accessibility standards was crucial but challenging with existing tools.
Ecosystem Integration: Solutions had to seamlessly integrate within the whole product suite to maintain consistency and interoperability.
Legacy Product Enhancement: Desired to infuse new features into legacy products to modernize and unify the suite.
Developer-Induced UX Debt: Rapid implementation of unfiltered stakeholder feedback by developers and BAs led to accumulating UX debt.

Task

Consolidate Tools: Develop a unified authoring platform—Lesson Builder—to streamline content creation.
Integrate H5P Effectively: Enable interactive content creation while overcoming H5P's limitations.
Ensure High Accessibility Standards: Achieve AAA accessibility compliance.
Maintain Ecosystem Consistency: Utilize the [product suite] design system for cohesion across products.
Enhance Legacy Products: Design features that can be integrated back into existing tools, improving the entire suite.
Optimize UX Research Efforts: Leverage existing research, conduct targeted testing, and adopt agile methodologies.
Design for Scalability: Create a platform capable of accommodating future features and growth.

Action

1. Strategic Planning and Stakeholder Engagement

By fostering strong relationships with stakeholders, we ensured alignment and buy-in at every project stage, which was crucial for the project's success.

Deep Requirements Gathering: Conducted workshops with stakeholders to understand detailed needs and pain points.
Clear Objective Setting: Aligned project goals with business objectives and user expectations.
Prioritization Framework: Developed a matrix to balance business priorities, technical feasibility, and user impact.
Transparent Communication: Maintained open dialogue about challenges, particularly H5P limitations and timelines.
Risk Management: Identified potential obstacles early and devised mitigation strategies.

2. Leveraging the Design System

The design system became our linchpin, enabling us to deliver a polished product swiftly while laying the groundwork for enhancing legacy tools.

Unified User Experience: Applied the [product suite] design system to ensure a consistent and intuitive user interface.
Reusable Components: Created modular design elements to expedite development and facilitate integration into legacy products.
Efficiency Gains: Reduced design time by utilizing established UI patterns, allowing focus on user-centric features.
Cross-Product Synergy: Ensured new designs were compatible with other products in the suite, promoting a cohesive ecosystem.

‍

‍

3. Navigating H5P Limitations

Our ability to turn H5P's constraints into opportunities for innovation was a testament to the team's ingenuity and adaptability.

Technical Collaboration: Worked closely with developers to understand H5P's capabilities and constraints.
Creative Solutions: Developed standardized templates and employed CSS overrides to achieve desired customizations.
Alternative Approaches: When limitations arose, proposed innovative workarounds that met client needs without compromising timelines.
Prototype Validation: Conducted usability tests with prototypes to refine solutions before full-scale implementation.

4. Design and Prototyping

This iterative process not only honed the product but also fostered stakeholder confidence through visible progress and responsiveness.

Leveraging Existing Research: Utilized past UX studies to inform design decisions, ensuring relevance and effectiveness.
High-Fidelity Prototypes: Crafted interactive prototypes in Figma, providing stakeholders with a tangible vision of the product.
User Acceptance Testing: Scheduled UAT after each sprint, incorporating feedback to enhance usability.
Iterative Refinement: Embraced an agile approach, rapidly iterating designs based on user insights.

‍

‍

5. Agile Development and Cross-Functional Collaboration

Our agile practices empowered the team to pivot gracefully amidst challenges, ensuring timely delivery without sacrificing quality.

Integrated Teams: Collaborated with developers, QA testers, and product managers to ensure seamless execution.
Scrum Methodology: Adopted two-week sprints with clear goals and deliverables, promoting agility.
Continuous Communication: Held daily stand-ups to address issues promptly and keep the team aligned.
Documentation Excellence: Maintained comprehensive design specs and guidelines, facilitating knowledge sharing and consistency.

6. Enhancing Legacy Products

By envisioning Lesson Builder as a catalyst for broader innovation, we amplified its impact across the entire authoring and content ecosystem.

Feature Integration Planning: Designed new functionalities with the foresight to integrate them into legacy tools.
Cross-Pollination of Ideas: Identified successful elements from Lesson Builder to rejuvenate older products.
Unified Ecosystem Vision: Ensured that enhancements contributed to a cohesive and modernized product suite.
Stakeholder Alignment: Communicated the benefits of integrating new features into legacy products, gaining support from various teams.

Challenges and Solutions

Challenge 1: Limited Time for UX Research

We turned time constraints into a driving force for efficiency, utilizing every resource to inform our designs thoughtfully.

Issue: Tight deadlines restricted comprehensive user research.
Solution: Leveraged existing research from similar projects. Focused new research on critical areas using rapid testing methods. Employed guerrilla testing to gather immediate user insights.

Challenge 2: H5P Customization Constraints

Our resourcefulness transformed limitations into launchpads for creativity, delivering solutions that exceeded expectations.

Issue: H5P's limitations hindered full customization, affecting branding and user experience.
Solution: Maximized H5P's capabilities with creative styling and scripting. Developed custom style sheets and provided clear guidelines to content creators.

Challenge 3: Developer-Induced UX Debt

Issue: Developers, eager to meet stakeholder demands, implemented unfiltered feedback directly, leading to inconsistencies and a fragmented user experience.
Solution:
- Implemented a Feedback Filter: Established a process where all stakeholder feedback was first reviewed by the UX team.‍
- Prioritization and Alignment: Assessed feedback based on user needs, business goals, and design principles before approval.‍
- Design Governance: Created design guidelines to ensure consistency and prevent ad-hoc changes.‍
- Managed UX Debt: Adopted a problem-first approach to stakeholder feedback, minimizing UX debt from BAs and developers.
- Leveraged the Design System: Empowered developers to explore solutions using the design system in collaboration with the UX team to ensure consistency across solutions. This allowed us to speed up collaboration and incorporate live working sessions to expedite changes as needed to relieve pressure on development waiting for designs.

Challenge 4: Tight Timelines and Limited Resources

By focusing on what mattered most, we ensured timely delivery while laying a robust foundation for future enhancements.

Issue: Delivering a high-quality product swiftly with a small team.
Solution: Prioritized high-impact features for the MVP. Utilized the [product suite] design system to expedite the design process. Delegated effectively and streamlined workflows.

‍

Results

1. Streamlined Authoring Process

The transformation was palpable—what once was a labyrinth of tools became a seamless journey, empowering users like never before.

Efficiency Gains: Vendor training time reduced by 70% (so far), significantly lowering onboarding costs.
Simplified Workflow: Consolidated five tools into one intuitive platform, boosting productivity.

2. Enhanced User Experience

Positive Feedback: Users praised the intuitive interface and smoother content creation process.
Interactive Content Creation: Enabled development of engaging lessons, fulfilling client expectations.
Iterative Improvements: Regular updates based on UAT and feedback kept refining the product.

3. Accessibility Compliance

AAA Standards Achieved: Ensured content was accessible to all users, aligning with Pearson's inclusivity values.
Expanded Reach: Enhanced accessibility broadened our audience, opening new market opportunities.

4. Ecosystem Enhancement and Growth

Lesson Builder was a catalyst, invigorating the entire ecosystem with innovation and unity.

Seamless Integration: Maintained consistency within the authoring and content ecosystem, facilitating interoperability.
Legacy Product Revitalization: Successfully integrated new features into legacy tools, modernizing the suite.
Scalability: Designed for future enhancements, with two more updates planned by 2025.

Reflection

Adaptability and Innovation

Strategic Flexibility: Navigated constraints with agility, turning challenges into opportunities.
Innovative Mindset: Embraced creative problem-solving to deliver exceptional results.

Leadership and Collaboration

Empowering the Team: Fostered a collaborative environment that encouraged ideas and growth.
Mentorship: Guided team members, enhancing skills and ensuring a unified vision.

User-Centric Focus

Empathy-Driven Design: Kept user needs at the forefront, crafting solutions that genuinely resonated.
Feedback Integration: Valued user and stakeholder input, continuously refining the product.

Lessons Learned

Leverage Existing Assets: Utilizing past research and design systems accelerates timelines without compromising quality.
Consistency and Clarity: No matter the workflow, clear goals, priorities, and deliverables are key to ensure progress. Flexibility allows adaptation to changing needs while maintaining focus.
Cross-Functional Collaboration Is Key: Unified efforts across teams lead to cohesive and impactful solutions.
Problem-First Feedback Filtering: Established a process where stakeholder feedback was assessed based on the underlying problem before any solution was implemented.
Proactive Problem Solving: By focusing on understanding the core issues, we provided effective solutions without introducing unnecessary complexity.
Continuous Improvement: Valued and integrated feedback to refine the product iteratively.

Conclusion

Leading the design of Lesson Builder was both challenging and rewarding. We not only created a solution that addressed immediate business needs but also enriched our legacy products, elevating the entire authoring and content ecosystem. This endeavor showcased my ability to navigate complex challenges, drive innovation,, adapt through changes, and deliver impactful, user-centered solutions that align with strategic business objectives.

Lesson Builder: Revolutionizing an Authoring Tool for a New Era