Playwise | A brand new way of learning
Overview
Playwise is a teaching and learning management system designed to make classrooms more interactive, engaging, and playful. It’s built around the Read-Watch-Play pedagogy by Dr. Caro Williams-Pierce, encouraging students to observe expert content (Read), engage with key texts (Watch), and apply knowledge through low-stakes, hands-on activities (Play). This approach promotes immediate feedback and joyful experimentation. The platform supports easy course design, quick content updates, and intuitive navigation through color-coded assignments.
Developed as a capstone project at the University of Maryland with support from Professor Stacy Surla and the iConsultancy, the system was shaped by a student-led team across five design sprints. Playwise embodies the principles of “loud, gleeful learning” and failure as feedback, offering a flexible mobile and web experience that enhances both teaching and learning.
Categories
UX Design
Brand Identity
Project Management
Date
May 2025
Collaboration
Samarth Ashwathanarayana, Sanjay Kumar Balaji, Amarya Kaipa, Yabing Yang
Client
Dr. Caro William-Pierce and team, University of Maryland
My Role & Impact
My Role
UX Designer: led design system, high-fidelity prototypes, flows, mockups
Branding: created typography, color palette, and visual identity
Researcher: usability testing, focus groups, competitor analysis
Project Manager (Sprint 3): managed the transition from research to design — a challenging phase balancing insights with execution, aligning the team, and keeping us on schedule.
Impact
Delivered a cohesive student + instructor platform with 7 end-to-end flows
Validated usability through focus groups and testing with instructors/students
Established a scalable design system ensuring visual and interaction consistency
Helped translate a pedagogy into a digital-first experience that supports playful learning
Introduction
The Problem
Existing learning platforms don’t support playful, low-stakes experimentation. They:
Prioritize rigid structure over dynamic learning
Lack intuitive, lightweight flows
Create high cognitive load for both students and instructors
The Solution: Playwise
A platform built for Read, Watch, Play learning:
Students get a low-friction way to manage assignments and feedback
Instructors get a streamlined dashboard and tools to design flexible modules
Final Figma Prototype
Student POV - Mobile view
Instructor POV - Web view
The Project Journey
Step 1: Research & Discovery (Sprints 1–2)
Contextual interviews with students + instructors
Affinity mapping, personas, empathy maps
Journey maps showing breakdown points in current LMS
Heuristic evaluation of Canvas & ELMS
Outcome: Defined pain points (rigid grading, cognitive overload, lack of accountability)
Step 2: Defining Flows & Requirements (Sprint 3 – My PM Role)
Facilitated roadmap & requirements mapping
Built information architecture and flow lists
Led weekly progress check-ins, bi-weekly client meetings
Balanced divergent research insights with delivery scope
Outcome: Finalized core flows for both student (mobile) and instructor (web) sides
Step 3: Branding & Visual Identity (Sprint 4)
Moodboards, color palette, typeface selection
Logo design and brand workshop with client
Established visual language for Read/Watch/Play pedagogy (color-coded, playful, accessible)
Outcome: A brand system + guidelines handed off to design team
Step 4: Prototyping (Sprints 4–5)
Student Mobile (4 flows)
Student Journey (calendar, courses, resources)
Assignment Lifecycle (view, attempt, extend, comment, review)
Feedback & Grading (rubrics, inline comments, resubmission)
Group Assignments (create/join groups, collaborate, submit)
Instructor Web (3 flows)
Dashboard & Course Overview
Assignment & Course Setup (modules, grading presets, announcements)
Creating & Managing Assignments (Read–Watch–Play tasks with rubrics)
Built low-fi → mid-fi → high-fi prototypes in Figma
Iterated weekly based on client feedback & peer presentations
Step 5: Validation & Delivery (Sprint 5)
User testing with instructors & students (both RWP and non-RWP)
Iteration on navigation clarity, grading visibility, and feedback loops
Finalized high-fidelity student + instructor prototypes
Delivered Playwise Design System + component library for handoff
Playwise | A brand new way of learning
Overview
Playwise is a teaching and learning management system designed to make classrooms more interactive, engaging, and playful. It’s built around the Read-Watch-Play pedagogy by Dr. Caro Williams-Pierce, encouraging students to observe expert content (Read), engage with key texts (Watch), and apply knowledge through low-stakes, hands-on activities (Play). This approach promotes immediate feedback and joyful experimentation. The platform supports easy course design, quick content updates, and intuitive navigation through color-coded assignments.
Developed as a capstone project at the University of Maryland with support from Professor Stacy Surla and the iConsultancy, the system was shaped by a student-led team across five design sprints. Playwise embodies the principles of “loud, gleeful learning” and failure as feedback, offering a flexible mobile and web experience that enhances both teaching and learning.
Categories
UX Design
Brand Identity
Project Management
Date
May 2025
Collaboration
Samarth Ashwathanarayana, Sanjay Kumar Balaji, Amarya Kaipa, Yabing Yang
Client
Dr. Caro William-Pierce and team, University of Maryland
My Role & Impact
My Role
UX Designer: led design system, high-fidelity prototypes, flows, mockups
Branding: created typography, color palette, and visual identity
Researcher: usability testing, focus groups, competitor analysis
Project Manager (Sprint 3): managed the transition from research to design — a challenging phase balancing insights with execution, aligning the team, and keeping us on schedule.
Impact
Delivered a cohesive student + instructor platform with 7 end-to-end flows
Validated usability through focus groups and testing with instructors/students
Established a scalable design system ensuring visual and interaction consistency
Helped translate a pedagogy into a digital-first experience that supports playful learning
Introduction
The Problem
Existing learning platforms don’t support playful, low-stakes experimentation. They:
Prioritize rigid structure over dynamic learning
Lack intuitive, lightweight flows
Create high cognitive load for both students and instructors
The Solution: Playwise
A platform built for Read, Watch, Play learning:
Students get a low-friction way to manage assignments and feedback
Instructors get a streamlined dashboard and tools to design flexible modules
Final Figma Prototype
Student POV - Mobile view
Instructor POV - Web view
The Project Journey
Step 1: Research & Discovery (Sprints 1–2)
Contextual interviews with students + instructors
Affinity mapping, personas, empathy maps
Journey maps showing breakdown points in current LMS
Heuristic evaluation of Canvas & ELMS
Outcome: Defined pain points (rigid grading, cognitive overload, lack of accountability)
Step 2: Defining Flows & Requirements (Sprint 3 – My PM Role)
Facilitated roadmap & requirements mapping
Built information architecture and flow lists
Led weekly progress check-ins, bi-weekly client meetings
Balanced divergent research insights with delivery scope
Outcome: Finalized core flows for both student (mobile) and instructor (web) sides
Step 3: Branding & Visual Identity (Sprint 4)
Moodboards, color palette, typeface selection
Logo design and brand workshop with client
Established visual language for Read/Watch/Play pedagogy (color-coded, playful, accessible)
Outcome: A brand system + guidelines handed off to design team
Step 4: Prototyping (Sprints 4–5)
Student Mobile (4 flows)
Student Journey (calendar, courses, resources)
Assignment Lifecycle (view, attempt, extend, comment, review)
Feedback & Grading (rubrics, inline comments, resubmission)
Group Assignments (create/join groups, collaborate, submit)
Instructor Web (3 flows)
Dashboard & Course Overview
Assignment & Course Setup (modules, grading presets, announcements)
Creating & Managing Assignments (Read–Watch–Play tasks with rubrics)
Built low-fi → mid-fi → high-fi prototypes in Figma
Iterated weekly based on client feedback & peer presentations
Step 5: Validation & Delivery (Sprint 5)
User testing with instructors & students (both RWP and non-RWP)
Iteration on navigation clarity, grading visibility, and feedback loops
Finalized high-fidelity student + instructor prototypes
Delivered Playwise Design System + component library for handoff
Playwise | A brand new way of learning
Overview
Playwise is a teaching and learning management system designed to make classrooms more interactive, engaging, and playful. It’s built around the Read-Watch-Play pedagogy by Dr. Caro Williams-Pierce, encouraging students to observe expert content (Read), engage with key texts (Watch), and apply knowledge through low-stakes, hands-on activities (Play). This approach promotes immediate feedback and joyful experimentation. The platform supports easy course design, quick content updates, and intuitive navigation through color-coded assignments.
Developed as a capstone project at the University of Maryland with support from Professor Stacy Surla and the iConsultancy, the system was shaped by a student-led team across five design sprints. Playwise embodies the principles of “loud, gleeful learning” and failure as feedback, offering a flexible mobile and web experience that enhances both teaching and learning.
Categories
UX Design
Brand Identity
Project Management
Date
May 2025
Collaboration
Samarth Ashwathanarayana, Sanjay Kumar Balaji, Amarya Kaipa, Yabing Yang
Client
Dr. Caro William-Pierce and team, University of Maryland
My Role & Impact
My Role
UX Designer: led design system, high-fidelity prototypes, flows, mockups
Branding: created typography, color palette, and visual identity
Researcher: usability testing, focus groups, competitor analysis
Project Manager (Sprint 3): managed the transition from research to design — a challenging phase balancing insights with execution, aligning the team, and keeping us on schedule.
Impact
Delivered a cohesive student + instructor platform with 7 end-to-end flows
Validated usability through focus groups and testing with instructors/students
Established a scalable design system ensuring visual and interaction consistency
Helped translate a pedagogy into a digital-first experience that supports playful learning
Introduction
The Problem
Existing learning platforms don’t support playful, low-stakes experimentation. They:
Prioritize rigid structure over dynamic learning
Lack intuitive, lightweight flows
Create high cognitive load for both students and instructors
The Solution: Playwise
A platform built for Read, Watch, Play learning:
Students get a low-friction way to manage assignments and feedback
Instructors get a streamlined dashboard and tools to design flexible modules
Final Figma Prototype
Student POV - Mobile view
Instructor POV - Web view
The Project Journey
Step 1: Research & Discovery (Sprints 1–2)
Contextual interviews with students + instructors
Affinity mapping, personas, empathy maps
Journey maps showing breakdown points in current LMS
Heuristic evaluation of Canvas & ELMS
Outcome: Defined pain points (rigid grading, cognitive overload, lack of accountability)
Step 2: Defining Flows & Requirements (Sprint 3 – My PM Role)
Facilitated roadmap & requirements mapping
Built information architecture and flow lists
Led weekly progress check-ins, bi-weekly client meetings
Balanced divergent research insights with delivery scope
Outcome: Finalized core flows for both student (mobile) and instructor (web) sides
Step 3: Branding & Visual Identity (Sprint 4)
Moodboards, color palette, typeface selection
Logo design and brand workshop with client
Established visual language for Read/Watch/Play pedagogy (color-coded, playful, accessible)
Outcome: A brand system + guidelines handed off to design team
Step 4: Prototyping (Sprints 4–5)
Student Mobile (4 flows)
Student Journey (calendar, courses, resources)
Assignment Lifecycle (view, attempt, extend, comment, review)
Feedback & Grading (rubrics, inline comments, resubmission)
Group Assignments (create/join groups, collaborate, submit)
Instructor Web (3 flows)
Dashboard & Course Overview
Assignment & Course Setup (modules, grading presets, announcements)
Creating & Managing Assignments (Read–Watch–Play tasks with rubrics)
Built low-fi → mid-fi → high-fi prototypes in Figma
Iterated weekly based on client feedback & peer presentations
Step 5: Validation & Delivery (Sprint 5)
User testing with instructors & students (both RWP and non-RWP)
Iteration on navigation clarity, grading visibility, and feedback loops
Finalized high-fidelity student + instructor prototypes
Delivered Playwise Design System + component library for handoff
