The opportunity
Enterprises invest heavily in training, but most platforms still feel like homework. IBM Comprehend set out to change that, reimagining learning as a core driver of business growth, not just compliance. But behind the scenes, the product had fallen behind, slow, clunky, and too rigid to evolve with client needs. The team knew it was time for a transformation.
The challenge
Comprehend was a powerful concept trapped in a legacy shell. It was visually dated, functionally inconsistent, and difficult to scale. Design wasn’t treated as a strategic asset, and the platform’s UX reflected that.
There was no system. No real design language. No foundation to build on. It needed a complete rethink; from the student dashboard to the marketing site, from learning cards to course navigation.
Redesigned Comprehend from the ground up, turning a scattered product into a scalable learning ecosystem.
What I built
Introduced a customized version of IBM’s Carbon Design System: Comprehend Carbon, bringing visual consistency, UX standards, and component reuse across every surface. This alone 10x’d developer velocity.
Introduced a customized version of IBM’s Carbon Design System: Comprehend Carbon, bringing visual consistency, UX standards, and component reuse across every surface. This alone 10x’d developer velocity.
An experience that adapts to role and context
Learning is organized by role-based paths, so managers, for example, see content that maps to their responsibilities. Each path houses programs (content clusters), which in turn house courses and certifications.
Overhauled the marketing site, shifting the narrative from “learning management” to “digital transformation in learning.” This repositioning was critical in attracting larger clients.
A modern student experience
Upon login, users land on a dashboard that’s equal parts intelligent and motivating, featuring progress tracking, learning suggestions, and quick access to in-progress courses.
BEFORE
AFTER
Lessons follow an easy to follow layout together with section, knowledge checks and subtly incentivized progress system.
The outcome
A 400% increase in client sign-ups, directly tied to the product redesign. Faster, smoother developer handoff and delivery. And a product that finally matched the ambition of the business.
Designed Comprehend to be a fully modular experience. Enabling the students to preview a program and assess their progress. By enabling access to prerequisite courses and supporting modules.