D2L / 2012-2013
Content & Course Management
Modernized a core Brightspace workflow so students could find course materials more easily and instructors could organize content with clearer, more direct interactions.
Design Highlights
Overview
I worked with D2L’s CEO and customers on the Content redesign, connecting the company’s direction with the needs of the people creating and using learning content.
Content & Course Management redesigned the content management and course viewing experience for Brightspace students, bringing modern UI patterns, interaction design, and the latest design system components to a core area of the platform that had become dated.
Challenge
The existing content management experience in Brightspace was built on a legacy platform with dated visual design. Students struggled to navigate complex course content structures, and the interface didn't use modern web capabilities for interaction and visual design. The content browsing experience needed to match the expectations of students who were increasingly accustomed to modern web applications.
Approach
Applied modern UI patterns and interaction design using the latest design system components. Introduced drag-and-drop and other contemporary interaction elements to make content organization more direct. Focused on creating a clear information hierarchy that made course content easy to navigate and discover.
Solution
Built a modernized content browser with updated visual design, drag-and-drop organization, and improved navigation patterns. The redesign used the latest Brightspace design system components for visual consistency. Modern interaction design elements replaced static interfaces, making content management easier for both students browsing content and instructors organizing it.
Impact
Students gained a clearer path through complex course structures, making learning materials easier to find and understand. Instructors could organize content more directly through modern navigation and drag-and-drop interactions. For D2L, redesigning this core workflow brought a heavily used part of Brightspace onto the emerging design system and created a more consistent foundation for platform modernization.
Key Learnings
Visual design refreshes are most impactful when paired with interaction improvements. A new coat of paint alone doesn't solve usability problems. Building on an established design system accelerates modernization efforts while maintaining platform consistency.