Today, educational technology (edtech) is rapidly advancing therefore reshaping how students learn and teachers instruct. These new tools are emerging to make education more engaging, accessible, and personalized. Product Design also plays a crucial role in shaping the usability and effectiveness of edtech platforms, designers must balance aesthetics with functionality to meet the unique needs of students, teachers, and administrators alike.
Theresa, a seasoned Product designer with a background in science, health, and medical engineering, is one such designer dedicated to crafting meaningful learning experiences. Theresa’s journey has led her to explore how technology can not only enhance learning but also bridge educational gaps, making learning more accessible and enjoyable. With her expertise in user research, and design processes, and her deep understanding of learning needs, Theresa creates platforms that support diverse learning styles and technical skills across various educational settings.
In this interview, Theresa Okonofua shares her approach to edtech design, diving into topics such as user research, gamification, and data-driven improvements. She also highlights the challenges and trends shaping the future of edtech UX design, offering valuable insights for anyone interested in the intersection of education and technology.
What initially drew you to the fields of science, health, and engineering, and how have these areas influenced your work in tech product design?
Theresa: I’ve always been fascinated by how science and technology can work together to solve real-world problems, especially those that impact health and quality of life. Growing up, I was curious about everything from biology to engineering because I could see how each field contributed to making life better or more efficient. When I transitioned into tech product design, my scientific background gave me an edge in understanding the more technical aspects of design, especially regarding usability and functionality. Working in health and engineering taught me to focus on the end user—what they need, what could go wrong, and how to make things intuitive yet effective. This experience has helped me identify and prioritize user pain points and incorporate principles like safety and comfort into my designs, making sure they’re not just visually appealing but also grounded in reliable, sound principles.
How would you describe your design process when working on an edtech product or platform?
Theresa: When I design for edtech, the process is very user-centric, meaning it revolves around understanding the people who will actually use the product. I start with in-depth user research to get to the heart of the experience. I conduct interviews and usability tests with students, teachers, and administrators, and sometimes I even sit in on classes to observe how different individuals interact with tech in a learning environment. Once I have a clear sense of the users’ needs and pain points, I move on to structuring the information in a way that makes sense for them. My aim is always to make the interface as intuitive and engaging as possible. Design-wise, I keep things clean and simple but visually engaging so that it supports learning rather than distracting from it. By focusing on both aesthetics and functionality, I aim to create an experience that is not only effective but also enjoyable for users.
How do you incorporate principles of gamification, interactivity, and engagement into your edtech designs to enhance the learning experience?
Theresa: Gamification is such a fun and effective way to get students involved, and it’s one of my favourite tools to use in edtech. I incorporate elements like progress tracking, interactive exercises, and reward systems that make learning feel more like a game and less like a chore. For example, simple badges or progress bars can give students a sense of accomplishment and encourage them to keep going. Interactive exercises, like quizzes or activities that allow for real-time feedback, also help keep students engaged. It’s about creating an environment where they feel excited to learn and can easily see their progress. By giving students immediate feedback, I’m able to create that “aha!” moment right in the middle of the learning process. I try to make the experience immersive but also meaningful, where each interactive element genuinely enhances their understanding of the content.
What role do data analytics and user feedback play in your iterative design process?
Theresa: Data and user feedback are essential in shaping the final design. After launching a feature, I monitor user behaviour closely, looking at metrics like click-through rates, time spent on each section, or drop-off points where students might lose interest or face challenges. I also gather qualitative feedback from surveys and one-on-one interviews to get insights into how the platform feels to the users. For example, we once noticed that a particular module had a high rate of incomplete assignments. By digging into the data and speaking with users, we found that the instructions were too complex. We simplified them, and afterwards, completion rates jumped by about 40%. Each time I see how a small change based on data can lead to significant improvement, it reminds me of the importance of listening to users and refining until we get it right.
How do you collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure that your UX designs align with pedagogical and technical requirements?
Theresa: Collaboration is key, especially in edtech, where UX design needs to align closely with both educational goals and technical possibilities. I work closely with instructional designers, developers, and subject matter experts. We have regular design reviews and feedback sessions where we go over the product’s goals and make sure we’re all on the same page. Instructional designers help ensure the content is pedagogically sound, while developers advise on what’s technically feasible or suggest solutions to achieve a particular effect. This teamwork makes sure that what we’re building is not only beautiful and user-friendly but also meaningful and effective for learning.
What are some unique challenges you face when designing for the education sector compared to other industries?
Theresa: Education is a unique field because the users—students, teachers, and administrators—each have distinct needs and levels of technical proficiency. In edtech, the challenge often lies in accommodating complex content and supporting diverse learning styles without overwhelming the user. I also have to ensure that our designs are compatible with existing systems that schools and educational institutions use. Plus, education has many stakeholders, so balancing the needs of students, teachers, and school administrators requires thoughtful, flexible design that caters to all. It’s challenging but incredibly rewarding when it all comes together.
What strategies do you use to ensure your edtech designs are intuitive and engaging for students of all ages and backgrounds?
Theresa: I try to focus on clear visual hierarchies and consistent navigation so that users of any age can easily find what they need. I also use interactive feedback to keep students engaged and adjust elements like colour schemes and typography to be age-appropriate. If I’m designing for younger students, I might use brighter colours and larger, simpler icons. For older students, I’ll switch to a more sophisticated look. It’s also important to incorporate various learning styles visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements—so the design speaks to a broad range of users. I want everyone who uses the product to feel that it’s intuitive and engaging.
How do you stay up-to-date with developments in educational pedagogy, learning science, and instructional design?
Theresa: Staying current in the field is something I prioritise, especially in a fast-evolving space like edtech. I attend industry conferences and workshops to keep up with the latest trends, which is always inspiring. I also follow educational research journals and read up on studies in learning science and instructional design. Plus, I connect with educators and occasionally visit classrooms to get a firsthand understanding of current challenges and what tools might be useful for teachers and students alike.
What emerging trends in edtech are you excited about, and how do you see them shaping the future of UX design in this space?
Theresa: Right now, I’m particularly excited about personalised learning powered by AI, augmented reality (AR) for immersive experiences, and adaptive algorithms that adjust to each student’s progress. AI has the potential to make learning much more individualised, allowing students to move at their own pace. AR is also promising, as it can make abstract concepts come to life in ways that weren’t possible before, like virtual dissections in biology or interactive history lessons. These trends are pushing UX design to become even more dynamic, requiring designs that can adapt to and anticipate the needs of individual users.
How do you approach prototyping and testing your edtech designs to validate their effectiveness before development?
Theresa: Prototyping is where the ideas come to life, and I start by creating low-fidelity wireframes to map out the structure. Once I have a working wireframe, I move to interactive prototypes that allow users to test out the flow. I then gather feedback, make adjustments, and create high-fidelity prototypes for more in-depth testing with stakeholders. Usability testing is crucial, especially in edtech, because I want to ensure that each design truly meets the needs of students and educators. By the time we move to full-scale development, the design has been through several rounds of testing and refinement.
As Theresa shared, building impactful edtech products requires not only technical and design expertise but also a deep understanding of learning science, pedagogy, and user-centred design principles. Her insights reveal the careful balance between innovation and usability, showing how design can support diverse learning needs and styles. As edtech continues to evolve, designers like Theresa will play a vital role in shaping educational experiences that are not only functional but genuinely transformative for students and educators alike.
