Redesigning the learning experience using AI for youth with disabilities with a focus on interactivity and inclusivity
Redesigning the learning experience using AI for youth with disabilities with a focus on interactivity and inclusivity
🏆 Won “Best in the show” title
Project overview
Project overview
What is Transition Discoveries
What is Transition Discoveries
Transition Discoveries is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting youth with disabilities as they navigate the shift from high school to higher education and employment. Their mission is to create an inclusive platform that provides personalized resources and guidance for youth, their families, and professionals.
Transition Discoveries is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting youth with disabilities as they navigate the shift from high school to higher education and employment. Their mission is to create an inclusive platform that provides personalized resources and guidance for youth, their families, and professionals.
As part of a design team, I helped redesign their existing website to make it more user-friendly, accessible, and emotionally engaging.
As part of a design team, I helped redesign their existing website to make it more user-friendly, accessible, and emotionally engaging.
My Role
My Role
UX Designer + Researcher
UX Designer + Researcher
Platform
Platform
Education
Education
Client
Client
Transition Discoveries
Transition Discoveries
Timeline
Timeline
18 Weeks
18 Weeks
Team
Team
Kanak Sahu
Karthiga Bhavani
Varuun Reddy
Arati Ghimire (Me)
Kanak Sahu
Karthiga Bhavani
Varuun Reddy
Arati Ghimire (Me)
Tools
Tools
Figma, FigJam, Zoom, Google Docs, Notion
Figma, FigJam, Zoom, Google Docs, Notion
Current Platform Challenges
Current Platform Challenges
🧑🤝🧑 Youth with disabilities (ages 13–20)
🧑🤝🧑 Youth with disabilities (ages 13–20)
These users are navigating a critical life phase — moving from high school into higher education or employment — and require support that is clear, personalized, and empowering.
These users are navigating a critical life phase — moving from high school into higher education or employment — and require support that is clear, personalized, and empowering.
🧭 Difficult Navigation
🧭 Difficult Navigation
Dense layouts and unclear paths made it hard for users—especially those with cognitive challenges—to find information easily.
Dense layouts and unclear paths made it hard for users—especially those with cognitive challenges—to find information easily.
🎯 Lack of Personalization & Interactivity
🎯 Lack of Personalization & Interactivity
The current experience does not cater to the wide range of users, making the experience feel generic and less engaging.
The current experience does not cater to the wide range of users, making the experience feel generic and less engaging.
Guiding Question
Guiding Question
How might we transform this platform into a meaningful tool that empowers youth with disabilities to navigate their futures with confidence and clarity?
How might we transform this platform into a meaningful tool that empowers youth with disabilities to navigate their futures with confidence and clarity?
Tackling the Challenges Through Design
Tackling the Challenges Through Design
Here’s an overview of the key solutions we implemented before diving into the full design process.
Here’s an overview of the key solutions we implemented before diving into the full design process.
Solution 1 - Homepage Redesign at a Glance
Solution 1 - Homepage Redesign at a Glance
🔴 Painpoint
🔴 Painpoint
Cluttered homepage with overlapping elements
Confusing layout for users with varied abilities
Low engagement and unclear next steps
Cluttered homepage with overlapping elements
Confusing layout for users with varied abilities
Low engagement and unclear next steps
🟢 Solution
🟢 Solution
Simplified layout to reduce cognitive load
Clear messaging and visual hierarchy
Added prominent CTA to guide user action
Simplified layout to reduce cognitive load
Clear messaging and visual hierarchy
Added prominent CTA to guide user action
Homepage Before Redesign
Homepage Before Redesign
Final Design Demo
Final Design Demo
Solution 2 - Discovery Board Redesign
Solution 2 - Discovery Board Redesign
🔴 Painpoint
🔴 Painpoint
Complex and inconsistent layout
Difficult for users to navigate and access modules
Missing engaging elements to keep users motivated
Complex and inconsistent layout
Difficult for users to navigate and access modules
Missing engaging elements to keep users motivated
🟢 Solution
🟢 Solution
Improved readability with clearer layout
Structured content around functionality for intuitive navigation
Added Goals, Badges, and a Forum to increase engagement
Improved readability with clearer layout
Structured content around functionality for intuitive navigation
Added Goals, Badges, and a Forum to increase engagement
Discovery Board Before Redesign
Discovery Board Before Redesign
Final Design Demo
Final Design Demo
Solution 3 - Motivation & Collaboration Features
Solution 3 - Motivation & Collaboration Features
🔴 Painpoint
🔴 Painpoint
Clients requested an AI-driven motivational companion
Needed ways to foster collaboration among students and mentors
Clients requested an AI-driven motivational companion
Needed ways to foster collaboration among students and mentors
🟢 Solution
🟢 Solution
Added conversational AI to support users through module completion
Introduced floating notes for easier content capture and reflection
Added conversational AI to support users through module completion
Introduced floating notes for easier content capture and reflection
Final Design Demo - Resources
Final Design Demo - Resources
AI Campanion and Taking Notes
AI Campanion and Taking Notes
Result and Impact
Result and Impact
Accelerated task efficiency by 1.5× — reducing completion time by 35%, increasing success rates by 40%, and boosting satisfaction by over 50%.
Accelerated task efficiency by 1.5× — reducing completion time by 35%, increasing success rates by 40%, and boosting satisfaction by over 50%.
Behind every intuitive experience is a thoughtful process — here’s how we arrived at ours.
Behind every intuitive experience is a thoughtful process — here’s how we arrived at ours.
Process Overview
Process Overview
📌 Phase 1: Research & Analysis
📌 Phase 1: Research & Analysis
Focused on understanding users, aligning with stakeholders, and uncovering key insights to inform design decisions.
Focused on understanding users, aligning with stakeholders, and uncovering key insights to inform design decisions.
🎨 Phase 2: Design, Testing & Handover
🎨 Phase 2: Design, Testing & Handover
Turned research into action through iterative design, continuous validation, and stakeholder collaboration.
Turned research into action through iterative design, continuous validation, and stakeholder collaboration.
Research Foundation
Research Foundation
To ensure our design decisions were grounded in real user needs and industry context, we began with a robust research phase. This included literature reviews, user surveys, focus groups, and early evaluations to identify usability challenges and opportunities.
To ensure our design decisions were grounded in real user needs and industry context, we began with a robust research phase. This included literature reviews, user surveys, focus groups, and early evaluations to identify usability challenges and opportunities.
Let's join forces and create design magic!
Together, we'll make pixels dance and users smile.😎
Let's join forces and create design magic!
Together, we'll make pixels dance and users smile.😎