GOALS

• Design an inclusive, intuitive curriculum platform to empower K–5 educators.

• Streamline content discovery and access for teachers; align product with real user needs

Project Background

< insert images of product and marking >
Capstone Connect is a digital hub bringing together thousands of standards-aligned instructional resources—from PebbleGo modules to Capstone eBooks—into a single platform for K–5 educators. During the COVID-19 pandemic and since, schools face significant challenges with distance learning. Teachers need easily accessible, curriculum-aligned content that can be shared seamlessly with students. Capstone Connect was Capstone’s solution to that problem—but it required deep user understanding and strategic redesign to truly serve educators' needs.

My Role & Responsibilities

As the sole Senior UX/Product Designer on Capstone’s EdTech team, I led the discovery and UX strategy for redesigning Capstone Connect—a platform consolidating PebbleGo, eBooks, and instructional materials for K–5 educators.

Working closely with Product Management, Engineering, and internal stakeholders, I designed for a platform that would unify PebbleGo, eBooks, and instructional materials into a seamless, educator-friendly experience.

KEY CONTRIBUTIONS

• Led user research (surveys, user interviews, card sorting)

• Defined UX Strategy for teacher tools and platform consolidation

• Defined information architecture

• Created user flows, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs

• Facilitated workshops and virtual whiteboarding sessions with team

• Collaborated cross-functionally to define MVP features for the next ‘version’ of Capstone Connect

• Championed user-centered design and process improvements

THE PROBLEM

<REVIEW >Explain the original UX challenges (you can combine insights here with user pain points mentioned on the site):

• Content was difficult for teachers to find and organize.

• Navigation did not reflect how educators mentally model curriculum planning.

• Teachers weren’t sure which materials aligned to standards.

• Platform lacked a clear information hierarchy.

• Teachers couldn’t easily share learning content with students.

Research & Discovery

I led mixed-method research to uncover teachers' mental models and feature priorities:

• Surveys to understand pain points and usage behaviors

• Card Sorting & Feature Prioritization at ISTE Conference to get real teachers helping us prioritize the most valuable content and features to them

• Concept & Usability Testing with prototypes

• Journey Mapping & Persona Updates based on findings

<<<<<< Show artifacts here: research insights, affinity maps, photos from ISTE (if available), personas, card sort examples. > >>>>>>>>

>>>>>>Include a quote or insight that drove a design pivot:
“I need to find materials by standard first, not by product type.” <<<<<<<<<<<

Feature & Card Sorting with Teachers at ISTE (Educator Conference)

Goal: We used a mixed method of card sorting and feature sorting to help us uncover how users mentally organize information, understand how to organize the hierarchy and navigation, as well as improve content and usbility. We also wanted to understande which product features users value most, helping our teams prioritize development and define MVPs. Both methods ensured our design decisions were rooted in real user needs and behaviors.

DESIGN STRATEGY & MVP OF REDESIGN

Based on research, we defined clear goals: DOUBLE CHECK THESE

• Restructure navigation around content curriculum standards

• Unify search across all Capstone resources

• Streamline content sharing for teachers

• Define MVP based on prioritized feature needs

>>>> Work to SHOW You might show:

• Product prioritization matrix

• Sitemap or IA before/after

• MVP feature list (maybe visual as cards or sticky notes) <<<<<<

DESIGN PROCESS & SOLUTIONS

Walk through your design process chronologically or thematically:

• Wireframes & Iterations

  • Screens showing navigation models, search redesign, content bundles, etc.

• Prototypes

  • Show clickable flows or interactions (GIFs or embedded prototypes)

• Accessibility & Visual Design

  • Touch briefly on 508/WCAG compliance

Add context to visuals: what problem each screen solves and how.

OUTCOMES & IMPACT

• This can be hard to quantify, so share what’s available:

• Platform successfully launched during peak remote learning

• Teachers shared positive feedback around content discovery

• Prioritized features aligned directly with top user needs

• Capstone saw increased adoption of Connect across districts

Include metrics if you have them:

• e.g. “75% task success rate in usability testing”

• “XX% increase in content sharing after redesign”

ReflectionS & What I Learned

💡 Designing for educators requires balancing simplicity and depth.

💡 Research methods like card sorting were invaluable for hierarchy/prioritization decisions.

💡 Facilitating cross-functional prioritization was as critical as design itself.

💡 Proximity to real users (at ISTE Conference) helped build empathy across the team.