Pearson: MyLab
– Scalable Learning Platform
Designing Complex Learning Interfaces at Enterprise Scale
Designing Complex Learning Interfaces at Enterprise Scale
Designing Complex Learning Interfaces at Enterprise Scale
I worked on interaction and visual design for the instructor-facing side of Pearson MyLab, a large-scale learning platform used by colleges and universities worldwide. This work focused specifically on tools for instructors—such as course setup, content management, and assessment configuration—making dense, configurable educational interfaces usable, consistent, and scalable across teams.
I worked on interaction and visual design for the instructor-facing side of Pearson MyLab, a large-scale learning platform used by colleges and universities worldwide. This work focused specifically on tools for instructors—such as course setup, content management, and assessment configuration—making dense, configurable educational interfaces usable, consistent, and scalable across teams.
I worked on interaction and visual design for the instructor-facing side of Pearson MyLab, a large-scale learning platform used by colleges and universities worldwide. This work focused specifically on tools for instructors—such as course setup, content management, and assessment configuration—making dense, configurable educational interfaces usable, consistent, and scalable across teams.
Role
Sr Product Designer
Focus
Interaction Design, Complex UI
platform
Web (responsive)
Users
College Instructor
Role
Sr Product Designer
Focus
Interaction Design, Complex UI
platform
Web (responsive)
Users
College Instructor
Role
Sr Product Designer
Focus
Interaction Design, Complex UI
platform
Web (responsive)
Users
College Instructor
The Challenge
The Challenge
The Challenge
Designing for power users managing complex, configurable teaching workflows at scale.
Designing for power users managing complex, configurable teaching workflows at scale.
Designing for power users managing complex, configurable teaching workflows at scale.
Highly complex product surface
MyLab supports a wide range of disciplines, content types, and instructional models, resulting in dense and highly configurable interfaces.
Highly complex product surface
MyLab supports a wide range of disciplines, content types, and instructional models, resulting in dense and highly configurable interfaces.
Highly complex product surface
Scale and longevity
Instructor tools had to support ongoing curriculum changes, new features, and long-term use across semesters without breaking established workflows.
Scale and longevity
Instructor tools had to support ongoing curriculum changes, new features, and long-term use across semesters without breaking established workflows.
Scale and longevity
Configuration-heavy tasks
Instructors regularly managed grading rules, assignments, assessments, and course settings, creating high cognitive load during setup and maintenance.
Configuration-heavy tasks
Instructors regularly managed grading rules, assignments, assessments, and course settings, creating high cognitive load during setup and maintenance.
Configuration-heavy tasks
Usability vs. flexibility tradeoffs
The platform needed to remain flexible enough to support diverse teaching styles without overwhelming instructors with options.
Usability vs. flexibility tradeoffs
The platform needed to remain flexible enough to support diverse teaching styles without overwhelming instructors with options.
Usability vs. flexibility tradeoffs
My Role + Scope
My Role + Scope
My Role + Scope
SCOPE
Designed interaction and visual patterns for core MyLab experiences
Simplified complex interfaces through hierarchy, layout, and component reuse
Created and documented reusable UI components and guidelines
Supported implementation through detailed design specifications
SCOPE
Designed interaction and visual patterns for core MyLab experiences
Simplified complex interfaces through hierarchy, layout, and component reuse
Created and documented reusable UI components and guidelines
Supported implementation through detailed design specifications
SCOPE
Designed interaction and visual patterns for core MyLab experiences
Simplified complex interfaces through hierarchy, layout, and component reuse
Created and documented reusable UI components and guidelines
Supported implementation through detailed design specifications
TEAM INVOLVED
Product Manager
Product Manager
Engineers
Engineers
User Experience Team
User Experience Team
Product Manager
User Experience Team
Engineers
Design System Team
Design System Team
Design System Team
UX Copywriter
UX Copywriter
UX Copywriter
DeignConstraints
DeignConstraints
DeignConstraints
MyLab operates as a modular learning platform rather than a single, fixed product.
Multiple subjects and pedagogical models sharing the same UI framework
Multiple subjects and pedagogical models sharing the same UI framework
Accessibility requirements for educational products
Accessibility requirements for educational products
Long-term maintainability across multiple product lines
Long-term maintainability across multiple product lines
Evolving the UI
Through Design
System Changes
Evolving the UI
Through Design
System Changes
Evolving the UI Through Design
System Changes
During my seven years at Pearson, MyLab went through two major design system evolutions. A key part of my role was translating existing workflows from older UI patterns into newer, system-aligned designs.
Auditing legacy interfaces and identifying patterns that no longer scaled
Auditing legacy interfaces and identifying patterns that no longer scaled
Mapping old UI elements to updated design system components
Mapping old UI elements to updated design system components
Redesigning screens to improve hierarchy, spacing, and accessibility while preserving familiar workflows
Redesigning screens to improve hierarchy, spacing, and accessibility while preserving familiar workflows
Evaluating where existing systems created friction, cognitive overload, or error risk
Evaluating where existing systems created friction, cognitive overload, or error risk
Key Design Decisions
Design Decisions
Design Decisions
Outcomes + Impact
This work improved consistency and usability across MyLab experiences while supporting ongoing product evolution.
Key outcomes included:
Reduced UI inconsistency across subjects and tools
Improved clarity in dense learning interfaces
Stronger alignment between design, product, and engineering teams
Reflection: Designing for education at scale reinforced the importance of systems thinking, restraint, and documentation. This project sharpened my ability to balance flexibility with usability in complex, long-lived products.
Outcomes + Impact
This work improved consistency and usability across MyLab experiences while supporting ongoing product evolution.
Key outcomes included:
Reduced UI inconsistency across subjects and tools
Improved clarity in dense learning interfaces
Stronger alignment between design, product, and engineering teams
Reflection: Designing for education at scale reinforced the importance of systems thinking, restraint, and documentation. This project sharpened my ability to balance flexibility with usability in complex, long-lived products.
Outcomes + Impact
This work improved consistency and usability across MyLab experiences while supporting ongoing product evolution.
Key outcomes included:
Reduced UI inconsistency across subjects and tools
Improved clarity in dense learning interfaces
Stronger alignment between design, product, and engineering teams
Reflection: Designing for education at scale reinforced the importance of systems thinking, restraint, and documentation. This project sharpened my ability to balance flexibility with usability in complex, long-lived products.
