PROJECT OVERVIEW
ROLE
Lead UX Designer
YEAR
2024
TOOLS
Figma, FigJam, UX Pilot
METHODS
User Interviews, Competitive Analysis, Personas, User Flows, Wireframing, Visual Design, Dev Handoff
The U.S. Navy needed a scalable, user-friendly learning platform to train personnel through digital coursework. There was no existing system in place — our team was tasked with designing the entire experience from the ground up.
I led the UX and UI design efforts, working closely with stakeholders and developers. This case study showcases the intended experience and design direction for the platform, independent of the final build that deviated from the original vision.
2 WEEKS TO BUILD A FULLY FUNCTIONAL LMS
At the start of the project, there was no existing platform — no legacy system, no templates, no prior structure. The Navy had a clear objective: to deliver digital training through an online course platform, but there was nothing built yet.
We were starting from zero, and the need was urgent. The client expected to see a functional, high-fidelity prototype within two weeks to align stakeholders and move forward with development. This meant I had to rapidly define the information architecture, user flows, and interface design — while still ensuring the product would be scalable, accessible, and easy to use across a wide range of users.
The biggest challenge wasn’t just speed — it was building something meaningful and functional without cutting corners on the user experience.
Main Goals
Design a modern, responsive learning platform that could scale across the Navy’s training programs. The system needed to serve multiple user types while remaining intuitive, accessible, and consistent across devices.
Instructors needed tools to create and manage courses, including modules, resources, and quizzes, with minimal friction.
Students needed a clear way to enroll, track their progress, complete assignments, and stay organized throughout their learning experience.
Admins required access to user management, reporting, and high-level oversight of course activity and performance.
RESEARCH
To better understand the expectations for an online learning experience, I began by analyzing several established LMS platforms including Canvas, Moodle, and Blackboard. I focused on their core user flows—such as course enrollment, module navigation, and assessment submission—to identify both best practices and common UX pitfalls.
In parallel, I spoke with internal team members familiar with Navy training workflows to gather insights on real-world needs and constraints. These conversations helped clarify what instructors would need to build and manage courses effectively, and what students would expect from a streamlined, no-friction learning experience.
This combination of competitive analysis and stakeholder input helped shape the foundational structure of the platform and ensured that our design decisions aligned with both user expectations and organizational goals.
A visual overview of how existing LMS platforms structure core user flows and UI elements.
DEFINE
After gathering insights from internal conversations and reviewing common patterns in existing LMS platforms, I developed a set of user personas to anchor the design process around real user needs and behaviors. These personas helped ensure that every design decision was guided by the goals, pain points, and day-to-day context of our key user types.
I focused on three core roles:
Instructor: responsible for creating and managing courses
Student: actively completing training modules and quizzes
Admin: overseeing user management and system performance
Each persona highlighted unique needs, frustrations, and goals. This clarity allowed me to streamline user flows and prioritize features that mattered most, especially under tight deadlines.
One of several user personas representing the core needs and challenges of Navy users using the training platform.
IDEATION
With a short timeline and no existing platform to build on, I focused on quickly translating user needs into clear, structured interface concepts. I created user flows and grayscale wireframes rapidly using AI methods like UX Pilot and FigJam AI to explore layout ideas, prioritize information hierarchy, and define the core flows for students, instructors, and admins. These early visuals helped validate key decisions before moving into high-fidelity UI design, ensuring that the structure aligned with both user expectations and functional requirements.
User flow diagram illustrating core actions of both students and instructors.
Early wireframes exploring key layouts for the course landing page and instructor course builder.
VISUAL DESIGN
Building on the grayscale wireframes, I moved into high-fidelity design to bring structure, clarity, and a polished visual system to the platform. The visual language was guided by Navy branding — embracing flat design with a strong blue palette and clean typography to evoke professionalism and trust.
Each screen was carefully designed to support specific user needs. For students, I focused on simplicity and clarity: clean layouts, progress indicators, and easy access to modules and assignments. For instructors, the goal was efficiency — giving them quick access to tools for building lessons, uploading resources, and previewing content. UI components like navigation, buttons, and tables were kept consistent to create a seamless experience across all roles.
High-fidelity mockups showcasing key screens for students and instructors across the learning platform.
SUCCESS METRICS & REFLECTIONS
This project was an intense and fast-paced challenge — going from zero to a fully designed LMS platform in under two weeks. Despite the tight timeline, I’m proud of the clarity, structure, and user-centered decisions that shaped the final design system. It strengthened my ability to move quickly using AI-driven methods without compromising quality, to advocate for usability in complex environments, and to design confidently for multiple user roles within a scalable platform.
Given the accelerated timeline, we focused on defining success metrics early to guide design decisions and ensure stakeholder alignment.
Clear, role-specific user flows for instructors, students, and admins.
Scalability and accessibility, ensuring the system could support varied training programs.
Design system clarity, with reusable components to speed development and maintain consistency.
Stakeholder alignment, achieved through early validation of wireframes and user flows within two weeks.
These benchmarks helped ensure the design was actionable, user-centered, and implementation-ready despite the condensed schedule.
Although the final implementation evolved post-handoff due to new feedback and shifting requirements, this project reinforced my ability to design and deliver a complete, scalable system under tight timelines. It sharpened my ability to prioritize user needs, move quickly without sacrificing clarity, and collaborate cross-functionally — even in high-pressure, fast-moving environments.
THANKS FOR READING
If you’d like to learn more about this project or talk about working together, reach out here.
BACK
PROJECT OVERVIEW
ROLE
Lead UX Designer
YEAR
2024
TOOLS
Figma, FigJam, UX Pilot
METHODS
User Interviews, Competitive Analysis, Personas, User Flows, Wireframing, Visual Design, Dev Handoff
The U.S. Navy needed a scalable, user-friendly learning platform to train personnel through digital coursework. There was no existing system in place — our team was tasked with designing the entire experience from the ground up.
I led the UX and UI design efforts, working closely with stakeholders and developers. This case study showcases the intended experience and design direction for the platform, independent of the final build that deviated from the original vision.
2 WEEKS TO BUILD A FULLY FUNCTIONAL LMS
At the start of the project, there was no existing platform — no legacy system, no templates, no prior structure. The Navy had a clear objective: to deliver digital training through an online course platform, but there was nothing built yet.
We were starting from zero, and the need was urgent. The client expected to see a functional, high-fidelity prototype within two weeks to align stakeholders and move forward with development. This meant I had to rapidly define the information architecture, user flows, and interface design — while still ensuring the product would be scalable, accessible, and easy to use across a wide range of users.
The biggest challenge wasn’t just speed — it was building something meaningful and functional without cutting corners on the user experience.
Main Goals
Design a modern, responsive learning platform that could scale across the Navy’s training programs. The system needed to serve multiple user types while remaining intuitive, accessible, and consistent across devices.
Instructors needed tools to create and manage courses, including modules, resources, and quizzes, with minimal friction.
Students needed a clear way to enroll, track their progress, complete assignments, and stay organized throughout their learning experience.
Admins required access to user management, reporting, and high-level oversight of course activity and performance.
RESEARCH
To better understand the expectations for an online learning experience, I began by analyzing several established LMS platforms including Canvas, Moodle, and Blackboard. I focused on their core user flows—such as course enrollment, module navigation, and assessment submission—to identify both best practices and common UX pitfalls.
In parallel, I spoke with internal team members familiar with Navy training workflows to gather insights on real-world needs and constraints. These conversations helped clarify what instructors would need to build and manage courses effectively, and what students would expect from a streamlined, no-friction learning experience.
This combination of competitive analysis and stakeholder input helped shape the foundational structure of the platform and ensured that our design decisions aligned with both user expectations and organizational goals.
A visual overview of how existing LMS platforms structure core user flows and UI elements.
DEFINE
After gathering insights from internal conversations and reviewing common patterns in existing LMS platforms, I developed a set of user personas to anchor the design process around real user needs and behaviors. These personas helped ensure that every design decision was guided by the goals, pain points, and day-to-day context of our key user types.
I focused on three core roles:
Instructor: responsible for creating and managing courses
Student: actively completing training modules and quizzes
Admin: overseeing user management and system performance
Each persona highlighted unique needs, frustrations, and goals. This clarity allowed me to streamline user flows and prioritize features that mattered most, especially under tight deadlines.
One of several user personas representing the core needs and challenges of Navy users using the training platform.
IDEATION
With a short timeline and no existing platform to build on, I focused on quickly translating user needs into clear, structured interface concepts. I created user flows and grayscale wireframes rapidly using AI methods like UX Pilot and FigJam AI to explore layout ideas, prioritize information hierarchy, and define the core flows for students, instructors, and admins. These early visuals helped validate key decisions before moving into high-fidelity UI design, ensuring that the structure aligned with both user expectations and functional requirements.
User flow diagram illustrating core actions of both students and instructors.
Early wireframes exploring key layouts for the course landing page and instructor course builder.
VISUAL DESIGN
Building on the grayscale wireframes, I moved into high-fidelity design to bring structure, clarity, and a polished visual system to the platform. The visual language was guided by Navy branding — embracing flat design with a strong blue palette and clean typography to evoke professionalism and trust.
Each screen was carefully designed to support specific user needs. For students, I focused on simplicity and clarity: clean layouts, progress indicators, and easy access to modules and assignments. For instructors, the goal was efficiency — giving them quick access to tools for building lessons, uploading resources, and previewing content. UI components like navigation, buttons, and tables were kept consistent to create a seamless experience across all roles.
High-fidelity mockups showcasing key screens for students and instructors across the learning platform.
SUCCESS METRICS & REFLECTIONS
This project was an intense and fast-paced challenge — going from zero to a fully designed LMS platform in under two weeks. Despite the tight timeline, I’m proud of the clarity, structure, and user-centered decisions that shaped the final design system. It strengthened my ability to move quickly using AI-driven methods without compromising quality, to advocate for usability in complex environments, and to design confidently for multiple user roles within a scalable platform.
Given the accelerated timeline, we focused on defining success metrics early to guide design decisions and ensure stakeholder alignment.
Clear, role-specific user flows for instructors, students, and admins.
Scalability and accessibility, ensuring the system could support varied training programs.
Design system clarity, with reusable components to speed development and maintain consistency.
Stakeholder alignment, achieved through early validation of wireframes and user flows within two weeks.
These benchmarks helped ensure the design was actionable, user-centered, and implementation-ready despite the condensed schedule.
Although the final implementation evolved post-handoff due to new feedback and shifting requirements, this project reinforced my ability to design and deliver a complete, scalable system under tight timelines. It sharpened my ability to prioritize user needs, move quickly without sacrificing clarity, and collaborate cross-functionally — even in high-pressure, fast-moving environments.
THANKS FOR READING
If you’d like to learn more about this project or talk about working together, reach out here.
BACK
PROJECT OVERVIEW
ROLE
Lead UX Designer
YEAR
2024
TOOLS
Figma, FigJam, UX Pilot
METHODS
User Interviews, Competitive Analysis, Personas, User Flows, Wireframing, Visual Design, Dev Handoff
The U.S. Navy needed a scalable, user-friendly learning platform to train personnel through digital coursework. There was no existing system in place — our team was tasked with designing the entire experience from the ground up.
I led the UX and UI design efforts, working closely with stakeholders and developers. This case study showcases the intended experience and design direction for the platform, independent of the final build that deviated from the original vision.
2 WEEKS TO BUILD A FULLY FUNCTIONAL LMS
At the start of the project, there was no existing platform — no legacy system, no templates, no prior structure. The Navy had a clear objective: to deliver digital training through an online course platform, but there was nothing built yet.
We were starting from zero, and the need was urgent. The client expected to see a functional, high-fidelity prototype within two weeks to align stakeholders and move forward with development. This meant I had to rapidly define the information architecture, user flows, and interface design — while still ensuring the product would be scalable, accessible, and easy to use across a wide range of users.
The biggest challenge wasn’t just speed — it was building something meaningful and functional without cutting corners on the user experience.
Main Goals
Design a modern, responsive learning platform that could scale across the Navy’s training programs. The system needed to serve multiple user types while remaining intuitive, accessible, and consistent across devices.
Instructors needed tools to create and manage courses, including modules, resources, and quizzes, with minimal friction.
Students needed a clear way to enroll, track their progress, complete assignments, and stay organized throughout their learning experience.
Admins required access to user management, reporting, and high-level oversight of course activity and performance.
RESEARCH
To better understand the expectations for an online learning experience, I began by analyzing several established LMS platforms including Canvas, Moodle, and Blackboard. I focused on their core user flows—such as course enrollment, module navigation, and assessment submission—to identify both best practices and common UX pitfalls.
In parallel, I spoke with internal team members familiar with Navy training workflows to gather insights on real-world needs and constraints. These conversations helped clarify what instructors would need to build and manage courses effectively, and what students would expect from a streamlined, no-friction learning experience.
This combination of competitive analysis and stakeholder input helped shape the foundational structure of the platform and ensured that our design decisions aligned with both user expectations and organizational goals.
A visual overview of how existing LMS platforms structure core user flows and UI elements.
DEFINE
After gathering insights from internal conversations and reviewing common patterns in existing LMS platforms, I developed a set of user personas to anchor the design process around real user needs and behaviors. These personas helped ensure that every design decision was guided by the goals, pain points, and day-to-day context of our key user types.
I focused on three core roles:
Instructor: responsible for creating and managing courses
Student: actively completing training modules and quizzes
Admin: overseeing user management and system performance
Each persona highlighted unique needs, frustrations, and goals. This clarity allowed me to streamline user flows and prioritize features that mattered most, especially under tight deadlines.
One of several user personas representing the core needs and challenges of Navy users using the training platform.
IDEATION
With a short timeline and no existing platform to build on, I focused on quickly translating user needs into clear, structured interface concepts. I created user flows and grayscale wireframes rapidly using AI methods like UX Pilot and FigJam AI to explore layout ideas, prioritize information hierarchy, and define the core flows for students, instructors, and admins. These early visuals helped validate key decisions before moving into high-fidelity UI design, ensuring that the structure aligned with both user expectations and functional requirements.
User flow diagram illustrating core actions of both students and instructors.
Early wireframes exploring key layouts for the course landing page and instructor course builder.
VISUAL DESIGN
Building on the grayscale wireframes, I moved into high-fidelity design to bring structure, clarity, and a polished visual system to the platform. The visual language was guided by Navy branding — embracing flat design with a strong blue palette and clean typography to evoke professionalism and trust.
Each screen was carefully designed to support specific user needs. For students, I focused on simplicity and clarity: clean layouts, progress indicators, and easy access to modules and assignments. For instructors, the goal was efficiency — giving them quick access to tools for building lessons, uploading resources, and previewing content. UI components like navigation, buttons, and tables were kept consistent to create a seamless experience across all roles.
High-fidelity mockups showcasing key screens for students and instructors across the learning platform.
SUCCESS METRICS & REFLECTIONS
This project was an intense and fast-paced challenge — going from zero to a fully designed LMS platform in under two weeks. Despite the tight timeline, I’m proud of the clarity, structure, and user-centered decisions that shaped the final design system. It strengthened my ability to move quickly using AI-driven methods without compromising quality, to advocate for usability in complex environments, and to design confidently for multiple user roles within a scalable platform.
Given the accelerated timeline, we focused on defining success metrics early to guide design decisions and ensure stakeholder alignment.
Clear, role-specific user flows for instructors, students, and admins.
Scalability and accessibility, ensuring the system could support varied training programs.
Design system clarity, with reusable components to speed development and maintain consistency.
Stakeholder alignment, achieved through early validation of wireframes and user flows within two weeks.
These benchmarks helped ensure the design was actionable, user-centered, and implementation-ready despite the condensed schedule.
Although the final implementation evolved post-handoff due to new feedback and shifting requirements, this project reinforced my ability to design and deliver a complete, scalable system under tight timelines. It sharpened my ability to prioritize user needs, move quickly without sacrificing clarity, and collaborate cross-functionally — even in high-pressure, fast-moving environments.
THANKS FOR READING
If you’d like to learn more about this project or talk about working together, reach out here.