Learning Cortex
An AI-powered study app that transforms student files into flashcards, quizzes, and personalized study guides for more efficient learning.
The Challenge
The challenge was to design a learning platform that is intuitive, visually engaging, and scalable—balancing user needs with technical constraints while ensuring the product could grow seamlessly in the future.
Research & Insights
Through user interviews, competitor analysis, and usability testing, we uncovered the biggest friction points in the current experience. Key insights included the need for seamless integration between learning materials and study tools, and the importance of AI-powered assistance for personalized learning experiences, which shaped our design direction and prioritized features.
Key Research Findings
Multiple Apps Disrupt Study Flow
80% of students reported frustration when switching between multiple study apps. This constant app-switching creates cognitive friction and interrupts their study flow, leading to fragmented learning experiences.
Research finding from 20+ student interviews
Time Savings Impact
AI-generated study aids can save students up to 5 hours per week, allowing them to focus on actual studying instead of creating study materials. This time savings translates to improved retention and better exam preparation.
Research finding from 20+ student interviews
The Problem & Solution
Traditional Study Methods
Switching between flashcards, notes, and quizzes across multiple apps results in disorganization, inefficiency, and information overload.
Learning Cortex
One AI-powered study platform that streamlines studying, optimizes retention, and eliminates wasted time—so you can focus on mastering your coursework.
Design Strategy & User Flow
Our design strategy focused on creating a seamless, intuitive user experience that guides students through their learning journey. The user flow was designed to minimize cognitive load while maximizing learning effectiveness through AI-powered assistance and integrated study tools.
User Journey Flow
Create Course
Set up a new learning course with title, description, and learning objectives
Upload Content
Import PDFs, documents, or create content directly in the platform
Study Session
Engage with content through interactive reading, highlighting, and note-taking
Learning Assistant
AI-powered help with explanations, summaries, and personalized guidance
Test Knowledge
Assess understanding with AI-generated quizzes, flashcards, and practice tests
Create Course
Set up a new learning course with title, description, and learning objectives
Upload Content
Import PDFs, documents, or create content directly in the platform
Study Session
Engage with content through interactive reading, highlighting, and note-taking
Learning Assistant
AI-powered help with explanations, summaries, and personalized guidance
Test Knowledge
Assess understanding with AI-generated quizzes, flashcards, and practice tests
Ideation & Strategy
Concept Exploration
Using our research as a foundation, we explored multiple approaches to learning enhancement through sketches, wireframes, and low-fidelity prototypes. We focused on three core concepts that would work together to create a comprehensive study experience: AI assistance, structured organization, and smart content generation.
AI-Powered Study Assistant
Intelligent content analysis and personalized learning recommendations
Structured Course System
Organized learning paths with tagging for easy navigation and study planning
Smart Content Generation
AI-powered flashcard and quiz creation from study materials
Strategic Decision Making
Each design decision was carefully evaluated using a framework that considered user impact, technical complexity, and business value. This systematic approach ensured we built the right solution for our users.
Shadcn/ui Design System
Adopted shadcn/ui as the baseline design system for its customizability and consistent component library
Onboarding & Guidance Strategy
Built interactive tooltips and onboarding flows to reduce cognitive load and help students quickly understand how to study with AI
Tag-Based File Organization
Introduced a flexible tagging system to replace rigid course structures, enabling scalable organization and cross-course studying
Brand Development
Developing the Learning Cortex brand identity was crucial for establishing trust and recognition in the competitive edtech space. I focused on creating a visual language that conveyed intelligence, reliability, and innovation.
Brain-inspired icon with modern typography
Visual Identity
A brain-inspired icon representing intelligence and learning, paired with modern typography that conveys professionalism and accessibility.
A sophisticated blue color scheme that represents growth, trust, and intelligence while maintaining excellent readability and accessibility.
Brand Strategy
Positioned as the intelligent study app that adapts to individual learning styles and accelerates academic success.
Encouraging yet professional, using language that motivates students while maintaining credibility and trustworthiness.
Complete color palette with hex codes and usage guidelines
Design & Development
Home Dashboard Wireframe
Course Creator Wireframe
Interactive App Walkthrough
Scroll through the steps to explore the Learning Center, the core of our platform. Here you can view your study materials and instantly generate flashcards, quizzes, and more.
Main Interface
The Learning Center features a clean, modern interface designed for optimal learning experiences. The layout is modular, allowing users to expand and collapse sections as needed.
The dark theme reduces eye strain during extended study sessions, while the intuitive layout makes navigation seamless.
Main Interface
Clean, modern design with intuitive navigation and accessible color scheme.
PDF Document Viewer
The document viewer supports multiple formats including PDFs, with built-in annotation tools and highlighting capabilities. Users can take notes, create flashcards, and generate study materials directly from the content.
The viewer maintains document fidelity while adding interactive learning features that transform static content into dynamic study materials.
PDF Viewer
Advanced document viewer with annotation tools and interactive learning features.
AI Learning Assistant
At the heart of the Learning Center is an intelligent AI assistant that provides personalized learning support. The assistant can answer questions, generate summaries, and answer any questions based on the content being studied.
The AI integrates seamlessly with the learning materials, offering contextual help and adaptive recommendations that improve over time.
AI-Powered Chat Interface
Intelligent assistant providing personalized learning support and contextual help.
Notes & Annotations
The notes system allows users to create detailed annotations, summaries, and personal insights while studying. Notes automatically sync with the content being viewed and can be organized by topic or subject.
Users can highlight text, add comments, and create structured notes that enhance their learning experience and retention.
Notes Panel
Interactive note-taking with automatic content synchronization.
Flashcard Creation
I designed flashcard generation to save students hours of manual work. With a click of a button, students can generate flashcards based on the content they are studying.
Using spaced repetition algorithms, the system ensures students are shown cards at the right intervals for maximum retention.
Flashcards Panel
Automated flashcard generation with spaced repetition learning.
Interactive Quizzes
The quiz system generates interactive assessments based on the content being studied. Questions adapt to user performance and provide immediate feedback to reinforce learning and identify areas for improvement.
Quizzes can be taken multiple times with randomized questions, ensuring comprehensive understanding of the material.
Quizzes Panel
Adaptive quiz generation with performance tracking and feedback.
Results & Impact
Through a user-centered and iterative design process, I delivered a product that solved a real student problem and drove tangible results.
I led design end-to-end and contributed on the frontend — from building the landing page and onboarding to setting up the design system.
- Iteration revealed hidden edge cases — early prototypes uncovered unexpected user behaviors that shaped more resilient design solutions.
- Scoping is critical — balancing ambition with technical constraints taught the importance of defining a realistic MVP before expanding.
- Collaboration drives clarity — close work with engineers highlighted design decisions that improved scalability and feasibility.
- Testing early saves time later — user testing surfaced usability issues early, preventing costly redesigns during development.
- Brand and product must align — refining the brand identity alongside UX ensured the platform felt approachable while maintaining credibility.
The strategic design decisions and user-centered approach led to measurable success and positioned Learning Cortex for sustainable growth.
Secured Initial Funding
Prototype clarity led to early funding and momentum.
User Validation
Testing confirmed intuitiveness and time saved with AI study tools.
Scalable Foundation
Design system and architecture set us up for fast iteration and growth.