Curated video courses
Problem to solve: Help a learner qualify for a new career, by completing a curated collection of training videos.
Time to completion: 4 months from research to implementation
Format: responsive web
My role: sole designer
Result: design longevity
The problem to solve
Lynda.com (by then acquired by LinkedIn) aimed to offer a packaged set of video training content, curated to be consumed in order.
The goal for learners was to transform their careers by completing the course package, addressing the growing traction for similar competitive products. The idea had been titled Learning Paths.
Product principles
User research staff conducted eight interviews with non-members of Lynda.com, resulting in foundational research that produced a series of product principles to inform the design.
Clear Outcome Value: New graduates and career changers found significant value in a curated linear presentation, leading to a clearly stated outcome.
Instructor Quality: Learners expected instructor snippets to decide if the presentation style met their quality expectations.
Time Commitment: All participants wanted to know the anticipated time commitment, stating they would accept a commitment close to 60 hours.
User stories
To align product and engineering teams, I organized a generative hero flow workshop to create user stories.
We identified needs based on business requirements and user research, then developed sc hero flows for both existing and prospective users.
These flows were documented in a spreadsheet and diagram, forming the basis for drafting user stories that guided the design process.
Wireframes and IA
The project started with eager engineering resources ready for designs. To unblock them, I quickly created wireframes and organized them into an application map. This map included all entry points and subsequent screens, establishing our information architecture.
With this assets in hand, engineers could start backend development while the front-end specifications were still being worked on.
Modules
Next, I focused on designing the individual screen modules, aligning each with our product principles - to guide users toward their learning goals.
One challenge was crafting a compelling header for the Learning Path page, where most membership decisions were expected. To create a familiar experience for both Lynda.com and LinkedIn users, I opted for a simple, color-based header.
Additionally, I designed the Learning Path “card” to enhance content discovery and motivate users to complete their paths.
To embody the ideals set forth in our research-generated product principles, I aimed for each screen to encourage and guide users toward their goals.
Final designs
Our final designs relied on simple hierarchy delivered by way of typography and a grid of cards each representing the different products.
Learning Path full page before adoption
Learning Path with course preview before adoption
Course opened within Learning path
Course page with transcript shown
Learnings
The Learning Paths project was a challenging endeavor but ultimately a success that have stood the test of time:
As a product, Learning Paths had a presence from the top navigation through the entire user journey until a course was completed. This demanded a holistic design approach, considering the entire platform and ensuring a seamless user experience from one page to another.
Leading a new team taught me several valuable leadership techniques that I carried into future projects, especially the workshop technique i used to generate user stories.
The final version for Lynda.com shipped in the spring of 2016. Although many other designers have modified the experience since, the new versions all look notably similar to my initial design.
My proposed design (2015)
Today’s design (2024)
