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mike mathis product design
A woman's hands hold a phone in a pink case with the app's home screen shown on it

2025 Skillsoft learning app overhaul

Goal: Simplify the experience, modernize the visuals, and make mobile learning easier and more engaging
Summary
  • I led a full redesign of Skillsoft's learning app, setting vision, direction, and quality bar
  • I unified UX under a scalable component library
  • I delivered measurable results: 75% rated new app "better" or "much better"
  • I modernized the UI and white-label framework, strengthening brand flexibility and client confidence
Key outcomes

75%

Three-fourths of learners ranked the new design as "better" or "much better" than the preexisting experience

79%

Nearly four-fifths ranked dark mode as "appealing" or "very appealing" with many considering it "easy on the eyes"

The problem space

Clients of Skillsoft demanded a modernized mobile experience, so workers of all types could access learning opportunities. This work made a direct business impact.

Mobile learners were satisfied with content but struggled with usability. Only 55% found the app easy to use. Issues included login friction, inconsistent UI, poor content discovery, and unclear progress tracking.

My role and my partners

I led end-to-end product design, executing on research through high fidelity UI.

I conducted UX QA with product and engineering throughout multiple app updates, collaborated closely with UX peers, and initiated contact with the learning content design team to unify our approaches.

Research
Cover slide to a readout deck of an evaluative survey
  • I immersed myself in key learning apps like Duolingo, Mimo, and Coursera
  • I used Maze to survey 215 users to evaluate proposed designs; this built on a survey of 377 users to identify pain points
  • I used Miro's AI tools to synthesize data quickly
Design
A hand-drawn quick sketch exploring a part of the app's journey pathway
  • I established an all-new component library using Figma, making us progressively more efficient
  • I established an approach to white-label branding, and ways for our clients to customize the logo and color palette at scale
  • I produced mobile, tablet, light mode, and dark mode variations across all key areas of the platform
  • I leveraged wireframes and exploratory sketching to ideate quickly
Outcomes
High-fidelity screenshot of the learning app
High-fidelity screenshot of the learning app
High-fidelity screenshot of the learning app
High-fidelity screenshot of the learning app
High-fidelity screenshot of the learning app
High-fidelity screenshot of the learning app
High-fidelity screenshot of the learning app
High-fidelity screenshot of the learning app
  • I reduced login friction and simplified onboarding, ensuring more users would be able to use the app
  • My clean, focused UI supported light & dark modes
  • I streamlined home screen and IA enabling faster access to key learning materials
  • I adapted the UI for white-label clients and their brands
  • Users validated their visual satisfaction and engagement
Open prototypes in new tabs
View login flows Swipe through the home screen
Sample the learning experience
My takeaways

As much as I would like to offer every available feature in an app experience, this project reminded me that mobile users expect something different, and much more curated than the web platform.

The previous version of the app had become heavy, slow, and gradually less effective, and our key clients were beginning to notice.

This project served as an opportunity to sharpen and highlight what mattered the most to users. To expand on this, in a world where AI features are proliferating, "curation leaders" are critical.

User quote
It flows the way my brain thinks and processes information.

Learner

Up next: Risk dashboard