A “lifelong learning platform” for alumni of the UC Davis Graduate School of Management. 👥
Client: UC Davis Graduate School of Management
Industry: Education, Professional Networking, Technology
Challenge: UC Davis GSM needed a way to better engage alumni post-graduation by providing access to high-quality learning content and stronger professional networking opportunities. The existing ecosystem lacked a centralized platform that could support continued education, meaningful alumni connections, and sustained community involvement.
Scope: Complete UX and UI design from concept to final mockups
My Role: Lead Product Designer—Research Synthesis, Personas, Competitive Analysis, UX Design, UI Design, Prototyping
Project Timeline: 10 Weeks
Introduction
Background
Dean Unnava of the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, committed to supporting the lifelong professional success of alumni, aimed to extend community and educational access through a centralized platform.
The GSM could offer alumni:
Professional certificates
GSM Course content
With this kickoff, our next goal was to understand the alumni's perspective — specifically how they approached continued learning, what professional support they were seeking post-graduation, and how connected they felt to the GSM community.
Research
While I did not conduct the research myself, I closely observed each method and and played a key role in synthesizing insights to identify user needs and shape the design direction. Here’s what I understood:
Research Methods
Focus Groups: Alumni expectations for career support, content relevance, and community connection.
User Interviews: Upskilling habits, learning formats, and GSM content credibility.
Quantitative Survey: Platforms used, willingness to pay, pricing preferences, and content access.
Key Insights
We synthesized findings into four main insights that shaped our design direction:
Alumni want a centralized platform to access high-quality learning content and explore relevant GSM courses.
Professional networking is highly valued — users seek easier ways to connect with fellow alumni beyond personal circles.
There is a strong desire to stay competitive and up-to-date in their industries through credible, time-efficient learning.
Alumni engagement is low when communication is poor or last-minute — users want to feel seen, informed, and acknowledged.
Method 1: User Interviews
Six semi-structured interviews were conducted across three audience segments:
1 High School Student
4 University Students
1 Full-Time Employee
Key Themes
Connection: Users enjoy staying updated on the everyday moments of close friends
Comfort: The app’s simplicity and structure are perceived as familiar and approachable
Simplicity: The limited posting and minimal UI are seen as a refreshing alternative to content-heavy platforms
Documentation: Users value the ability to look back on past BeReals as a lightweight personal archive
Themes and Values
These patterns emerged consistently across interviews and survey data:
Core Themes
GSM Community & Support
Alumni want more transparent communication and opportunities to engage meaningfully with the GSM post-graduation
Networking & Mentorship
Alumni seek ways to connect professionally — for mentorship, job opportunities, and staying connected within their industries
Learning
High-quality content, flexible access, and relevance to current industry trends are top priorities for continued learning
Alumni Values
Network – Strengthening professional relationships to expand knowledge and opportunities
Time – Getting maximum value from minimal time investment
Outcome – Tangible results (certifications, insights, growth) that feel meaningful and actionable
Personas
3 core alumni profiles identified.
Established Professionals
Confident in their careers, motivated to give back, often as mentors
Mid-Career Professionals
Focused on staying ahead and upskilling with trusted resources
Early-Career Graduates
Navigating life after graduation, seeking guidance and light-touch networking
Reframing the Opportunity
Our research revealed that the core need goes beyond learning alone:
Learning alone isn’t the core issue
→ How might we design a platform that prioritizes community, professional development, and meaningful alumni connection — not just access to content?
Current alumni support is limited
→ How might we empower alumni to support one another and co-create a stronger, self-sustaining network?
We’re not the first lifelong learning platform
→ How might we differentiate by creating a holistic alumni experience that blends high-quality content with real connection and career growth?
Problem Statement
How Might We...
create a centralized platform where alumni and students can access high-quality learning content, engage in meaningful professional conversations, and continue to foster a strong, supportive GSM community for lifelong growth.
Ideation
With the MVP feature set finalized by PMs to meet alumni and client needs, I used this foundation to guide design decisions and prioritize user experience.
Product Requirements
Design
The GSM Lifelong Learning Platform was structured around its unique audience. We aimed to go beyond a content hub by personalizing the experience for alumni, GSM content, and admin users.
My designs
Of all the features, I designed the following frames:
Login Landing Page
Onboarding Learning Preference Quiz
Learning Content
Saved Learning Content
Alumni Directory
Alumni Location Geomap
Upload Content (Article, Video, & Podcast)
Alumni-posted Content
My design partner spearheaded the onboarding profile quiz, discussion forum, messaging, and alumni profile.
Lo-Fi → Midfi
In the lo-fi stage, I prioritized getting core solutions on the screen, while lightly refining lower-priority elements and layout.
At mid-fi, I added branding, copy, and interaction detail to prep the prototype for alumni testing in Figma, ensuring it was clear and engaging for participants unfamiliar with UX workflows. The goal: focused feedback on key features.
Learning Content Discovery
Increase visual engagement of learning dashboard
Simplified top navigation
Easier access to saved content
Minimized step to edit learning preferences
Alumni Directory
Simplified alumni directory and filtering
Interactive toggle Geomap
Alumni Generated Content
Dedicated content upload page
Increased visual hierarchy of content form
Final Design
The GSM’s Lifelong Learning Platform Pillars:
1. Community 👭
2. Professional Growth
💼 3. Learning 📕
Onboarding: Learning Preferences Quiz
A quick onboarding quiz that tailors learning suggestions to each alumni’s style and goals.
Learning Library
A go-to space for curated courses, articles, and videos made for lifelong learners.
Contribute Content
Share knowledge with the community by uploading articles, podcasts, or videos.
Community Posts
A space for alumni to spark conversations, share thoughts, and drop helpful finds.
Networking Map
An interactive map that highlights where alumni are located—ideal for GSM events, meetups, and professional networking.
Reflection
What a ride and proud moment in my design journey.
This project stretched my thinking, sharpened my skills, and made me even more excited to grow as a product designer.
Challenges
Prototyping limits in Figma.
Creating an advanced filter system pushed Figma to its edge. Without conditionals or multiple actions, I couldn't fully simulate the real interaction, which impacted usability testing.
Takeaways
PMs are magic.
Watching our PMs in action was eye-opening. From organizing roadmaps in Notion to feature scoping and aligning the team, I left this project with a deep respect for cross-functional collaboration.
Accomplishments
Designed with the 8pt grid for the first time to support dev handoff and keep layouts clean and scalable
Pushed Figma further than ever with interactive maps, scroll buttons, radio groups, and smart component swaps
Gratitude
Shoutout to my incredible team and AggieWorks. This project was the highlight of my final undergrad year. Huge thanks to Dean Unnava and the UC Davis GSM for trusting us with this meaningful work. I’m walking away inspired and proud.