Brief

Designed a language learning app that uses Korean media to make learning engaging and culturally immersive.

KultureLearn blends K-pop, K-dramas, and webtoons to help users connect with the Korean language and culture in a natural, meaningful way. Inspired by my own journey reconnecting with my heritage, the app rethinks traditional language learning.

Contribution

Led UX research and design to create a user centered, media driven learning experience.

I conducted user research, defined key user needs, and designed flow and interfaces focused on cultural engagement and motivation beyond traditional language goals.

Challenge

Integrate Korean media into language learning while supporting diverse proficiency levels and learning preferences.

The challenge was creating an engaging experience that feels seamless for beginners while still offering value to advanced learners, all through immersive Korean media content.

Goal

Design an engaging learning experience that blends Korean media with language acquisition.

The goal was to motivate users by embedding cultural context and adaptable learning paths that support different skill levels and preferences.

Brief

Club is a platform that emphasizes accountability and community for personal growth and goal achievement.

Users join themed clubs, participate in challenges, and track their progress. Using blockchain technology, it motivates consistency and offers rewards for dedication.

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

Identifying gaps & defining direction

Problem
Discovery

Uncovering user frustration in existing apps

I analyzed user pain points in current language learning apps, which became the foundation for my research and design decisions. These insights guided my problem framing and goal-setting throughout the project.

Users struggle to find language learning apps that are both engaging and culturally immersive

Lack of engaging content and poor progress tracking leads to low motivation and drop-off

Advanced learners feel neglected due to limited challenging or high level content

Users crave deeper cultural context integrated into their language learning experience

🗝️ Key question:

How can we use Korean media to create an engaging, culturally immersive language app for all skill levels?

Research

Feature Comparison

I analyzed key features across top language learning apps, evaluating listening, speaking, cultural content, and engagement tools.

User Surveys

User Survey Conclusions:

Users prefer tech-driven, interactive, and self paced learning experiences

Users want personalized learning paths based on their proficiency levels

Users struggle with low engagement and lack of culturally immersive content

Key Findings: Incorporating insights from analysis into planning

Based on insights from feature evaluation, competitive analysis, and user surveys, I created a focused list of features to avoid, must haves to include, and key questions to guide future user research.

What to avoid:

Passive learning → prioritize interactive and practice driven experiences
Intrusive notifications → keep notification minimal, timely, and purposeful
Heavy paywalls → avoid locking essential features behind subscriptions
Lack of advanced content → ensure learning paths challenge all levels

Passive learning → prioritize interactive and practice driven experiences
Intrusive notifications → keep notification minimal, timely, and purposeful
Heavy paywalls → avoid locking essential features behind subscriptions
Lack of advanced content → ensure learning paths challenge all levels

Passive learning → prioritize interactive and practice driven experiences
Intrusive notifications → keep notification minimal, timely, and purposeful
Heavy paywalls → avoid locking essential features behind subscriptions
Lack of advanced content → ensure learning paths challenge all levels

What to incorporate:

Interactive exercises and creative content to keep users engaged
Social and community features that enhance the learning experience
Cultural context integrated into lessons for a deeper language understanding
Adaptive learning and motivation tools like progress tracking and rewards
Diverse, structured content to support all proficiency levels

Interactive exercises and creative content to keep users engaged
Social and community features that enhance the learning experience
Cultural context integrated into lessons for a deeper language understanding
Adaptive learning and motivation tools like progress tracking and rewards
Diverse, structured content to support all proficiency levels

Interactive exercises and creative content to keep users engaged
Social and community features that enhance the learning experience
Cultural context integrated into lessons for a deeper language understanding
Adaptive learning and motivation tools like progress tracking and rewards
Diverse, structured content to support all proficiency levels

DESIGN PROCESS

Building & iterating KultureLearn

I lead the design of the challenge creation feature, focused on simplifying the process and addressing user pain points.

DEFINE

User Personas

Meet our language learning explorers!

IDEATE

Journey Mapping

Create the user flow for our language learners

I divided the app into four core user journeys…

Onboarding: Builds a personalized routine based on each user's learning context

Onboarding: Builds a personalized routine based on each user's learning context

Vocabulary lessons: Supports both beginners and advanced users in expanding vocabulary

Vocabulary lessons: Supports both beginners and advanced users in expanding vocabulary

Song lessons: Lets K-pop fans learn Korean through lyrics, listening, and quizzes

AR Translation: Allows users to scan real-world text and return to the app for further learning

IDEATE

Wireframes

Experimenting initial concepts through sketches and mid-fidelity wireframes

I began sketching concepts that combined the key research insights, focusing on creating designs that balanced aesthetic, functionality, and effective learning.

After outline core concepts, I created mid-fidelity wireframes to refine functionality and feature interactions before focusing on visual design.

IDEATE

Usability Testing

Engaging with users

After completing the high-fidelity prototype, I conducted 30-minute Zoom sessions with five users to test usability. Users completed tasks like finishing a level, navigating to the K-drama page, and going through onboarding. I observed their interactions, noted pain points, and gathered suggestions to refine the interface and improve the overall experience.

After completing the high-fidelity prototype, I conducted 30-minute Zoom sessions with five users to test usability. Users completed tasks like finishing a level, navigating to the K-drama page, and going through onboarding. I observed their interactions, noted pain points, and gathered suggestions to refine the interface and improve the overall experience.

👍🏻 Successes

All users navigated core flows with ease
Four users found the gamified learning motivating
Three users highlighted AR translation as useful

💭 Suggestions

Three users suggested adding calendar functionality
Two users preferred showing page numbers in onboarding instead of progress

👎🏻 Pain points

Five users missed the 'check all that apply' instruction during onboarding
Three users found song lessons answer choices hard to see and distracting

👍🏻 Successes

All users navigated core flows with ease
Four users found the gamified learning motivating
Three users highlighted AR translation as useful

All users navigated core flows with ease
Four users found the gamified learning motivating
Three users highlighted AR translation as useful

💭 Suggestions

Three users suggested adding calendar functionality
Two users preferred showing page numbers in onboarding instead of progress

Three users suggested adding calendar functionality
Two users preferred showing page numbers in onboarding instead of progress

👎🏻 Pain points

Five users missed the 'check all that apply' instruction during onboarding
Three users found song lessons answer choices hard to see and distracting

Five users missed the 'check all that apply' instruction during onboarding
Three users found song lessons answer choices hard to see and distracting

Revision 1: Enhancing user onboarding by improving visuals and progress tracking

“Having a more visual indication for the ‘check all that apply’ questions would have made it easier to understand; I missed some options because I didn’t realize I could select more than one.”

- Participant 1

"Having a more visual indication for the 'check all that apply' questions would have made it easier to understand; I missed some options because I didn't realize I could select more than one."

- Participant 1

"Having a more visual indication for the 'check all that apply' questions would have made it easier to understand; I missed some options because I didn't realize I could select more than one."

- Participant 1

“Adding numbers to the progress bar would make it clearer and more manageable to navigate through the questions.”

- Participant 4

“Adding numbers to the progress bar would make it clearer and more manageable to navigate through the questions.”

- Participant 4

“Adding numbers to the progress bar would make it clearer and more manageable to navigate through the questions.”

- Participant 4

Revision 2: Adding a functionality to the calendar feature

“I wish the calendar feature on the home screen had more functionality. It currently feels like a static elements. Being able to interact with it, such as adding tasks or reminders would make it more useful and engaging.”

- Participant 5

Revision 3: Redesigning the answer choices in the song journey

“I struggled to distinguish the answer choices in this journey. Can you please make it a solid background so it can be less of a distraction.”  

- Participant 3

“I struggled to distinguish the answer choices in this journey. Can you please make it a solid background so it can be less of a distraction.”  

- Participant 3

“I struggled to distinguish the answer choices in this journey. Can you please make it a solid background so it can be less of a distraction.”  

- Participant 3

FINAL DESIGN

Final UI & Prototype

The final KultureLearn prototype combines user research and iteration to deliver a seamless, user-friendly platform. It integrates Korean media for an immersive learning experience, with core flows like onboarding, media-based lessons, and AR translation designed to meet diverse learner needs.

REFLECTION

Next Steps

If given more time, I would…

Add a proficiency test to help advanced users unlock more challenging lessons tailored to their skill level
Introduce a live language exchange feature for real-time practice with native speakers, turning the app into a social platform
Conduct additional A/B testing to gather feedback and refine design and functionality based on user preferences

Add a proficiency test to help advanced users unlock more challenging lessons tailored to their skill level
Introduce a live language exchange feature for real-time practice with native speakers, turning the app into a social platform
Conduct additional A/B testing to gather feedback and refine design and functionality based on user preferences

Add a proficiency test to help advanced users unlock more challenging lessons tailored to their skill level
Introduce a live language exchange feature for real-time practice with native speakers, turning the app into a social platform
Conduct additional A/B testing to gather feedback and refine design and functionality based on user preferences

REFLECTION

Takeaways

💡 Research challenged my assumptions

I assumed users preferred traditional learning methods like textbooks or tutors. Research proved that users actually favored mobile apps and media-based learning for accessibility and engagement. It reinforced the need to design based on real user insights, not assumptions.

🌱 Personal connection strengthened the design

This project deepened my connection to Korean culture. Designing KultureLearn became personal, as I learned alongside users. It reminded me how empathy and personal experiences create more meaningful design.

🔄 Iteration and user feedback shaped the product

User testing surfaced unexpected pain points, showing the value of continuous iteration. Prioritizing user feedback helped refine the app and reinforced that user-centered design leads to better products.

Thanks for stopping by, let's connect!

Got a budding idea, a design challenge, or just want to say hi? I'm all ears.

designed & coded by alli chu🌷

Thanks for stopping by, let's connect!

Got a budding idea, a design challenge, or just want to say hi? I'm all ears.

designed & coded by alli chu🌷

KultureLearn

KultureLearn

Google UX Design Certificate

Google UX Design Certificate

ROLE

ROLE

TEAM

TEAM

DURATION

DURATION

KultureLearn

Google UX Design Certificate

ROLE

TEAM

DURATION

Brief

Brief

Designed a language learning app that uses Korean media to make learning engaging and culturally immersive.

Designed a language learning app that uses Korean media to make learning engaging and culturally immersive.

Contribution

Contribution

Contribution

Led UX research and design to create a user centered, media driven learning experience.

Led UX research and design to create a user centered, media driven learning experience.

Led UX research and design to create a user centered, media driven learning experience.

Challenge

Challenge

Challenge

Integrate Korean media into language learning while supporting diverse proficiency levels and learning preferences.

Integrate Korean media into language learning while supporting diverse proficiency levels and learning preferences.

Integrate Korean media into language learning while supporting diverse proficiency levels and learning preferences.

Goal

Goal

Goal

Design an engaging learning experience that blends Korean media with language acquisition.

Design an engaging learning experience that blends Korean media with language acquisition.

Design an engaging learning experience that blends Korean media with language acquisition.

Brief