Group Client Project: TalkMaze
Increasing Curriculum Transparency
Group Client Project: TalkMaze
Increasing Curriculum Transparency
Group Client Project: TalkMaze
Increasing Curriculum Transparency
Role
UX/UI Designer
Timeline
3-wk sprint, April-May 2024
Tools
Figma
FigJam
Adobe Contrast Checker
Stark Accessibility Tools
Methods
User Interviews
Heuristic Evaluation
Affinity Mapping
Persona
Impact Mapping
Problem Statement
Solution Statement
Task Flow
Site Mapping
C&C Analysis
Feature Prioritization
Wireframing
Prototyping
Usability Testing
Role
UX/UI Designer
Timeline
3-wk sprint, April-May 2024
Tools
Figma
FigJam
Adobe Contrast Checker
Stark Accessibility Tools
Our Happy Client
"What sets Heather apart is not just their UX expertise but also their exemplary teamwork and communication skills.
"Heather's professional communication fostered a collaborative and positive team environment, making every project discussion enjoyable and productive."
Ghalia Aamer, Founder of TalkMaze
Our Happy Client
"What sets Heather apart is not just their UX expertise but also their exemplary teamwork and communication skills.
"Heather's professional communication fostered a collaborative and positive team environment, making every project discussion enjoyable and productive."
Ghalia Aamer, Founder of TalkMaze
Our Happy Client
"What sets Heather apart is not just their UX expertise but also their exemplary teamwork and communication skills.
"Heather's professional communication fostered a collaborative and positive team environment, making every project discussion enjoyable and productive."
Ghalia Aamer, Founder of TalkMaze
Methods
User Interviews
Heuristic Evaluation
Affinity Mapping
Persona
Impact Mapping
Problem Statement
Solution Statement
Task Flow
Site Mapping
C&C Analysis
Feature Prioritization
Wireframing
Prototyping
Usability Testing
Methods
User Interviews
Heuristic Evaluation
Affinity Mapping
Persona
Impact Mapping
Problem Statement
Solution Statement
Task Flow
Site Mapping
C&C Analysis
Feature Prioritization
Wireframing
Prototyping
Usability Testing
Role
UX/UI Designer
Timeline
3-wk sprint, April-May 2024
Tools
Figma
FigJam
Adobe Contrast Checker
Stark Accessibility Tools
Methods
User Interviews
Heuristic Evaluation
Affinity Mapping
Persona
Impact Mapping
Problem Statement
Solution Statement
Task Flow
Site Mapping
C&C Analysis
Feature Prioritization
Wireframing
Prototyping
Usability Testing
Methods
User Interviews
Heuristic Evaluation
Affinity Mapping
Persona
Impact Mapping
Problem Statement
Solution Statement
Task Flow
Site Mapping
C&C Analysis
Feature Prioritization
Wireframing
Prototyping
Usability Testing
A Speaker Losing Her Audience's Trust
TalkMaze, a company coaching children on public-speaking, requested that we create a dashboard to centralize crucial information for students and their parents. We reached out to 20 TalkMaze families to determine their priorities through interviews.
Potential Project Pivot
However, TalkMaze founder Ghalia then invited us to meet her coaches, who shared their frustrations towards not being fairly compensated for coaching and scheduling sessions. Several expressed a waning trust in TalkMaze to solve these long-standing issues.
We became concerned that TalkMaze's coaches, not the families, urgently needed a centralized platform to keep the company afloat.
But that would mean pivoting sharply in Week 2 of our 3-week sprint.
A Speaker Losing Her Audience's Trust
TalkMaze, a company coaching children on public-speaking, requested that we create a dashboard to centralize crucial information for students and their parents. We reached out to 20 TalkMaze families to determine their priorities through interviews.
However, TalkMaze founder Ghalia then invited us to meet her coaches, who shared their frustrations towards not being fairly compensated for coaching and scheduling sessions. Several expressed a waning trust in TalkMaze to solve these long-standing issues.
We became concerned that TalkMaze's coaches, not the families, urgently needed a centralized platform to keep the company afloat.
But that would mean pivoting sharply in Week 2 of our 3-week sprint.
A Speaker Losing Her Audience's Trust
TalkMaze, a company coaching children on public-speaking, requested that we create a dashboard to centralize crucial information for students and their parents. We reached out to 20 TalkMaze families to determine their priorities through interviews.
However, TalkMaze founder Ghalia then invited us to meet her coaches, who shared their frustrations towards not being fairly compensated for coaching and scheduling sessions. Several expressed a waning trust in TalkMaze to solve these long-standing issues.
We became concerned that TalkMaze's coaches, not the families, urgently needed a centralized platform to keep the company afloat.
But that would mean pivoting sharply in Week 2 of our 3-week sprint.
Listening to TalkMaze's Audience
To understand the full picture before pivoting, we proceeded with interviews. But TalkMaze's parents were unresponsive during Week 1, so we expanded our pool to prospective students.
Due to our firm resolve, we interviewed:
3 current parent users
2 prospective student users
1 current student user
Our affinity mapping indicated a strong user preference for student- and parent-facing dashboards.
Still concerned about the coaches, we centered students’ and parents’ needs, while addressing coaches’ shared concerns about communication and curriculum transparency.
After gaining Ghalia's trust with our transparent, consistent communication, she deferred to our research.
Listening to TalkMaze's Audience
To understand the full picture before pivoting, we proceeded with interviews. But TalkMaze's parents were unresponsive during Week 1, so we expanded our pool to prospective students.
Due to our firm resolve, we interviewed:
3 current parent users
2 prospective student users
1 current student user
Our affinity mapping indicated a strong user preference for student- and parent-facing dashboards.
Still concerned about the coaches, we centered students’ and parents’ needs, while addressing coaches’ shared concerns about communication and curriculum transparency.
After gaining Ghalia's trust with our transparent, consistent communication, she deferred to our research.
Listening to TalkMaze's Audience
To understand the full picture before pivoting, we proceeded with interviews. But TalkMaze's parents were unresponsive during Week 1, so we expanded our pool to prospective students.
Due to our firm resolve, we interviewed:
3 current parent users
2 prospective student users
1 current student user
Our affinity mapping indicated a strong user preference for student- and parent-facing dashboards.
Still concerned about the coaches, we centered students’ and parents’ needs, while addressing coaches’ shared concerns about communication and curriculum transparency.
After gaining Ghalia's trust with our transparent, consistent communication, she deferred to our research.
Parents' Dream States for TalkMaze
Parents want their children's curriculum plan and lesson progress clearly communicated.
Our dashboard would track each student’s progress, coach feedback, and curriculum, so that they know what to expect from future lessons.
Parents and prospective students expect consistent homework for optimal learning.
Our dashboard facilitates personalized student-coach communication, while maintaining a healthy boundary for coaches.
"I don't like how I can't even view the curriculum plan right now."
"Having a graph could be beautiful to see to tell my son, 'You've worked so hard on this and have a little gap in this area.' "
"When I log in, I want to see my child's progress in levels and milestones, and feedback."
Parents' Dream States for TalkMaze
Parents want their children's curriculum plan and lesson progress clearly communicated.
Our dashboard would track each student’s progress, coach feedback, and curriculum, so that they know what to expect from future lessons.
Parents and prospective students expect consistent homework for optimal learning.
Our dashboard facilitates personalized student-coach communication, while maintaining a healthy boundary for coaches.
"I don't like how I can't even view the curriculum plan right now."
"Having a graph could be beautiful to see to tell my son, 'You've worked so hard on this and have a little gap in this area.' "
"When I log in, I want to see my child's progress in levels and milestones, and feedback."
Parents' Dream States for TalkMaze
Parents want their children's curriculum plan and lesson progress clearly communicated.
Our dashboard would track each student’s progress, coach feedback, and curriculum, so that they know what to expect from future lessons.
Parents and prospective students expect consistent homework for optimal learning.
Our dashboard facilitates personalized student-coach communication, while maintaining a healthy boundary for coaches.
"I don't like how I can't even view the curriculum plan right now."
"Having a graph could be beautiful to see to tell my son, 'You've worked so hard on this and have a little gap in this area.' "
"When I log in, I want to see my child's progress in levels and milestones, and feedback."
Sizing Up the Competition
Our SWOT and Competitive Analyses illuminated TalkMaze's most urgent design needs:
TalkMaze's website showcases the benefits of public speaking for children but isn't clear on lesson structure, payment packages, and coaches’ experience levels.
Competitors like SparkStudio and NovaKids establish a stronger sense of trust through abundant details on coaches, their expertise, and curriculum plans.
Sizing Up the Competition
Our SWOT and Competitive Analyses illuminated TalkMaze's most urgent design needs:
TalkMaze's website showcases the benefits of public speaking for children but isn't clear on lesson structure, payment packages, and coaches’ experience levels.
Competitors like SparkStudio and NovaKids establish a stronger sense of trust through abundant details on coaches, their expertise, and curriculum plans.
Sizing Up the Competition
Our SWOT and Competitive Analyses illuminated TalkMaze's most urgent design needs:
TalkMaze's website showcases the benefits of public speaking for children but isn't clear on lesson structure, payment packages, and coaches’ experience levels.
Competitors like SparkStudio and NovaKids establish a stronger sense of trust through abundant details on coaches, their expertise, and curriculum plans.
Personalizing Our Approach
A dedicated and concerned mother, and her extroverted child
Goals: A coach with expertise on her child's needs, set up her child for long-term public speaking success.
Needs: Well-defined plan, accessible coach information, learnings reinforced with homework, clear communication about upcoming milestones.
Pain Points: Lacks clarity on curriculum and her child's progress, thinks the curriculum is not specific enough to challenge her child.
Personalizing Our Approach
A dedicated and concerned mother, and her extroverted child
Goals: A coach with expertise on her child's needs, set up her child for long-term public speaking success.
Needs: Well-defined plan, accessible coach information, learnings reinforced with homework, clear communication about upcoming milestones.
Pain Points: Lacks clarity on curriculum and her child's progress, thinks the curriculum is not specific enough to challenge her child.
Personalizing Our Approach
A dedicated and concerned mother, and her extroverted child
Goals: A coach with expertise on her child's needs, set up her child for long-term public speaking success.
Needs: Well-defined plan, accessible coach information, learnings reinforced with homework, clear communication about upcoming milestones.
Pain Points: Lacks clarity on curriculum and her child's progress, thinks the curriculum is not specific enough to challenge her child.
Vision Alignment
We sketched features and layouts that would most effectively meet users' needs.
After determining our favorites, I assigned frames to each designer based on who had sketched the clearest version.
Vision Alignment
We sketched features and layouts that would most effectively meet users' needs.
After determining our favorites, I assigned frames to each designer based on who had sketched the clearest version.
Aligning Our Vision
We sketched features and layouts that would most effectively meet users' needs.
After determining our favorites, I assigned frames to each designer based on who had sketched the clearest version.
Gamification in the Spotlight
A Maze of Seashells and Stars
During the Coach Meeting, Ghalia revealed she was revamping the lesson material to include a maze. Students would navigate it to earn digital tokens and automatically receive a badge after each level. She was excited to motivate students with gamification, but did not have research backing its impact.
Parents Evaluating the Maze
During the Parent Meeting, I represented our team and facilitated discussion about how we could best serve them.
Parents shared their dream states for TalkMaze, eager for their children to have fun and practice a variety of speech topics relevant to their lives — something not currently offered.
Along this vein, the parents wanted tangible rewards that must be earned, not guaranteed.
Students Seeking Challenges
Their desires aligned with their children's measures of success. In the Student Meeting, the students sought to earn rewards for intrinsic motivation, specifically through debate competitions and mentorship opportunities.
Identifying Our Piece in the Puzzle
After assessing these growth areas, our team determined we could provide a foundation for Ghalia's team to better understand their stakeholders' needs and dreams, through our research-backed designs and meeting facilitation. Gamification could entice their users, but only if implemented with genuine impact.
Vision Alignment
We sketched features and layouts that would most effectively meet users' needs.
After determining our favorites, I assigned frames to each designer based on who had sketched the clearest version.
Gamification in the Spotlight
A Maze of Seashells and Stars
During the Coach Meeting, Ghalia revealed she was revamping the lesson material to include a maze. Students would navigate it to earn digital tokens and automatically receive a badge after each level. She was excited to motivate students with gamification, but did not have research backing its impact.
Parents Evaluating the Maze
During the Parent Meeting, I represented our team and facilitated discussion about how we could best serve them.
Parents shared their dream states for TalkMaze, eager for their children to have fun and practice a variety of speech topics relevant to their lives — something not currently offered.
Along this vein, the parents wanted tangible rewards that must be earned, not guaranteed.
Students Seeking Challenges
Their desires aligned with their children's measures of success. In the Student Meeting, the students sought to earn rewards for intrinsic motivation, specifically through debate competitions and mentorship opportunities.
Identifying Our Piece in the Puzzle
After assessing these growth areas, our team determined we could provide a foundation for Ghalia's team to better understand their stakeholders' needs and dreams, through our research-backed designs and meeting facilitation. Gamification could entice their users, but only if implemented with genuine impact.
Gamification in the Spotlight
A Maze of Seashells and Stars
During the Coach Meeting, Ghalia revealed she was revamping the lesson material to include a maze. Students would navigate it to earn digital tokens and automatically receive a badge after each level. She was excited to motivate students with gamification, but did not have research backing its impact.
Parents Evaluating the Maze
During the Parent Meeting, I represented our team and facilitated discussion about how we could best serve them.
Parents shared their dream states for TalkMaze, eager for their children to have fun and practice a variety of speech topics relevant to their lives — something not currently offered.
Along this vein, the parents wanted tangible rewards that must be earned, not guaranteed.
Students Seeking Challenges
Their desires aligned with their children's measures of success. In the Student Meeting, the students sought to earn rewards for intrinsic motivation, specifically through debate competitions and mentorship opportunities.
Identifying Our Piece in the Puzzle
After assessing these growth areas, our team determined we could provide a foundation for Ghalia's team to better understand their stakeholders' needs and dreams, through our research-backed designs and meeting facilitation. Gamification could entice their users, but only if implemented with genuine impact.
Centralized Platform for Parents, Coaches, and Students
Prioritizing simplicity and clarity, we consolidated features identified through affinity mapping with requests that Ghalia made in our final week.
Our dashboards equip parents to confidently engage with students’ achievements and learnings, by
tracking session progress, homework, and payment plans
streamlining communication with coaches
Acknowledging Ghalia's and the parents' dream states for the company, we built a foundational structure to integrate its evolving plans for group chat and curriculum.
Centralized Platform
Prioritizing simplicity and clarity, we consolidated features identified through affinity mapping with requests that Ghalia made in our final week.
Our dashboards equip parents to confidently engage with students’ achievements and learnings, by
tracking session progress, homework, and payment plans
streamlining communication with coaches
Acknowledging Ghalia's and the parents' dream states for the company, we built a foundational structure to integrate its evolving plans for group chat and curriculum.
Centralized Platform
Prioritizing simplicity and clarity, we consolidated features identified through affinity mapping with requests that Ghalia made in our final week.
Our dashboards equip parents to confidently engage with students’ achievements and learnings, by
tracking session progress, homework, and payment plans
streamlining communication with coaches
Acknowledging Ghalia's and the parents' dream states for the company, we built a foundational structure to integrate its evolving plans for group chat and curriculum.
The Beginning of Visual Accessibility
We utilized Adobe Contrast Checker and the Stark Accessibility plug-in to develop our prototype, establishing a starting point for TalkMaze to expand its accessibility.
WCAG Compliance for Contrast
Normal Text
AA 4.5:1
AAA 7:1
Large Text
AA 3:1
AAA 4.5:1
Visual Accessibility
We utilized Adobe Contrast Checker and the Stark Accessibility plug-in to develop our prototype, establishing a starting point for TalkMaze to expand its accessibility.
WCAG Compliance for Contrast
Normal Text
AA 4.5:1
AAA 7:1
Large Text
AA 3:1
AAA 4.5:1
Visual Accessibility
We utilized Adobe Contrast Checker and the Stark Accessibility plug-in to develop our prototype, establishing a starting point for TalkMaze to expand its accessibility.
WCAG Compliance for Contrast
Normal Text
AA 4.5:1
AAA 7:1
Large Text
AA 3:1
AAA 4.5:1
Demonstrating Our Collective Growth
My teammates requested that I coach them on their presentation delivery. It was a joy watching them grow in confidence, as we finished our capstone project together.
Showcasing our prototype to our client and class, I demonstrated my own strengths in comprehensive analysis and captivating storytelling.
Collective Growth
My teammates requested that I coach them on their presentation delivery. It was a joy watching them grow in confidence, as we finished our capstone project together.
Showcasing our prototype to our client and class, I demonstrated my own strengths in comprehensive analysis and captivating storytelling.
Collective Growth
My teammates requested that I coach them on their presentation delivery. It was a joy watching them grow in confidence, as we finished our capstone project together.
Showcasing our prototype to our client and class, I demonstrated my own strengths in comprehensive analysis and captivating storytelling.
Beyond Our 3-Week Sprint
For future iterations of TalkMaze's dashboards, we envision these opportunities to streamline internal communication and sustain the company's success:
Establish positive relationships between coaches and families through standardized communication, starting with our final product.
Consolidate features from a previous dashboard, shared with us in our final week, that fulfill scheduling and payment-tracking needs, and strengthen our design.
Standardize the brand's color palette with more nuanced accessibility considerations.
Beyond Our 3-Week Sprint
For future iterations of TalkMaze's dashboards, we envision these opportunities to streamline internal communication and sustain the company's success:
Establish positive relationships between coaches and families through standardized communication, starting with our final product.
Consolidate features from a previous dashboard, shared with us in our final week, that fulfill scheduling and payment-tracking needs, and strengthen our design.
Standardize the brand's color palette with more nuanced accessibility considerations.
Beyond Our 3-Week Sprint
For future iterations of TalkMaze's dashboards, we envision these opportunities to streamline internal communication and sustain the company's success:
Establish positive relationships between coaches and families through standardized communication, starting with our final product.
Consolidate features from a previous dashboard, shared with us in our final week, that fulfill scheduling and payment-tracking needs, and strengthen our design.
Standardize the brand's color palette with more nuanced accessibility considerations.
Case Studies
