LiTulingo:
Virtual Lithuanian school for adults
RESPONSIVE WED DESIGN
Project Overview
CHALLENGE
Currently being a small business and teaching one-on-one or group classes, client wants to attract more students and more teachers and create a platform offering not only classes by language level, but also offer other features like book club, video lessons, lectures, lessons by conversation topics, etc. Lack of a website is limiting reaching out to a wider audience and business growth.
SOLUTION
Design a website to attract more students wanting to learn Lithuanian and offer various methods to achieve their language goals.
MY INVOLVEMENT
80 hours of comprehensive design work. For this solo project I had to design responsive website for Virtual Lithuanian School for adults.
This work involved: creating a research plan, conducting secondary and competitive research, conducting user interviews, developing user personas, defining the mood board, organizing information through task flows, synthesizing research, creating lo-fi and hi-fi wireframes, conducting usability testing, revising hi-fi wireframes and prototype.
Research
RESEARCH FINDINGS
I conducted market research to see to understand language teaching industry and what competitors offer and at what price points. Since there are only a few websites and apps curated for adults wanting to learn Lithuanian language, good analysis subject was Lithuanians language schools for kids or other language schools that have tools and features beneficial and applicable learning Lithuanian.
Direct competitors: Kalba, Alfabet.
Indirect competitors: Intellectus, Virtual Lithuanian school PASAKA for kids.
My assumption was features offered by other language teaching websites would be beneficial and needful for adults wanting to learn Lithuanian language.
To validate assumption I gathered more information through user interviews.
User Interviews
DISCOVERING PAINT POINTS
By understanding the needs, preferences and motivations of target audience, we can tailor website content, design and messaging to effectively engage and convert potential clients. I interviewed people who want to learn Lithuanian and had experience learning it through group or individual classes to get a deeper understanding on the topic. Interviewed 5 students, ages 25-45 y.o. Based on gathered information I created Affinity map.
QUESTIONS I ASKED:
why students are learning Lithuanian language
What methods to learn Lithuanian language students are using?
How students find ways and methods to learn Lithuanian language?
What are the motives of choosing certain learning methods?
What are advantages and disadvantages of used learning methods?
What tools and methods students are lacking?
How used learning methods fits in students’ daily lives?
AFFINITY MAP
INSIGHTS
PERCEPTION OF LEARNING AND LEARNING PROCESS: Lithuanian is considered as beautiful, but really difficult to learn language.
GOALS: The main goal of the users is to be able to hold conversation and to communicate with friends and family. The main focus is spoken language - vocabulary, ability to build sentences and pronunciation.
GROUP LESSONS: Group class setting is favored due to being more interactive and organic learning experience. The biggest disadvantage of it is lack of individual attention
INDIVIDUAL LESSONS: One-on-one lessons are considered more focused on the individual learning needs (especially pronunciation), nonetheless it is also perceived as being more repetitious and dry.
PRE-RECORDED LESSONS: The biggest advantage of the pre-recorded lessons is availability to learn while on the go and flexibility. However, users express concern of missing out the advantages of live classes (motivational aspect and immediate correction of mistakes).
CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING TUTOUR: The main criteria choosing tutor are reviews, price and teaching style.
OPPORTUNTIES: Other mentioned methods and tools users considered as potentially beneficial: recommendations of Lithuanian songs, TV shows, vocabulary recorder, quizzlets, pre-recorded pronunciation lessons, vocabulary games with pictures and class bookings.
User Personas
A REPRESENTATIONS OF USERS
Concluding user interviews, I synthesized findings and created user persona representing target market. This strategic move empowers to pinpoint target audience precisely: Who gonna use website? Understanding Lithuanian language learners, their habits, and broader interests guides design discussions in subsequent stages.
Information Architecture
HOW SHOULD WE ORGANIZE?
Based on my research insights and personas, I created an application map to organize the screens in a way that would be logical and intuitive for our user.
User story. Emily started dating with Lithuanian guy and she is very motivated to learn his native language. However, the last time she was learning other language than English was at school. She feels anxious and wants to try the platform before committing for the semester.
Lo-Fi Wireframes
To initiate user testing, I crafted a lo-fi prototype. This is not only ensured valuable insights from user interactions, but also played a pivotal role into refining and elevating the original sketches into a more intentional and refined design.
HOME PAGE
REGISTRATION
CONFIRMATION
GROUP CLASSES
Design
CREATING A BRAND
My goal was to develop a strong and memorable brand identity for the Virtual Lithuanian School, aligning with its mission of providing inclusive and transformative learning experiences for adults. I wanted position VSL as a modern, inclusive, and community-driven emphasizing transformative power of education in personal and professional growth.
After user interviews I wanted to develop a brand personality that reflects qualities like approachability, professionalism, and innovation.
Crafting a unique and symbolic logo I incorporating subtle element from Lithuanian culture (flag colors) for authenticity. I build a distinctive color palette centered around a calming green, complemented by secondary colors that enhance visual appeal. I selected typography that communicates the brand's personality—professional, yet approachable.
Hi-Fi Wireframes
Before diving into the creation of high-fidelity wireframes, it was crucial to reflect on the insights gathered during the user interviews addressing user pain points and enhancing the interface's usability. The low-fidelity wireframes have served as a blueprint, outlining the structural elements and basic functionalities of the design. The goal of this project stage was to create a pixel-perfect representation of the final product, ensuring that the user interface aligns seamlessly with the established brand identity while maintaining an intuitive and delightful user experience.
HOME PAGE
REGISTRATION
CONFIRMATION
GROUP CLASSES
User Testing
RESULTS
I tested the first version of the prototype with 5 users to determine the necessary revisions to make the overall experience more intuitive and pleasant. I wanted with usability test:
Evaluate if the users can easily find and schedule group classes.
Learn if users can easily set up individual trial lesson.
Learn if users can easily find and buy pre-recorded lessons package.
To synthesize my findings from testing, I took all my notes and observations and created an affinity map. This helped me to better digest the different patterns observed while testing and pin point where revisions need to be prioritized to improve the usability of the design.
WORKED
IDEAS
CHANGE
QUESTIONS
ACCESABLE COLORS
INTUITIVE SCHEDULING
Closing Thoughts
The journey from initial research and ideation to the development of high-fidelity wireframes has been a collaborative effort guided by user-centric principles. The emphasis on understanding the needs of the Virtual Lithuanian School’s audience has driven design decisions, resulting in a thoughtful and intuitive user experience.
The incorporation of a calming green color palette, rooted in cultural relevance, enhances the visual appeal while fostering a welcoming atmosphere for adult learners.
The high-fidelity wireframes served as a bridge between concept and realization, offering my client a detailed glimpse into the final product.
This project opens up new markets and customer segments to my client. However, the success of this UX design endeavor hinges on an ongoing commitment to user feedback, adaptability, and a user-centered mindset. By staying attuned to user needs and industry trends, the Virtual Lithuanian School for Adults can ensure its digital platform remains relevant and effective. This case study exemplifies the fusion of creativity, empathy, and strategic thinking in crafting a compelling and purposeful user experience.
Future Roadmap
Create a responsive web design was the primary focus of this project. In 80 hours, despite design constraints, I'm proud of the comprehensive and creative work I've accomplished. However, there are a few concepts I’d like to design and test after testing the first version of a web.
Develop a mobile application to provide on-the-go access to course materials and communication features, enhancing the flexibility of the learning experience.
Based on user feedback, implement iterative design updates to enhance the user interface and address any usability issues.
Introduce interactive features such as discussion forums, live webinars, and collaborative projects to foster a sense of community among adult learners.
