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UX Case study
UX Case study
CramLab
CramLab
CramLab
A language learning app created
to empower people to learn
new vocabulary.
A language learning app created to empower people to learn new vocabulary.
A language learning app created to empower people to learn new vocabulary.
roles
roles
UX Researcher
UX Designer
UX Researcher
UX Designer
UX Researcher
UX Designer
tools
tools
Sketch
Sketch
Sketch
The Problem
The Problem
The Problem
Problem statement
Problem statement
Learning a new language is already challenging, but when users struggle to retain words and phrases, they don’t see progress. This leads to frustration, loss of motivation, and a never-ending cycle of relearning, making it even harder to stay committed.
Learning a new language is already challenging, but when users struggle to retain words and phrases, they don’t see progress. This leads to frustration, loss of motivation, and a never-ending cycle of relearning, making it even harder to stay committed.
Learning a new language is already challenging, but when users struggle to retain words and phrases, they don’t see progress. This leads to frustration, loss of motivation, and a never-ending cycle of relearning, making it even harder to stay committed.
user insight
user insight
"If I’m not consistent, I end up forgetting words and have to relearn them, which makes it frustrating and hard to stay motivated." – Interview Participant
"If I’m not consistent, I end up forgetting words and have to relearn them, which makes it frustrating and hard to stay motivated." – Interview Participant
Solution
Solution
To address these challenges, I designed CramLab, a language-learning app focused on improving vocabulary retention through customizable study decks and habit-building features. By incorporating motivation, consistency, and interactive feedback, CramLab ensures that learners don’t just memorize words but retain and apply them effectively, fostering long-term language mastery.
To address these challenges, I designed CramLab, a language-learning app focused on improving vocabulary retention through customizable study decks and habit-building features. By incorporating motivation, consistency, and interactive feedback, CramLab ensures that learners don’t just memorize words but retain and apply them effectively, fostering long-term language mastery.
Competitor Analysis
Competitor Analysis
Competitor Analysis
WordPal
Lingvist
ELSA Speak
overview
overview
To understand where existing apps fall short, I conducted a competitive analysis of WordPal, Lingvist, and ELSA Speak.
To understand where existing apps fall short, I conducted a competitive analysis of WordPal, Lingvist, and ELSA Speak.
WordPal was simple but lacked onboarding and essential learning features.
WordPal was simple but lacked onboarding and essential learning features.
Lingvist provided structured learning but rushed users through material, limiting retention.
Lingvist provided structured learning but rushed users through material, limiting retention.
ELSA Speak focused on pronunciation and community, yet suffered from poor navigation and overwhelming content organization.
ELSA Speak focused on pronunciation and community, yet suffered from poor navigation and overwhelming content organization.
Key takeaways
Key takeaways
To stay competitive, CramLab should balance free and paid content, ensure intuitive navigation, offer strong onboarding, and integrate engaging learning methods—such as social interaction and real-world context—to boost motivation and retention.
To stay competitive, CramLab should balance free and paid content, ensure intuitive navigation, offer strong onboarding, and integrate engaging learning methods—such as social interaction and real-world context—to boost motivation and retention.
User Interviews
User Interviews
User Interviews
Overview
Overview
I interviewed three language learners to better understand how they approach vocabulary retention. Their responses highlighted a few consistent themes:
I interviewed three language learners to better understand how they approach vocabulary retention. Their responses highlighted a few consistent themes:
Multi-sensory engagement
Multi-sensory engagement
Multi-sensory engagement
Reading, listening, and using flashcards with visuals and audio made vocabulary stick.
Reading, listening, and using flashcards with visuals and audio made vocabulary stick.
Immersion & application
Immersion & application
Immersion & application
Learning in real-world contexts was more effective than simply memorizing words without context.
Learning in real-world contexts was more effective than simply memorizing words without context.
Consistency & motivation
Consistency & motivation
Consistency & motivation
Without clear goals and regular practice, users struggled to retain words.
Without clear goals and regular practice, users struggled to retain words.
Key takeaways
Key takeaways
Many users found apps like ANKI, Duolingo, and Conjuguemos helpful but wished for more personalization and habit-building features. This insight helped shape CramLab’s core functionalities: structured yet flexible learning with customizable study decks, habit tracking, and real-world application.
Many users found apps like ANKI, Duolingo, and Conjuguemos helpful but wished for more personalization and habit-building features. This insight helped shape CramLab’s core functionalities: structured yet flexible learning with customizable study decks, habit tracking, and real-world application.
Persona Creation
Persona Creation
Persona Creation
overview
overview
To keep the design centered on the user, I created Madison, a 25-year-old grad student living in her van in Vancouver, BC.
To keep the design centered on the user, I created Madison, a 25-year-old grad student living in her van in Vancouver, BC.
Always on the move, Madison needs a flexible learning solution.
Always on the move, Madison needs a flexible learning solution.
She struggles with retaining words and gets discouraged when she has to relearn them.
She struggles with retaining words and gets discouraged when she has to relearn them.
She thrives on collaboration and real-world application rather than traditional memorization.
She thrives on collaboration and real-world application rather than traditional memorization.
Shaping the solution
Shaping the solution
With Madison in mind, I focused on designing an app that would keep learners engaged, offer feedback, and help them apply vocabulary in daily life.
With Madison in mind, I focused on designing an app that would keep learners engaged, offer feedback, and help them apply vocabulary in daily life.
Persona
Madison
Madison is a 25-year-old grad student living in her van in Vancouver, BC. She juggles part-time work at a local climbing gym, coursework, and rock climbing in her free time. Constantly on the move, she needs a flexible learning solution that fits into her ever-changing routine.
Needs & goals
Needs a language-learning tool that keeps her motivated and focused.
Needs a language-learning tool that keeps her motivated and focused.
Wants the ability to collaborate with others and receive feedback on her progress.
Wants the ability to collaborate with others and receive feedback on her progress.
Needs to apply learned vocabulary in real-world situations for better retention.
Needs to apply learned vocabulary in real-world situations for better retention.
user stories
As a busy grad student living in my van, I need a flexible way to study anywhere so I can stay motivated and on task.
As a busy grad student living in my van, I need a flexible way to study anywhere so I can stay motivated and on task.
As an experiential learner, I want to collaborate with peers and receive quick, effective feedback to improve my learning.
As an experiential learner, I want to collaborate with peers and receive quick, effective feedback to improve my learning.
As someone who loses motivation when relearning, I need a customizable learning experience to help me retain vocabulary more effectively.
As someone who loses motivation when relearning, I need a customizable learning experience to help me retain vocabulary more effectively.
Persona
Madison
Madison is a 25-year-old grad student living in her van in Vancouver, BC. She juggles part-time work at a local climbing gym, coursework, and rock climbing in her free time. Constantly on the move, she needs a flexible learning solution that fits into her ever-changing routine.
Madison is a 25-year-old grad student living in her van in Vancouver, BC. She juggles part-time work at a local climbing gym, coursework, and rock climbing in her free time. Constantly on the move, she needs a flexible learning solution that fits into her ever-changing routine.
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
New deck flow
New deck flow
New Habit Flow
New Habit Flow
Wireframing & Prototyping
Wireframing
& Prototyping
Wireframing & Prototyping
overview
After defining user needs and structuring key processes in the information architecture, I built out low-fidelity wireframes. These helped establish the app’s layout and interactions. I then developed a prototype to prepare for user testing, ensuring the design was functional and ready for real user feedback.
After defining user needs and structuring key processes in the information architecture, I built out low-fidelity wireframes. These helped establish the app’s layout and interactions. I then developed a prototype to prepare for user testing, ensuring the design was functional and ready for real user feedback.
login process
Mapped out user authentication flow.
Mapped out user authentication flow.
splash screen
splash screen
splash screen
welcome screen
welcome screen
welcome screen
login
login
login
new habit flow
Designed the steps for users to create and manage habits.
Designed the steps for users to create and manage habits.
account
account
account
habits
habits
habits
new habit form
new habit form
new habit form
new deck download flow
Visualized how users discover, download, and access vocabulary decks.
Visualized how users discover, download, and access vocabulary decks.
home
home
home
deck library
deck library
deck library
upload new deck
upload new deck
upload new deck
Usability Test
Usability Test
Usability Test
overview
overview
A usability test was conducted for CramLab to evaluate how effectively users could navigate key features, including account creation, downloading a vocabulary deck, creating a habit, and attaching a deck to a habit. Four participants, ranging in age from 23 to 83, tested the prototype on their own devices.
A usability test was conducted for CramLab to evaluate how effectively users could navigate key features, including account creation, downloading a vocabulary deck, creating a habit, and attaching a deck to a habit. Four participants, ranging in age from 23 to 83, tested the prototype on their own devices.
Findings
Findings
All users successfully created an account, but navigation issues were common.
All users successfully created an account, but navigation issues were common.
Several participants struggled to locate the deck library and habits page due to unclear navigation cues.
Several participants struggled to locate the deck library and habits page due to unclear navigation cues.
The toggle button for setting habit frequency was confusing, with users unsure how to select options.
The toggle button for setting habit frequency was confusing, with users unsure how to select options.
Users expected to immediately use newly downloaded decks, but the interface didn’t clearly support this action.
Users expected to immediately use newly downloaded decks, but the interface didn’t clearly support this action.
Wireframe Improvements
Wireframe Improvements
Wireframe Improvements
login flow
login flow
Updated buttons to "I’m New Here" and "I Have an Account" for a more welcoming experience.
Updated buttons to "I’m New Here" and "I Have an Account" for a more welcoming experience.
Removed the extra confirmation step to exit the welcome screen, enabling faster access.
Removed the extra confirmation step to exit the welcome screen, enabling faster access.
splash screen
splash screen
splash screen
welcome screen
welcome screen
welcome screen
login
login
login
new habit flow
new habit flow
Renamed "account" to "profile" for better clarity.
Renamed "account" to "profile" for better clarity.
Added stronger visual cues to the "My Habits" page.
Added stronger visual cues to the "My Habits" page.
Changed "frequency" to "repeat" and redesigned the toggle button for a more intuitive experience.
Changed "frequency" to "repeat" and redesigned the toggle button for a more intuitive experience.
profile
profile
profile
habits
habits
habits
new habit form
new habit form
new habit form
new deck download
new deck download
Updated the button style to display a picture of the current deck, along with a drop-down menu for active decks and a button to access the deck library.
Updated the button style to display a picture of the current deck, along with a drop-down menu for active decks and a button to access the deck library.
Redesigned the deck page layout. Added an Active Deck section with clear buttons for creating new decks and accessing the online deck library.
Redesigned the deck page layout. Added an Active Deck section with clear buttons for creating new decks and accessing the online deck library.
deck men (active)
deck men (active)
deck men (active)
local deck library
local deck library
local deck library
online deck library
online deck library
online deck library
User Interviews
User Interviews
User Interviews
Embrace Iteration
Embrace Iteration
Embrace Iteration
It doesn’t have to be perfect at first. Usability tests reveal weaknesses and pain points, allowing for improvements through iteration.
It doesn’t have to be perfect at first. Usability tests reveal weaknesses and pain points, allowing for improvements through iteration.
The Importance of User Research
The Importance of User Research
The Importance of User Research
Every user thinks and approaches tasks differently, making research essential for understanding diverse needs.
Every user thinks and approaches tasks differently, making research essential for understanding diverse needs.
More Data Would Have Been Beneficial
More Data Would Have Been Beneficial
More Data Would Have Been Beneficial
While user interviews provided valuable insights, conducting a survey early on could have given a broader perspective.
While user interviews provided valuable insights, conducting a survey early on could have given a broader perspective.
Inclusive Design is Vital
Inclusive Design is Vital
Inclusive Design is Vital
Ensuring accessibility and inclusivity improves both the functionality and overall well-being of the user experience.
Ensuring accessibility and inclusivity improves both the functionality and overall well-being of the user experience.
Motivation Drives Learning
Motivation Drives Learning
Motivation Drives Learning
Users have different learning styles, but motivation is a shared factor. Without consistency—reinforced by the habit-building feature—users would struggle to retain vocabulary effectively.
Users have different learning styles, but motivation is a shared factor. Without consistency—reinforced by the habit-building feature—users would struggle to retain vocabulary effectively.
Potential Improvements
Potential Improvements
Potential Improvements
Explore an Interactive Native Speaker Feature
Explore an Interactive Native Speaker Feature
Explore an Interactive Native Speaker Feature
A potential feature allowing users to hear native pronunciations and receive feedback to improve speaking skills.
A potential feature allowing users to hear native pronunciations and receive feedback to improve speaking skills.
Refine Habit-Building Mechanics
Refine Habit-Building Mechanics
Refine Habit-Building Mechanics
Additional customization options and smarter reminders could further enhance engagement.
Additional customization options and smarter reminders could further enhance engagement.
Expand User Testing
Expand User Testing
Expand User Testing
More usability tests would provide deeper insights and ensure accessibility for diverse learning styles.
More usability tests would provide deeper insights and ensure accessibility for diverse learning styles.
Enhance Collaboration Features
Enhance Collaboration Features
Enhance Collaboration Features
Future iterations could explore social learning, such as peer-to-peer practice or community challenges.
Future iterations could explore social learning, such as peer-to-peer practice or community challenges.
Start a conversation
Whether you have feedback, an idea, or something to share, I’d be glad to hear from you.
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© 2025 Designed and built by Zac Bowen.
Start a conversation
Whether you have feedback, an idea, or something to share, I’d be glad to hear from you.
© 2025 Designed and built by Zac Bowen.
Start a conversation
Whether you have feedback, an idea, or something to share, I’d be glad to hear from you.
© 2025 Designed and built by Zac Bowen.