LMS Redesign
Berklee College of Music
Project Lead: Kim Oswalt (Product Designer)
Engineering Lead: Eugene Fomin (Associate Director, Berklee Online)
Key Stakeholder: Boriana Alexiev (Associate Dean of Online Education)
Starting Point
When I came onboard, Berklee Online’s custom learning management system (BOCCE) was nearly 10 years old and in need of some major updates.
01
Confusing platform architecture
02
Excessive use of stacked modals
03
Lack of centralized notifications
Research
Develop an understanding of the core issues facing learners and instructors.
Goal: Data-informed decisions
OOUX
Identify the objects, relationships, actions, and attributes to build a better system.
Goal: Scalable architecture
Redesign
Create high-fidelity designs in collaboration with engineering and other key stakeholders.
Goal: Exceptional user experience
Research
Data sources included:
- Student support team
- Instructor support team
- GainSight (usage data + surveys)
- Post-semester surveys
Quotes like these helped me understand where students struggled inside of BOCCE.
Themes
Assignments
Frustration with the current assignment submission & grading experience.
Content
More options to engage with the material and customize the reading / viewing / listening experience.
Community
Facilitate connections with features students are accustomed to using on social media and messaging platforms.
OOUX
(Object Oriented UX)
Methodology by Sophia Prater
Object-Oriented UX is an integrated, content-first approach to information architecture and product design.
The process involves:
- Identifying the core objects in your system
- Identifying the relationships between those objects
- Identifying the actions that can be taken on each object
- Identifying the attributes (metadata) for each object
The object map I created for BOCCE—along with insights from user research—enabled early conversations with engineering to iteratively explore different design directions.
Redesign
The redesign project included a reimagining of the core BOCCE experience, addition of new features to drive engagement, launch of a user dashboard, and development of new digital gathering space for students.
Before
- Cluttered, distracting interface
- Few opportunities for engagement
- Modal-driven navigation flows
After
- Consolidated notifications
- Streamlined assignment submission & grading
- Reimagined navigation to remove need for modals
New audio and video players with time-stamped commenting
“Berklee Beach” digital gathering space for students
Redesigned live class experience to increase value for students
New user dashboard for managing their inbox, assignment deadlines, and key notifications.
Impact
Redesigning Berklee Online’s LMS was no small feat—but the results speak for themselves. Over 1,700 students now enjoy a more engaging, accessible platform and vibrant online community.
And Berklee’s team now has a scalable design system built to grow with them for years to come.