Context & Role
When I joined Degreed, the product existed only as a desktop portal. I was hired to design the mobile app from the ground up and later led multiple iterations as the product matured.
Role: Lead designer
Timeline: 4 Months
Team: 1-2 developers
Challenge: Bring Degreed to mobile without duplicating the complexity of the web app
Early Exploration
The first explorations leaned into interactive concepts, like swiping through cards in a carousel.
It felt fun and game-like in early testing.
Over time, the novelty wore off.
Engineering complexity made it difficult to scale.
Ultimately, this approach wasn’t the right long-term foundation.
Pivot to Simplicity
We stepped back and designed around a vertical feed — a familiar, scalable interaction that users already understood.
The MVP included:
• A daily feed of 5 items (~20–25 minutes of content)
• Save for Later
• Push notifications
• A basic profile
This gave learners just enough to make Degreed part of their daily routine.
Key Feature: iOS Share Sheet
One of the most valuable features was integrating with iOS share extensions. Learners could save content from Safari, YouTube, or podcasts directly into Degreed.It felt fun and game-like in early testing.
This shifted Degreed from being a destination to becoming part of users’ daily flow.
Growth & Expansion
As adoption grew, customers wanted more functionality. We added features carefully, while protecting the app’s lightweight nature.
Commenting with Likes and Replies
Browse & search to discover content beyond the daily feed
Notifications for items shared, liked, or commented on
Profile to see all your completed learning items.
2019 Refresh
By 2019, Degreed refreshed its brand and redesigned the web Learner Home. Mobile needed to evolve alongside it.
We used the moment to both modernize the UI and simplify the experience:
• A daily feed of 5 items (~20–25 minutes of content)
• Save for Later
• Push notifications
• A basic profile
