Case Study
Catalyst Microtrainings
We created AI powered Microtraining modules for our Everything DiSC platform, Catalyst. Everything DiSC is an assessment-based learning experience that helps professionals better understand themselves and others, empowering them to work better together. This was a 6 month project creating a brand new product, resulting in a 95% positive feedback rate in classroom trials and over 60% more pre-orders than initially projected.
Product: Wiley's Everything DiSC
My Role: Product Designer
​
Team: Liz Davis, Nuran Cicek, Ginger Weil
​
Tools: Figma, Adobe CC
Context
Our typical Everything DiSC training was a full 8 hour training. We weren't selling as many trainings as before and upon doing some user research, we discovered our clients didn't want to invest so much time into trainings and wanted a different solution.
Problem
Users found it difficult to find time to do 8 hour Everything DiSC trainings with their teams, especially if that team was spread across multiple time zones. Users were also finding the trainings to be too general and not personalized enough.
Solution
We created a large portfolio of AI powered microtraining modules that could be done by each team member individually then done as a group in only an hour.
Impact
The initial launch resulted in a 95% positive feedback rate in classroom trials and over 60% more pre-orders than initially anticipated.
Step 1 - Requirements Gathering
We started out by gathering our technical and business requirements for the project. We wanted to create 10 desktop based microtraining modules built on React with the intention to sell more training packages and increase revenue. We were targeting existing Catalyst users and teams who have already completed an Everything DiSC assessment. We wanted the microtrainings to reflect the traditional trainings' subject matters, but we wanted to break them up into much smaller, more digestible pieces that could be done in 1 hour.
Traditional training offerings
Key Takeaways
After connecting with the PM and the Development team, we came up with the following requirements for this project.
Must be able to be built on React framework within
2 development cycles.
Business wants to make at least $500k in revenue from the microtrainings upon first launch through pre-orders.
Must create design system that can be built and maintained in Storybook for future training modules.
Microtrainings must have Catalyst branding and set the stage for more modules in the future.
Step 2 - User Research
We already had an idea of what our users didn't like, now came the task of figuring out what would fit their needs better. We conducted a large amount of user interviews from both individual users and team users. All users had already completed an Everything DiSC assessment. We also analyzed some videos from the traditional 8 hour facilitations and took note of how the users would interact with each other during the sessions.
"By the time we are a few hours into the training, I really started to lose focus."
Catalyst user on training team
in 1:1 Interview
There was a very clear need for shorter trainings with easily digestible, split up content. We needed to create these modules with a concise focus of material to be covered.
"I felt like the content wasn't catered to me as an individual and it was more for a team."
Individual Catalyst user
in 1:1 Interview
The trainings were traditionally only set up for team environments, but that left our individual Catalyst users with nothing to pursue or irrelevant content. We wanted to make the new microtrainings applicable to all types of users.
"It can be really hard to get everyone together for these trainings at the same time..."
Catalyst training facilitator
in video recording of training
Since Covid, teams were no longer in the same room at the same time and a lot of teams were spread out over multiple timezones, making it difficult to get everyone to collaborate during a facilitation as they were previously structured.
With these insights from our users, we came up with a plan to address these pain points. We created the following design goals.
Trainings need to be able to be done individually with the option to collaborate once everyone has finished.
The UI should be very straight forward and easy to use and understand.
Each module should aim to take the user less than an hour to complete.
The AI component should add value to each user personally and save them time.
Step 3 - Personas
Individual Catalyst User
Wants to use Everything DiSC for professional learning but isn't currently part of a team using Catalyst.
Motivation
Is interested in the Everything DiSC model and wants to do a lot of self discovery.
​
Behavior
Used Catalyst to do their Everything DiSC assessment and learn about their style but doesn't visit the site much. Likely checks back for new content occassionally.
​
Pain Points
Most content on the Catalyst platform is catered to teams. There isn't much left for the individual to do once they are done with the assessment.
​
Design Consideration
Needs content that they can explore on their own without needing a team.
Team Catalyst User
Brought to Catalyst with a work team, usually as a part of workplace training.
Motivation
Wants to learn more about working styles and how to improve their team relationships.
Behavior
May not have been familiar with Everything DiSC before doing the assessment. Wants to learn more about it.
​
Pain Points
Current trainings are long and require everyone to be on a video call at the same time. There is no UI for current trainings and they must be walked through the material with a facilitator.
​
Design Consideration
Needs shorter, more accessible training options and content that allows for self discovery as well as team insights.
Training Facilitator
A Catalyst user who's role is not to learn about Everything DiSC, but to facilitate workshops and trainings for other users.
Motivation
Wants to sell more trainings with less work involved.
​
Behavior
Sets up training schedules, moderates discussions, and acts as an instructor.
​
Pain Points
Getting everyone on the same schedule is very difficult. Long training sessions are exhausting and require a lot of planning and work.
​
Design Consideration
Needs a way to get users to do a lot of the leg work before they schedule discussions to cut down on time and effort.
Potential User
Someone who is interested in Everything DiSC but has not yet done an assessment.
Motivation
Wants to learn more about Everything DiSC, but has no reason other than the assessment to look further into it.
​
Behavior
Has possibly visited the site but found nothing of interest to them.
​
Pain Points
Doesn't know where to begin. Once they do the assessment, there is nothing left for them to explore.
​
Design Consideration
Needs something to draw them in. A reason to purchase an assessment and training. Needs something easy and less daunting than currently exists.
Step 4 - Design System and Process
Design System Exploration
We started with some brainstorming and design system exploration. We knew we wanted to use Catalyst branding, but there were many ways we could integrate that into our product. We also wanted to explore the React components and get familiar with what we could and couldn't do within that library.
Design System Development
We worked closely with our engineering team to come to an agreement on a design system. We wanted to start integrating components into Storybook right away to cut down on development time. We used Figma's library features to create a seamless design system that could be used across multiple documents. We also made sure to keep our WCAG Accessibility principles in mind as we were designing.
First Drafts
We came up with some ideas of what these microtrainings should look like and how they should function. We wanted to create an interface that was extremely easy to understand and with a very linear flow. We also wanted the AI components to feel natural and conversational. We collaborated quite a bit with the instructional design team and SME's to create content based on our user research.
Step 5 - User Testing
We started by creating a full working prototype in Figma and conducting a qualitative test measuring positive vs negative reactions for different audiences. We did some classroom trials where the microtrainings were deployed to both teams and individual users. The teams would later have a facilitated discussion after they completed the microtrainings discussing their learnings as a group. We had users keep diaries of their experience using the new product, making sure to have them note ease of use, relevance of content, and first impressions. We created the log below for users to keep track of their diary entries and prompts to the AI for later review.
We reviewed the classroom trials and found there to be a 95% positive feedback rate! Most diary entries were overwhelmingly positive and rated their experiences as "extremely satisfied". We weren't expecting such a positive reaction to the first drafts, but there was still work to be done. We analysed the negative feedback and came up with the following conclusions.
Users wanted more visuals to make the trainings seem more exciting.
Users wanted the ability to download their AI prompts as PDFs to reference later or email to colleagues.
These were very easy goals to achieve, so we set out to add the requested features.
Step 6 - Final Design
We did some UI improvements based off of our user testing and prepared the final designs for engineering handoff. We annotated the designs, documented interactions, and made sure all components were connected to the design system for easy deployment. We also made sure the prototypes were updated and comments were available for the development team.
Learnings
This was my first AI project and I was blown away by how interesting it was. I learned a lot about how the LLM system works, how to train the AI, and how we could use it to further our customer's learning. The AI model made it so our customers didn't have to read the entire Everything DiSC book to access the knowledge, which was a massive improvement and great way to sell our IP. I also learned quite a bit about creating scalable design systems. We didn't want to create the design system for the first few trainings we were creating, we wanted to create the system for the future. This opened up a new world of possibility for our team. Now, creating more content and more trainings was much less of a lift for our team and we could continue to sell new content, which directly increases revenue. Overall, I was very proud of this project and I hope to see the microtrainings grow more and more over time.