Full circle design process
User Research
UX/UI
Designing Study Plans feature for daily medical learning
Problem: How might we help students prepare for their exams in one unified place?
Solution: By empowering medical students to create their own study plans and structure their studies, while also providing them with recommendations for their further development.
Full circle design process
User Research
UX/UI
Designing Study Plans feature for daily medical learning
Problem: How might we help students prepare for their exams in one unified place?
Solution: By empowering medical students to create their own study plans and structure their studies, while also providing them with recommendations for their further development.
Full circle design process
User Research
UX/UI
Designing Study Plans feature for daily medical learning
Problem: How might we help students prepare for their exams in one unified place?
Solution: By empowering medical students to create their own study plans and structure their studies, while also providing them with recommendations for their further development.
Framing the problem
Our Business Unit asked us to support US expansion by improving early student retention.
To understand the challenges students faced and how to boost retention, we analyzed past interviews and partnered with User Research to run exploratory interviews and task-based studies.
Framing the problem
Our Business Unit asked us to support US expansion by improving early student retention.
To understand the challenges students faced and how to boost retention, we analyzed past interviews and partnered with User Research to run exploratory interviews and task-based studies.
Framing the problem
Our Business Unit asked us to support US expansion by improving early student retention.
To understand the challenges students faced and how to boost retention, we analyzed past interviews and partnered with User Research to run exploratory interviews and task-based studies.
Collecting insights
I gathered data from user interviews, Hotjar, literature, and competitor research.
I collaborated with data analysts to identify churn points and conversion trends.
Collecting insights
I gathered data from user interviews, Hotjar, literature, and competitor research.
I collaborated with data analysts to identify churn points and conversion trends.
Collecting insights
I gathered data from user interviews, Hotjar, literature, and competitor research.
I collaborated with data analysts to identify churn points and conversion trends.
Key problems
Collected qualitative data through workshops with American students to understand the target audience for entering the US market.
Audience profile: young adults with significant debt, navigating a fragmented exam preparation system.
Challenges identified:
Students had to gather scattered information to study effectively, requiring significant effort.
Difficulty in tracking progress, reducing motivation over time.
Overabundance of study materials created uncertainty about which resources to trust.
Key insights:
Effort: High effort required to compile and prepare learning materials.
Motivation: Motivation decreases due to fragmented resources and unclear progress.
Progress tracking: Students lack visibility into their learning progress.
Trust: Students are unsure which study materials are reliable.
Key problems
Collected qualitative data through workshops with American students to understand the target audience for entering the US market.
Audience profile: young adults with significant debt, navigating a fragmented exam preparation system.
Challenges identified:
Students had to gather scattered information to study effectively, requiring significant effort.
Difficulty in tracking progress, reducing motivation over time.
Overabundance of study materials created uncertainty about which resources to trust.
Key insights:
Effort: High effort required to compile and prepare learning materials.
Motivation: Motivation decreases due to fragmented resources and unclear progress.
Progress tracking: Students lack visibility into their learning progress.
Trust: Students are unsure which study materials are reliable.
Key problems
Collected qualitative data through workshops with American students to understand the target audience for entering the US market.
Audience profile: young adults with significant debt, navigating a fragmented exam preparation system.
Challenges identified:
Students had to gather scattered information to study effectively, requiring significant effort.
Difficulty in tracking progress, reducing motivation over time.
Overabundance of study materials created uncertainty about which resources to trust.
Key insights:
Effort: High effort required to compile and prepare learning materials.
Motivation: Motivation decreases due to fragmented resources and unclear progress.
Progress tracking: Students lack visibility into their learning progress.
Trust: Students are unsure which study materials are reliable.
Potential solutions
Gamification and motivational copy.
Improved onboarding.
Structured, personalized study plans.
Progress tracking to show goal achievement.
Potential solutions
Gamification and motivational copy.
Improved onboarding.
Structured, personalized study plans.
Progress tracking to show goal achievement.
Potential solutions
Gamification and motivational copy.
Improved onboarding.
Structured, personalized study plans.
Progress tracking to show goal achievement.
Brainstorming & prototyping
We sketched out different study plan types and tested them using storyboard-style illustrations.
This rapid validation helped us refine concepts before wireframing.
Key findings:
Students preferred to customize their own plans.
AI-driven recommendations were highly desirable.
Brainstorming & prototyping
We sketched out different study plan types and tested them using storyboard-style illustrations.
This rapid validation helped us refine concepts before wireframing.
Key findings:
Students preferred to customize their own plans.
AI-driven recommendations were highly desirable.
Brainstorming & prototyping
We sketched out different study plan types and tested them using storyboard-style illustrations.
This rapid validation helped us refine concepts before wireframing.
Key findings:
Students preferred to customize their own plans.
AI-driven recommendations were highly desirable.
Shaping the flow
Through discussions with PMs, stakeholders, and UR, we refined the study plan creation process.
Key input factors included subject, end date, and daily study hours.
Shaping the flow
Through discussions with PMs, stakeholders, and UR, we refined the study plan creation process.
Key input factors included subject, end date, and daily study hours.
Shaping the flow
Through discussions with PMs, stakeholders, and UR, we refined the study plan creation process.
Key input factors included subject, end date, and daily study hours.
Wireframing & testing
We iterated on study plan builders, landing pages, and progress tracking.
User interviews helped us refine motivational elements and recommendations.
Wireframing & testing
We iterated on study plan builders, landing pages, and progress tracking.
User interviews helped us refine motivational elements and recommendations.
Wireframing & testing
We iterated on study plan builders, landing pages, and progress tracking.
User interviews helped us refine motivational elements and recommendations.
Collaboration with development team
Worked closely with developers to ensure alignment on business goals.
Provided business context to help the team understand user needs and market challenges.
Translated research insights into dev-ready tickets and user stories for implementation.
Ensured that findings from user research could be effectively acted on, bridging the gap between insights and product execution.
Collaboration with development team
Worked closely with developers to ensure alignment on business goals.
Provided business context to help the team understand user needs and market challenges.
Translated research insights into dev-ready tickets and user stories for implementation.
Ensured that findings from user research could be effectively acted on, bridging the gap between insights and product execution.
Collaboration with development team
Worked closely with developers to ensure alignment on business goals.
Provided business context to help the team understand user needs and market challenges.
Translated research insights into dev-ready tickets and user stories for implementation.
Ensured that findings from user research could be effectively acted on, bridging the gap between insights and product execution.
Hight-fidelity design and delivery
I presented our feature to cross-functional teams, sparking high-level discussions. During high-fidelity design, I ensured component states and animations were well-defined, creating polished UI and custom illustrations.
Hight-fidelity design and delivery
I presented our feature to cross-functional teams, sparking high-level discussions. During high-fidelity design, I ensured component states and animations were well-defined, creating polished UI and custom illustrations.
Hight-fidelity design and delivery
I presented our feature to cross-functional teams, sparking high-level discussions. During high-fidelity design, I ensured component states and animations were well-defined, creating polished UI and custom illustrations.
Visual strategy
Worked as art director, providing creative leadership and visual direction.
Applied a systematic approach to design, ensuring consistency, clarity, and alignment across all user-facing elements.
Visual strategy
Worked as art director, providing creative leadership and visual direction.
Applied a systematic approach to design, ensuring consistency, clarity, and alignment across all user-facing elements.
Visual strategy
Worked as art director, providing creative leadership and visual direction.
Applied a systematic approach to design, ensuring consistency, clarity, and alignment across all user-facing elements.
Design documentation
We detailed technical specs in a solution design document. Final designs went into sprints.
Design documentation
We detailed technical specs in a solution design document. Final designs went into sprints.
Design documentation
We detailed technical specs in a solution design document. Final designs went into sprints.
Implementation
Tickets with the final design version are going to sprints and I usually assure their quality from UI perspective.
During this phase I’m working closely with developers and if they have questions we discuss asap.
Implementation
Tickets with the final design version are going to sprints and I usually assure their quality from UI perspective.
During this phase I’m working closely with developers and if they have questions we discuss asap.
Implementation
Tickets with the final design version are going to sprints and I usually assure their quality from UI perspective.
During this phase I’m working closely with developers and if they have questions we discuss asap.
Launch and measuring the outcomes
We soft-launched the study plan feature to a small group of users, supported by surveys and user research. An A/B test provided valuable quantitative insights.
The results exceeded expectations—43 out of 50 test users gave us 5 stars and we rolled this feature to all the users.
Launch and measuring the outcomes
We soft-launched the study plan feature to a small group of users, supported by surveys and user research. An A/B test provided valuable quantitative insights.
The results exceeded expectations—43 out of 50 test users gave us 5 stars and we rolled this feature to all the users.
Launch and measuring the outcomes
We soft-launched the study plan feature to a small group of users, supported by surveys and user research. An A/B test provided valuable quantitative insights.
The results exceeded expectations—43 out of 50 test users gave us 5 stars and we rolled this feature to all the users.
Learnings & next steps
Learnings & next steps
We gathered user feedback and made necessary adjustments. One key learning was that trimming the feature too much required an extra sprint to fix issues. We also realized the need for better cross-team communication, as our A/B test was delayed due to misalignment. Lastly, setting clearer boundaries with stakeholders earlier would have streamlined the transition from feedback collection to implementation.
Overall, this project was a great learning experience, and I look forward to future challenges.
Made in 2025 in Framer by Ruslan Valikhanov
Photos by Yuli, Teresa, Alina
Illustrations for the home page: Yuli
Click to copy my email
Thx for being here, have a good one! 🦑
Made in 2025 in Framer by Ruslan Valikhanov
Photos by Yuli, Teresa, Alina
Illustrations for the home page: Yuli
Click to copy my email
Thx for being here, have a good one! 🦑
Made in 2025 in Framer by Ruslan Valikhanov
Photos by Yuli, Teresa, Alina
Illustrations for the home page: Yuli