Grove — The World is Your Classroom
Bridging the Skills Gap: Redefining Soft Skill Learning for the Modern Workforce with a Scalable, Personalized, and Engaging Mobile Solution
This project was expanded from a Design-A-Thon, a one-day design competition where participants design a solution to a given problem space
Role
Product Designer
Industry
Mobile EduTech
Timeframe
1 Week
Tools
Adobe Illustrator
Figma
FigJam
Skills
Product Design
User Research
Visual/Brand Identity
Navigating the Shifting Landscape of Education
How might we enhance learning approaches to better align with modern needs?
The phrase "modern needs" immediately brings to mind the rapid advancements in technology, global interconnectivity, and the evolving strategies businesses employ to hire and retain talent.
In today's dynamic job market, the ability to continuously develop both soft and hard skills, stay informed on trends, and adapt to new opportunities has become essential. This emphasizes the need for accessible, engaging, and resourceful learning platforms that empower individuals to grow their skills and remain competitive in the workforce.
The Problem — but Delving Even Deeper
The growing disparity between the skills and knowledge required by the modern workforce and the tools to equip employees with those skills.
BUT is there a demand from both the employer and employee side to encourage skill growth to remain competitive? We understood that there was a disparity in skills required and tools necessary, but was there a desire from both sides to cater to such needs?
Our team held surveys and interviews with 13 participants to determine whether this statement held true.
Survey & Interview results show that there is enthusiasm from both the employee and employer side for continued skill growth. Then what can be the bridge between the two? Our solution.
Exploring Possible Solutions
Existing solutions often focus on academic education, foundational subjects, and language learning.
BUT they overlook the critical need for accessible platforms that provide workplace-contextual lessons.
Understanding Our Users
Meet Jonathan, a Hopeful Job Transitioner
Using aggregated information gleaned from our survey and interview participants, we crafted a persona for a better understanding of user pain points and needs.
Narrowing Our Scope Even Further
How might we enhance learning approaches to help busy professionals build essential and transferable soft skills . . .
through a scalable, accessible, and engaging solution tailored to modern job market demands?
We wanted our solution to fill a market niche while effectively addressing the problem, so during the ideation process, we focused on several key factors.
Crafting the Visual Identity of Grove
Building a Design System that Inspires Learning
To reflect the richness and enjoyment of learning, we developed a vibrant visual identity centered around the color green, symbolizing personal growth and skill development. This evolved into a comprehensive design system, ensuring consistency and usability.
We also placed heavy emphasis on common design standards and mobile accessibility guidelines to ensure a smooth, user-friendly learning experience.
Final Solution
Reflection
What I've Learned
People have truly been at the forefront of my journey. I’ve learned so much from my group members — Orion Tang, Bianca Gao, and Viji Parulekar.
Their constant communication, feedback, and collaborative process have given me a deeper understanding of working within a group, embracing diverse ideas and workflows, and navigating rigid time constraints. I’ve learned to prioritize specific tasks over others, ensuring that key deliverables are met without compromising the overall quality of the project.
Thanks for reading!
