My First UI/UX Internship in an EdTech Startup
During my first UI/UX internship at an edtech startup, I collaborated closely with the co-founder and developer to build two interconnected platforms — one for educators, the other for students.
This case study shares how we navigated early-stage challenges and delivered design solutions while respecting confidentiality, as the product is still under development.
The Challenges🧩
Joining the project mid-development, the platform had scattered features and no clear direction. The initial development was functional but lacked cohesive design and user experience.
- Early-stage Development: Features were undefined and the product lacked direction.
- Limited Research: User needs and behaviors were mostly unknown.
- Unclear User Flows: Navigation paths were undefined, causing potential confusion.
My Role👨💻
I was the only designer on the team, handling research, UX flows, UI design, and handoff across both platforms.
The co-founder actively guided me through regular sessions where we discussed features, user journeys, and timelines. I was also included in business discussions and team meetings, where my input was valued and helped align the design with broader product goals.
My Design Process🧭
With a tight timeline and shifting requirements, collaboration with the co-founder and developer was key. To stay focused and structured, I followed the Double Diamond process throughout the project.
Discover🔍
The first step was deep discussions with the co-founder to understand the vision, goals, and existing progress.
User interviews followed to uncover real needs and pain points. These insights informed the creation of user personas to keep design user-centered.
A competitive analysis rounded out the research, highlighting common patterns and opportunities to stand out.
Define📌
After gathering insights, it was time to make sense of what we learned. We identified the key user problems and aligned them with the product’s goals and priorities.
We prioritized features by balancing user needs with tech constraints and timeline pressure.
Personas from interviews kept the design focused and user-centered.
Develop✏️
We mapped out multiple user journeys and detailed flows for both students and educators, bringing clarity to both the design and technical side of the platform.
The information architecture was structured to support scalability and gave the developer a clearer sense of how everything fits together.
Low-fidelity wireframes helped visualize layouts early and gather quick feedback for alignment.
Deliver🚀
The deliver phase involved handing off comprehensive design assets and detailed specifications to support the development of both educator and student platforms. Clear documentation and explanations ensured the developer could implement designs accurately.
I designed over 65 pages within one month, working weekends and late hours to meet tight deadlines. This intense schedule pushed me to quickly adapt to real-world project demands and maintain quality under pressure.
Close collaboration with the developer included clarifying design questions, reviewing builds for visual consistency, and addressing technical constraints. When my internship ended, the product was actively in development based on our shared efforts.
Sharing this overview with crossed fingers hoping no confidential info leaks!
Key Takeaways🎓
- Real-world experience: Learned what it’s really like to work on fast-moving projects where things change on the fly and deadlines actually matter.
- Functionality over aesthetics: Prioritizing practical, user-friendly features improved both experience and development.
- Team synergy: Collaborating closely with the co-founder and developer fostered shared understanding and smoother workflows.
Gratitude🌟
I’m grateful to Servlon Solution LLP for this valuable real-world experience and to the co-founder Garvit Gupta for his constant support and guidance. Thanks for reading. I welcome any positive criticism or feedback. Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter.