Learning paths
Duration: 1 quarter
Problem to solve: “How might we help a user qualify for a new career, by completing a curated collection of training videos?”
Format: responsive web
Status: shipped
Publicity: attached
The problem to solve
Lynda.com wanted to offer a packaged set of video training content, curated to be consumed in order. The goal for a learner would be to transform their career by completing the course package. There was growing traction for similar, competitive products.
User research staff conducted 8 interviews with participants who were not members of Lynda.com. The outcome was foundational research that produced a series of product principles to inform the design.
New graduates and career changers found significant value in a curated linear presentation, leading to a clearly stated outcome.
Learners expect instructor snippets so they could decide if the presentation style is at the quality they expect.
All participants wanted to know the anticipated time commitment, stating they would accept a commitment close to 60hrs.
Alignment
To kick this project off and to generate alignment with product and engineering, I set up a generative workshop. I have written up an article on my preferred workshop format here.
We established our known knows (based on business need and user research).
We created two hero flows: one for an established member of Lynda.com, and one for a prospective member, who may convert based on interest in the Learning Path. The hero flows were captured in a spreadsheet and translated into a diagram.
Upon completion of the workshop: PM and myself used the hero flows to create a spreadsheet document that became the basis of the PRD.
Design
Wireframes
This project had engineering resources available from the very beginning, and they were eagerly waiting for designs.
In order to unblock the engineers I created an application map based on the hero flows created in our alignment phase, containing all entry points in the experience, with the subsequent screens and states.
This design was then presented in a low-fidelity version to engineering, allowing them to establish the back-end code while awaiting the front-end specifications.
Modules
Next came the design of the individual screen modules
To embody the the ideals set forth in the research -generated product principles, I wanted each screen to encourage and orient the user to their progress towards their goal.
The main challenge would be to create a compelling header for the Learning Path page, as this was the page whether we assumed that most membership purchase and adoption decisions would be made.
In order to create a familiar experience to new and existing Lynda.com members alike, I wanted to use existing presentation styles for this product.
Final screens
What I learned
Learning Paths was a challenging project:
As a product it has a presence from the top nav all the way through the user journey, until a completed course. It placed new demands on me as a designer, demanding that I was able to take the entire platform into account, from one page to another as the user progressed.
Wrangling a new team taught me several new leadership techniques that I took with me to my next project.
The final version for Lynda.com shipped in the spring of 2016. I had moved on to a new team and another designer gave the top area of the Learning Path pages a different treatment. LinkedIn Learning shipped a version of it somewhat later, and it was a lot closer to what I had originally envisioned. The product got significant attention in the press: here in Forbes and Venturebeat.
In all, the design for Learning Paths has withstood the test of time, and today -years later- looks very similar both to the original design.
Later versions of Learning Paths
