Desables
Desables is a comprehensive web-based ecosystem dedicated to bridging the educational gap for persons with disabilities. The project encompasses a public-facing brand website, an accessible learning portal, a dedicated instructor dashboard, and a high-level administrative management system. As the Lead UI/UX Designer, I spearheaded the end-to-end design strategy, ensuring that every touchpoint met the highest standards of accessibility (WCAG 2.1) while maintaining a modern, professional aesthetic.
01
Project Goal
The objective was to create a cohesive four-part ecosystem:
Public Website: To build an impactful landing experience that clearly communicates the mission of Desables and drives user registration.
Learner Platform: To design a barrier-free environment where students can access courses, take assessments, and engage with the community.
Instructor Dashboard: To create a tool for educators to seamlessly upload accessible content, grade assessments, and support learners.
Admin Dashboard: To provide platform owners with a data-driven command center to oversee instructors, verify content, and monitor platform growth.
02
Design Process:
Research & Discovery: I conducted empathetic user interviews with individuals across a spectrum of disabilities to identify digital barriers and specific accessibility requirements. Competitive analysis of existing disability-support portals helped pinpoint the need for a more modern, less fragmented user experience.
Wireframing & Prototyping: I created complex user flows to ensure seamless transitions between the public site and the private dashboards. High-fidelity prototypes in Figma focused on a "Unified Design System"—ensuring that while each dashboard had unique tools, the visual language remained consistent.
Usability Testing & Iteration: I led accessibility-focused usability testing sessions with diverse user groups. Feedback on navigation clarity and the responsiveness of interactive elements was critical. I iterated on the designs to ensure that every touchpoint was inclusive and met WCAG 2.1 standards without sacrificing aesthetic appeal.
Collaboration & Development: I worked in lockstep with the engineering team to implement ARIA labels and semantic HTML structures. We held weekly design-to-code syncs to ensure that the final product maintained the integrity of the inclusive design system across all browser environments.
03
Design Solution
Public Website & Learner Portal: The website uses bold typography and high-contrast imagery to tell the Desables story. The learner portal features a "Distraction-Free" mode, voice-to-text community inputs, and a modular course player designed for screen-reader compatibility.
Instructor & Admin Dashboards: * For Instructors: I designed a streamlined "Course Builder" that guides users through making their uploads accessible, alongside a centralized "Q&A Hub" to manage learner interactions.
For Admins: The admin interface features a "Master Analytics" view, allowing for the management of instructor credentials, platform-wide user moderation, and financial reporting through clean, digestible data visualizations.
04
Result
The launch of the integrated Desables ecosystem resulted in a 50% increase in instructor sign-ups and a 35% improvement in platform-wide task completion for admins. The public website successfully converted 20% of visitors into registered learners within the first month. Feedback from both instructors and admins highlighted the "reduced cognitive load" of the dashboards, while learners praised the platform for being one of the few truly accessible e-learning environments available.