Understanding the users

Personas

Secondary Research

Personalized Learning & Adaptive Design
Research shows that personalization is a key feature users seek in learning apps. Elements like adaptive content, AI-powered tutor matching, and flexible scheduling significantly boost engagement and learning efficiency, making them essential focal points for the screen functionality we’re designing.

Onboarding Experience Matters
The onboarding phase is a critical factor in user retention. A smooth, informative, and welcoming first experience significantly increases the likelihood that users will continue engaging with the platform.

Trust, Credibility & Tutor Profiles
Trust is essential in educational apps. Users are more likely to engage with tutors who have verified credentials, detailed bios, and transparent reviews.

Video & Messaging Usability
Seamless communication tools, particularly video calls and in-app messaging, are critical to user satisfaction. When these features underperform, users are more likely to abandon the platform.

Gamification & Engagement
Gamified features such as streaks, goal tracking, and badges can boost motivation, even among college students, by making progress more engaging and rewarding.

Mobile Optimization & Accessibility
Mobile-first usability and inclusive design play a crucial role in app adoption, particularly within educational environments.

User Flows

After conducting secondary research, analyzing user needs, and reviewing the information provided by the company, we began developing user flows to map out key interactions and journeys.

Wireframes

With the user flows established, we transitioned into the wireframing phase to define the app’s layout, information hierarchy, and user experience. Below are a few examples of the wireframes.

Usability Testing

Objective: Evaluate the usability and intuitiveness of key user flows within the Skylor Tutor app. The goal was to test essential interactions across two user types: a college student and a young adult learner, identifying areas for improvement before final development.

Participants

• Participant 1: Emma, 19 – College student majoring in Psychology
• Participant 2: Jordan, 26 – Young adult, recently returned to school to pursue continuing education in digital marketing.

Tasks Given

1. Sign in using Face ID or device passcode
2. Create a new account
3. Search for a tutoring session
4. Search for a masterclass
5. Make a payment for a selected session or class

Key Findings & Observations

Task 1: Sign In (Face ID or Passcode)

• Student: Smooth and fast interaction; no issues.
• Young Adult: Passcode option worked well, appreciated having alternatives to Face ID

Task 2: Account Creation

• Student: Found the sign-up flow clear and quick.
• Young Adult: Smooth experience, liked the ability to choose user type (student/tutor).

Task 3: Search for a Tutoring Session

• Student: understood the purpose of the search but noted the subject filters were not yet functional. Tutor card previews were helpful for decision-making.
• Young Adult: Took a few seconds to understand the layout but found the results helpful.

Task 4: Search for a Masterclass

• Student: Navigated well after switching tabs.
• Young Adult: Located the screenwriting class easily, enjoyed video previews.

Task 5: Make a Payment

• Both: Completed the transaction with no errors; appreciated Apple Pay support.
• Young Adult: Requested a more detailed confirmation screen.

Conclusion

Both participants successfully completed all key tasks, validating the app’s core functionality. Minor usability enhancements, such as improved onboarding guidance, search experience, and visual feedback, can further streamline the experience and support user retention. The app was perceived as modern, intuitive, and well-suited for educational use.

Final Screens

Following usability testing, we refined several key screens based on participant feedback to enhance clarity, usability, and overall user flow. Below are a few examples of the final screens.