✴︎ cat GIFs & communication: soft skills shouldn’t be hard

CONTEXT

Skill + was my first mobile web application, developed in collaboration with a product manager. Together, we created a proof of concept (POC) for a corporate training tool designed for the B2B market and internal company use.

CHALLENGE

Skill + started as a small experiment, built with a product manager who had an idea: “What if corporate training wasn’t boring?” Together, we created a POC for a corporate learning tool that companies could actually want to use. Not another stiff, check-the-box training, but an engaging, interactive app designed for real learning.

How did this idea come to life? My PM had been sitting on this idea for a while: a digital tool to help employees develop soft skills. Why? Because working in corporate means dealing with developers, analysts, designers, and management, and, well…let’s just say communication gaps are real. Having interacted with colleagues from different departments, he identified a real market gap- most soft skills training programs were uninspiring, third-party-driven, and often treated as mandatory checkboxes rather than engaging learning experiences.

We knew there had to be a better way. During brainstorming sessions, we realized that no such app existed in the Romanian market. Companies relied on external training providers with generic, uninspired content. Employees saw these sessions as little more than obligatory to-do lists rather than opportunities for growth.

SOLUTION

Recognizing the value this app could bring to both employees and employers, we envisioned it as a flexible tool that could be tailored to fit any company’s policies and learning requirements. More than just a training app, skill + aimed to create a tight-knit community where employees could improve their interpersonal skills, communication, client interactions, public speaking, and presentation abilities- all at their own pace.

Key benefits:

1. A fresh take on corporate learning: interactive, engaging, and self-paced training that moves away from rigid corporate procedures.
2. Enhanced visibility & awareness: employees gain insights into their strengths and areas for improvement, while managers can better support career development.
3. A collaborative knowledge-sharing space: it can evolve also in a forum where employees can share their progress, discuss valuable resources (books, videos, courses), and celebrate growth.
4. Seamless integration & customization: the app aligns with corporate branding and adapts to specific company needs.
5. Potential revenue stream: companies can adopt and we can customize the app, transforming it into a scalable, marketable product.

Design process:

1. Keep it short, ship it fast – gather feedback & iterate: we kicked off the project with a straightforward approach- no wasted time. With initial input from the product manager (a simple diagram and a PDF of various courses inspirations), I jumped straight into Adobe XD to draft onboarding flows and course experiences. Weekly feedback sessions helped us refine the user journey and ensure we were on the right track.
2. Work with what you have: one of the biggest challenges was sourcing high-quality course materials. Instead of reinventing the wheel, we integrated- but also curated third-party educational platforms (like 7taps) that provided video, audio, and written content. This allowed us to focus on designing a seamless learning experience rather than content creation.
3. Learn at your own pace: short, digestible courses. No pressure, no deadlines. Learn on the go- whether you’re at your desk, on your commute, or waiting in line for coffee. We built it around observation (watch, listen, read) and repetition (quick exercises to reinforce learning). And if life gets in the way? Pause and pick up where you left off, no problem.
4. A visual experience that feels like a reward: I firmly believe that visuals influence learning engagement. The UI featured soft pastel colors and a friendly, welcoming aesthetic. And yes- cats ≽(•⩊ •マ≼. Because nothing says “You’re doing great!” like a tiny, animated cat cheering you on. Alongside the UI/UX, I also designed and animated potential logo concepts to reinforce a sense of encouragement and playfulness.

Key takeaways & personal insights:

1. Keep it simple & accessible: the goal was to make learning effortless. Bite-sized content made it easy to absorb knowledge in any scenario-whether at work, commuting, or waiting in line for coffee.
2. Add a dash of fun & encouragement: any learning experience should inspire, not intimidate. Skill + was designed with micro-interactions and uplifting messages to boost motivation, making the user feel supported throughout their journey.

DELIVERABLES

• 1 enterprise, web app (mobile version), including a total of 26 screens;
• 1 animated logo;

* More details can be provided upon request.

PROJECT DETAILS

Project: enterprise application, SaaS application

Client: Fortech

Industry:  B2B Education

Workspace: Fortech (now GlobalLogic Romania)

Date: 2023

Role: UI/UX designer, visual designer

Team: solo designer-me 👋, 1 PM