Designing
Designing
Designing
for
for
for
immersive
immersive
immersive
language
language
language
learning
learning
learning
UX Research
UX Research
Design
Design
My role
My role
Product designer involved in end-to-end design, from user interviews to refined final designs.
Product designer involved in end-to-end design, from user interviews to refined final designs.
Team
Team
Another designer
Design mentor
App's cofounders
Another designer
Design mentor
App's cofounders
Timeline
Timeline
July - September 2024
July - September 2024
Our final designs
What is Umi?
What is Umi?
Umi is a language-learning app that uses clips from TV shows and movies to create a fun, immersive learning experience.
By hearing words in real context, learners can understand and remember them more naturally.
Umi is a language-learning app that uses clips from TV shows and movies to create a fun, immersive learning experience.
By hearing words in real context, learners can understand and remember them more naturally.
The problem
The problem
Umi users thought the lessons page was cluttered and confusing, which made it difficult for users to learn effectively, according to the app's cofounders.
They saw an opportunity to redesign the lessons page to be more streamlined, intuitive, and visually engaging.
Umi users thought the lessons page was cluttered and confusing, which made it difficult for users to learn effectively, according to the app's cofounders.
They saw an opportunity to redesign the lessons page to be more streamlined, intuitive, and visually engaging.
Old Umi lessons screen
How did we tackle this problem?
Turn to real users!
How did we tackle this problem?
Turn to real users!
We offered snacks in exchange for having a conversation with us
We ventured into the real world to talk to language learners about their habits and pain points. We talked to X people.
Utilizing Umi's already established Discord server, we reached out to real users through a survey. We got X responses.
Message we sent to Umi's Discord server
The needs we identified
The needs we identified
Emphasis on video clips
Emphasis on video clips
“I love the video clips, but I feel like they aren’t being used to their fullest potential...” - User interview
“I love the video clips, but I feel like they aren’t being used to their fullest potential...” - User interview
People found learning through video clips to be very effective, yet the video clips didn’t feel like the main focus on the lessons page, even though that was the unique part of the Umi app.
People found learning through video clips to be very effective, yet the video clips didn’t feel like the main focus on the lessons page, even though that was the unique part of the Umi app.
Familiar layouts
Familiar layouts
60% of Umi users stay active for over 3 months, according to our survey
Why do Umi fans stay? Along with the unique video aspect, we determined that current Umi users value familiarity with the app and once they start, they keep on going.
Why do Umi fans stay? Along with the unique video aspect, we determined that current Umi users value familiarity with the app and once they start, they keep on going.
Our Design Iterations
Our Design Iterations
Our design solutions
Our design solutions
Clip overlay
Clip overlay
We thought that Umi should follow after popular streaming apps such as Youtube and Netflix, that entirely focus on their video content.
So, we made a couple changes and additions:
Added additional video controls to the video player overlay
Made the video clip borderless to give the user an immersive experience
Moved the captions onto the video
We thought that Umi should follow after popular streaming apps such as Youtube and Netflix, that entirely focus on their video content.
So, we made a couple changes and additions:
Added additional video controls to the video player overlay
Made the video clip borderless to give the user an immersive experience
Moved the captions onto the video
Previous video overlay
New and improved video overlay
Word list
Word list
Although we played with many iterations such as flashcards and sentence breakdowns, we decided to kept the word list similar to its original layout, with minor visual tweaks to make it more streamlined and less confusing for users.
Innovative solutions can be exciting and new, but sometimes the user-familiar layout is the way to go.
Although we played with many iterations such as flashcards and sentence breakdowns, we decided to kept the word list similar to its original layout, with minor visual tweaks to make it more streamlined and less confusing for users.
Innovative solutions can be exciting and new, but sometimes the user-familiar layout is the way to go.
Previous word list
New and improved word list
sharing with the community
sharing with the community
Through our internship with Pi'ikū, Gage and I presented our findings and designs at the first ever Honolulu Tech Week in October 2024. With over 100 people in attendance, we were proud to showcase what we had been working on for the past 8 weeks.
Through our internship with Pi'ikū, Gage and I presented our findings and designs at the first ever Honolulu Tech Week in October 2024. With over 100 people in attendance, we were proud to showcase what we had been working on for the past 8 weeks.
Presenting at Honolulu Tech Week 2024
Piʻikū cohort 3!
what was shipped
what was shipped
What made this experience especially impactful was seeing our designs actually shipped into the app. To meet a funding deadline, the team implemented the designs as efficiently as possible, and we were incredibly proud to see our ideas in the hands of real users.
What made this experience especially impactful was seeing our designs actually shipped into the app. To meet a funding deadline, the team implemented the designs as efficiently as possible, and we were incredibly proud to see our ideas in the hands of real users.
Our designs in the real world!
Our designs in the real world!
Wanna hear more?
Wanna hear more?
This case study just barely cracks the surface of our entire process, so feel free to reach out to hear more!
This case study just barely cracks the surface of our entire process, so feel free to reach out to hear more!
Let's connect!