Project LAGI
Engaging NEET(Not in Employment, Education, or Training) Youth with Tailored Learning Management System
Background
Project LAGI, initiated by 10:10 Media Production, aims to create an inclusive Learning Management System (LMS) that offers engaging, customized course content.
LAGI serves both individual learners and organizations. Learners use it to access courses and track progress, while organizations monitor performance and manage learning programs.
In our kick-off meeting with 10:10 Media Production, we learned that Project LAGI would first be launched for corporate clients—specifically, social enterprises supporting youth-at-risk, especially NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) youth.
My Role
This is a group project.
UX Designer
User Research, UX Design, Interaction Design, Motion Design, Prototyping, Usability Testing
Project Duration
3 Weeks(August - September 2024)
Platform
Desktop, Tablet
Goals
Given the need to design for both individual learners and corporate users, we aligned with the client and decided to focus on designing the individual learner experience.
After this alignment, our goals became clear:
Create a LMS user platform that can engage the target audience to stay on the platform;
Boost course completion rates by creating a streamlined, engaging learning experience.
User Interview & Field Study
Going into this project, my colleagues and I constantly reminded ourselves not to let societal stereotypes shape our understanding of users or their behavior.
This mindset guided us during our field study at a YMCA Youth Support (YAR) program session and interviews with the students who participated.
Despite the short interview time, we quickly built trust with the students, allowing us to gather honest insights—not only about what frustrates them with Singapore’s mainstream education system, but also about what can truly spark their passion for learning.
Additionally, we interviewed volunteers and mentors from Salvation Army and AWWA to gain a more holistic point of view on the behaviour and mentality of our users.
Based on the research results, we embarked our journey to deliver design solutions, aiming to tackle the pain points and achieve the goals reflected by the key insight uncovered.
Key Insight 1
Contrary to the common stereotype, our NEET interviewees demonstrated their interest in learning during the interviews. But what deter them from continuing pursuing studying within the mainstream Singapore educational system was that they found the traditional subjects taught in schools irrelevant to them.
Most NEETs express a strong desire for financial independence. They struggle to understand how highly academic subjects, such as mathematics or literature, will help them secure employment quickly.
Design Solution 1
Project LAGI provides non-academic courses that align with the target users' interests. We aim to ensure that the first content users see upon logging into the platform is directly relevant to their interests, giving them a reason to keep exploring.
To achieve this, we designed an onboarding page in the registration flow to guide users in expressing their preferences. This step also helps the system record relevant data so that, after registration and login, the homepage displays courses and learning resources that match the user's preferences.
Registration On-boarding Page
Key Insight 2
Many of our NEET interviewees found the traditional school learning experience unengaging because they struggled to see any tangible outcomes from their efforts.
This sentiment is closely tied to their strong motivation for financial independence. They seek clear evidence of how a course will directly support their career goals upon completion, as this clarity is crucial for them to commit time and effort to even start the learning process.
Design Solution 2
To help users quickly see the career benefits of LAGI’s courses, we designed the homepage to feature recommended courses organized by occupation.
This way, even before signing up, users can easily understand how the courses align with their career goals and how they can positively impact their job prospects.
On the course details page, we included detailed information about the course structure, skills to be gained, and certification upon completion. This design choice aims to provide users with a transparent view of both the effort required and the tangible benefits they can expect, helping them make informed decisions.
Course Page
Key Insight 3
Contrary to our initial assumptions, users expressed a strong appreciation for opportunities to engage and communicate with other learners during their learning journey.
“I want to ask questions also, but people will
say why you ask stupid questions like that.”
However, many are hesitant to ask questions or participate in discussions in a public setting, such as a classroom, for fear of being judged, often labeled as asking 'stupid questions.' This reluctance makes them even more averse to being forced to ask questions.
Design Solution 3
Forum - Make A Post Page
To ensure a safe and positive environment, the post button will be disabled to prevent submission if any inappropriate content is automatically detected.
Forum - Make A Post Page (Error Message)
We implemented a private messaging feature that allows users to connect with peer learners, instructors, and mentors—who may be volunteers or alumni, depending on the context.
Forum - Messaging through All Users
Forum - Messaging through Private Messaging Tab
Another key insight emerged from volunteer and mentor feedback, as well as observations from our YAR session field study: NEET youth tend to become easily distracted during learning.
To address this, I chose to limit access to the private messaging feature by confining it to the Forum section, helping create a focused and uninterrupted learning experience.
Key Insight 4
Users did express that certain very obvious applications of gamification from their learning experience, like mini games, didn't really spark their interest as they were very aware the mechanism nature of these gamification elements.
Design Solution 4
In the UI design, by using a more vibrant and lively colour palette compared to the typical calm and cool tones found in LMS, along with incorporating more decorative animations, I aim to achieve a cheerful, yet not childish, design style to better attract users.
Loading Page - Welcoming Blob
404 Error Page - Awkward Blob
Logged-in User Dashboard - Encouraging Blob
Regarding the use of gamification, subtle features like a badge reward system are incorporated to recognize users' learning efforts and boost motivation.
After completing a lesson, users can either proceed to the next lesson via the 'Next Lesson' button or return to the Dashboard, where a Badge Reminder displays their current progress and how close they are to earning their next badge.
Usability Test and Reiteration
We evaluated the design solutions through usability tests. Given the limited timeline and the nature of the prototype, metrics like engagement and bounce rates couldn't be measured. Instead, the focus of the test was on assessing overall ease of use and gathering insights on users' sentiments during the experience and their perceptions of the product.
The good news is...
Based on our ovservation and users' post-test feedback, the overall ease of use met users' expected standards for an LMS product.
...But there's always room for improvements
During onboarding, 25% of users reported that, despite not finding topics of interest, they selected an option just to move forward.
This behaviour stemmed from a reluctance to manually input their interests and a lack of clarity about the purpose of sharing their preferences.
In our revised onboarding page, we added a brief message to clarify the purpose of collecting interests.
On the setting page, we enable users to update their interests even after the initial interests registration during on-boarding.
When tasked with completing the quiz in the usability test, users had trouble with certain question types, such as Drag and Drop, even with instruction provided.
Quiz Page - Drag and Drop Question Type
Users were able to complete familiar question types, such as multiple-choice and matching questions, with ease.
To enhance clarity, we implemented a mini video tutorial that provides direct guidance on how to complete the question.
What should come next?
As LAGI is still in the concept development stage, our design currently serves prototyping purposes, with full development not yet close to product launch.
However, based on this design version, I propose that, upon launch, tracking and analyzing following metrics will play an instrumental role in guiding future product improvements and optimizations:
User Satisfaction Metrics
Ratings for courses and overall experience satisfaction scores provide qualitative insight.
Net Promoter Score (NPS)
Measures users' willingness to recommend LAGI. Based on user research, I determined that peer word-of-mouth can have a significant impact, especially in increasing user awareness and interest.
Engagement with Social&Community Features
Our design invested significant effort in developing the Forum section. Tracking the percentage of users who post, comment, or view forum will be crucial in assessing whether this should remain a key focus in the future.
Messaging Usage Rate
Measures how often users interact through private messaging features.
Learning Progress Metrics
Quiz and Test Scores
Average scores can reveal content difficulty or instructional effectiveness.
Time to Completion
Considering the short attention span of the target users, measuring average time users spend to complete a course can help greatly in evaluating pacing and course structure.
Bounce rate & Drop-off Points
Identifying points where users stop progressing highlights areas for potential content or design adjustments. Understanding thoroughly the causes of drop-off will be essential for driving up retention and return rates.
This was my first client project, and it was a blast working with Edmund, the CEO of 10:10 Media Production. We had the kind of freedom and trust that every UX designer dreams of.
Huge thanks to my awesome teammates, Jeremy, Joey, and Sarah. We pulled this off together as a team!
Prioritisation is the key
Designing an LMS product posed significant challenges, particularly with the heavy workload and a tight timeline of just three weeks. From the start, my team and I recognized the need to prioritize building the MVP (Minimum Viable Product) rather than aiming too high and risking overpromising to our client.
Despite the time constraints, we chose to follow a full design process, placing a strong emphasis on the discovery and define stages. This decision stemmed from our understanding of how nuanced designing for the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) target group is, and our lack of knowledge about this often misunderstood community.
By conducting thorough user research, we were able to debunk common myths and gather valuable insights that ultimately streamlined our design and delivery process.
The show must still go on (even when things don't go as planned)
No matter how well and detailed we plan, unexpected disruptions can always throw things off course. A lot of times, that’s just the nature of working on real client projects.
But hey, the show must go on! We always aim to deliver our best, no matter what. I’ve learned that being able to adapt to these ever-changing circumstances and adjust the planning accordingly when needed is key.
Sooo…Shall we dance?
Let's connect and craft some wonders together
©2024 All Rights Reserved
