UX Research
Interaction Design
Usability Testing
Visual Design
Prototyping
Quizlet Redesign
An unsolicited redesign of Quizlet.com, focused on consolidating information architecture and simplifying the path to finding a study set.
[ Overview ]
Reimagining the study experience for one of the world's most used learning platforms.
Background
Quizlet has grown from a simple flashcard tool into a comprehensive study platform used by millions of students worldwide. Despite its scale, several usability issues were making it harder than it should be to find and use study sets which is the core task most users come to the platform to do.
Role
This started as a class research project at the University of Michigan School of Information, where I partnered with Julia Reel to evaluate Quizlet.com. After the course ended, I took the insights we uncovered and completed an independent unsolicited redesign as I was motivated by the clarity of the problems and the opportunity to solve them.
[ Research ]
Evaluated the existing experience through a survey and usability testing with Quizlet users.
Survey
Distributed through a student messaging platform, the survey reached 25+ Quizlet users and focused on how students approach studying, how they use online tools, and what frustrations they had with Quizlet specifically.
Which devices do you use for online learning?
Create Q&A lists 56.67%
Test practice 26.67%
Study term lists 6.67%
Create flashcards 10%
What are you looking for in an online study tool?
Usability testing
Building on the survey, we designed a usability test to pinpoint where users were getting stuck on the Quizlet website. Participants were asked to complete core tasks: finding a specific study set, using search filters, and navigating the homepage.
Research revealed four key pain points:
/ 01
Confusing homepage
Users struggled to orient themselves due to minimal information and poor organization. One participant couldn't find anywhere to locate a study set.
/ 02
Difficulty finding study sets
Users who searched for specific sets got lost in cluttered results and overwhelming filter options, making it hard to land on the right set.
/ 03
Cluttered search results
Poorly organized results made it difficult to identify what a study set was or how to navigate to it. The page lacked clear visual hierarchy.
/ 04
Ineffective filters
50% of participants had difficulty finding and using search filters. Some didn't notice them at all. One user said they wished there was one.
[ Defining the problem ]
How might we simplify the experience of finding a study set on Quizlet for both new and returning users?
[ ideation ]
Mapped the user journey and narrowed scope before moving into design.
I created a user flow for the core task: finding a specific study set, to identify where the experience broke down and what the redesign needed to address.
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[ Design scope ]
Narrowing the project scope following research and ideation phase.
Based on the research, I narrowed scope to the homepage and search flow, prioritizing desktop given that 90%+ of survey respondents studied on a laptop or desktop. I also identified a missing feature for authenticated users: a subjects tab that would let them browse by topic rather than relying solely on search.
[ interaction design ]
Sketches.
As I refined the scope, I began exploring different ideas.
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Wireframes.
Translated the user flow into mid-fidelity wireframes focused on usability and content organization.
[ Final design ]
Three changes addressed the core pain points:
/ 01
Clear and prominent search
Added a large search bar directly on the unauthenticated homepage, giving users an immediate and obvious path to finding study sets. A Browse by Subject option below provides an alternative entry point for users who prefer browsing over searching.
Before
After
Click to enlarge
/ 02
Simplified search results
Removed the large set preview panel and replaced it with a Quick View button per result, making the page significantly easier to scan. Filter options were repositioned and simplified so users could actually find and use them.
Before
After
Click to enlarge
/ 03
Enhanced authenticated experience
Added a Subjects tab to the authenticated navigation and a Browse by Subject button on the homepage — giving returning users a feature that was entirely absent from the original design.
Before
After
Click to enlarge
[ prototype ]
Explore the redesign across both user journeys.
Unauthenticated user
Using the search bar and filters to find a Spanish vocabulary study set.
Authenticated user
Using the subjects tab to locate a Spanish vocabulary study set.
Takeaways
Research shapes scope as much as direction
The survey pointed to search as the core problem, but the usability test revealed exactly where users were getting stuck. Without both, the scope would have been too broad to execute well.
Unsolicited work requires extra discipline
Without a client to define constraints, I had to set my own. Desktop-first, two user types, three core screens. Scoping tightly made it possible to go deep rather than spread thin across the whole product.
The existing design system is a constraint, not a shortcut
Working within Quizlet's visual language meant every decision had to be justified on usability grounds rather than aesthetic preference. That constraint actually made the design stronger.
Small structural changes drive the biggest gains
The most impactful fixes were adding a prominent search bar and repositioning filters. The content was never the problem, how that content was organization was.
Note: I am not affiliated with Quizlet. This research and unsolicited redesign was done as a class project and further learning experience for myself to explore redesigning a product I frequently interact with.
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