Get Revising Study Planner App
Mobile and tablet app design for the most well loved tool, the Study Planner.
Role
Lead Designer
Industry
Education
Year
2016
Reflections
This project was one of the early ones in my career, focused on UI design. At the time, prototyping wasn't commonly used, and I relied on static designs informed by user research from a previous project. While this research provided valuable insights into user preferences, usability testing wasn’t part of the process, so the design wasn’t validated with users. Since then, I’ve made usability testing a core part of my workflow, ensuring designs are iteratively refined and validated at key stages. My approach has evolved significantly, with a stronger focus on user feedback and interactive prototypes that better showcase the user experience.
Reflections
This project was one of the early ones in my career, focused on UI design. At the time, prototyping wasn't commonly used, and I relied on static designs informed by user research from a previous project. While this research provided valuable insights into user preferences, usability testing wasn’t part of the process, so the design wasn’t validated with users. Since then, I’ve made usability testing a core part of my workflow, ensuring designs are iteratively refined and validated at key stages. My approach has evolved significantly, with a stronger focus on user feedback and interactive prototypes that better showcase the user experience.
Overview
The Get Revising Study Planner was one of the platform’s most well-loved tools, helping students structure their study schedules effectively. However, the existing planner was designed primarily for desktops, requiring users to complete a multi-step wizard that was time-consuming and not optimizsd for smaller screens. The goal of this project was to transform the Study Planner into a mobile-friendly app that streamlined the process while maintaining its core functionality.
As the Lead Designer, I was responsible for adapting the Study Planner into a seamless mobile experience. I collaborated closely with developers and stakeholders to ensure the design aligned with user needs and business goals. My role included user flow mapping, wireframing, UI design, and conducting visual QA.
The Challenge
The desktop Study Planner featured a detailed, multi-step wizard that allowed students to create personalized study schedules. While effective, this process was lengthy and cumbersome, leading to user frustration. Additionally, since the planner had not been designed for mobile or tablet use, students struggled to engage with it on smaller screens.
Key Objectives:
Simplify and streamline the multi-step setup process for mobile users.
Maintain the planner’s ability to offer a personalized experience.
Ensure design consistency with Get Revising’s existing branding and website.
Overview
The Get Revising Study Planner was one of the platform’s most well-loved tools, helping students structure their study schedules effectively. However, the existing planner was designed primarily for desktops, requiring users to complete a multi-step wizard that was time-consuming and not optimizsd for smaller screens. The goal of this project was to transform the Study Planner into a mobile-friendly app that streamlined the process while maintaining its core functionality.
As the Lead Designer, I was responsible for adapting the Study Planner into a seamless mobile experience. I collaborated closely with developers and stakeholders to ensure the design aligned with user needs and business goals. My role included user flow mapping, wireframing, UI design, and conducting visual QA.
The Challenge
The desktop Study Planner featured a detailed, multi-step wizard that allowed students to create personalized study schedules. While effective, this process was lengthy and cumbersome, leading to user frustration. Additionally, since the planner had not been designed for mobile or tablet use, students struggled to engage with it on smaller screens.
Key Objectives:
Simplify and streamline the multi-step setup process for mobile users.
Maintain the planner’s ability to offer a personalized experience.
Ensure design consistency with Get Revising’s existing branding and website.
Personas & user journeys
Having previously worked on making the Get Revising website responsive, I was already familiar with the Study Planner’s limitations on smaller screens. To inform the mobile app design, I leveraged existing personas developed during the responsive project.
To map out different user journeys, I sketched initial workflows on a whiteboard before translating them into digital wireframes. This helped identify potential points of friction and opportunities to improve efficiency in the setup process.
Designs:
The desktop version of the Study Planner used different colours and icons to represent various session types. I carried this visual language over to the mobile app by incorporating the same colours into the setup screens and using the coloured icons within the planner to maintain consistency across platforms.
Using the wireframes and the new style guide I created for the Get Revising responsive site, I designed each key screen of the app. Recognizing that the Study Planner is primarily composed of form fields, which can feel long and monotonous to users, I aimed to make each screen as visually engaging as possible to reduce the likelihood of user drop-off. To achieve this, I used bright, bold colours from the established palette and a clean, legible font to enhance readability and user interaction.
Designing the App Icon
A key part of the project was creating an app icon that was instantly recognisable, aligned with the Get Revising brand, and stood out on users’ home screens. Since the Study Planner was already a well-loved tool, I wanted the icon to feel familiar yet refreshed for the mobile experience.
Exploring Concepts
I started by sketching and experimenting with different design directions, focusing on concepts that reflected productivity, organisation, and ease of use. Some initial ideas included:
A calendar-style icon to represent planning and scheduling
A speech bubble to reflect community and conversation
A book or document to symbolise learning and support
A simplified version of the logos for strong brand recognition
Each concept had potential, but I needed to balance simplicity with recognisability, ensuring the icon remained clear even at small sizes.
Refinement & Selection
After exploring multiple variations, I refined the designs by simplifying shapes, experimenting with colour, and ensuring the icons fit seamlessly with the app’s UI. The final decision was influenced by:
Brand Alignment: The icon needed to feel like an extension of Get Revising’s existing identity.
Clarity at Small Sizes: Ensuring the details remained sharp and legible on mobile screens.
User Recognition: The design needed to be immediately associated with studying and organisation.
Validation & Testing
Since usability testing wasn’t yet a core part of the design process at that time, the app was primarily validated through functional testing. I worked closely with developers to conduct:
Device Testing: Ensuring the app functioned seamlessly on various screen sizes.
Visual QA: Verifying that the final build matched the intended design, ensuring a high-quality user experience.
Bug Fixes & Iteration: Addressing UI inconsistencies and improving usability where necessary.
Designs:
The desktop version of the Study Planner used different colours and icons to represent various session types. I carried this visual language over to the mobile app by incorporating the same colours into the setup screens and using the coloured icons within the planner to maintain consistency across platforms.
Using the wireframes and the new style guide I created for the Get Revising responsive site, I designed each key screen of the app. Recognizing that the Study Planner is primarily composed of form fields, which can feel long and monotonous to users, I aimed to make each screen as visually engaging as possible to reduce the likelihood of user drop-off. To achieve this, I used bright, bold colours from the established palette and a clean, legible font to enhance readability and user interaction.
Designing the App Icon
A key part of the project was creating an app icon that was instantly recognisable, aligned with the Get Revising brand, and stood out on users’ home screens. Since the Study Planner was already a well-loved tool, I wanted the icon to feel familiar yet refreshed for the mobile experience.
Exploring Concepts
I started by sketching and experimenting with different design directions, focusing on concepts that reflected productivity, organisation, and ease of use. Some initial ideas included:
A calendar-style icon to represent planning and scheduling
A speech bubble to reflect community and conversation
A book or document to symbolise learning and support
A simplified version of the logos for strong brand recognition
Each concept had potential, but I needed to balance simplicity with recognisability, ensuring the icon remained clear even at small sizes.
Refinement & Selection
After exploring multiple variations, I refined the designs by simplifying shapes, experimenting with colour, and ensuring the icons fit seamlessly with the app’s UI. The final decision was influenced by:
Brand Alignment: The icon needed to feel like an extension of Get Revising’s existing identity.
Clarity at Small Sizes: Ensuring the details remained sharp and legible on mobile screens.
User Recognition: The design needed to be immediately associated with studying and organisation.
Validation & Testing
Since usability testing wasn’t yet a core part of the design process at that time, the app was primarily validated through functional testing. I worked closely with developers to conduct:
Device Testing: Ensuring the app functioned seamlessly on various screen sizes.
Visual QA: Verifying that the final build matched the intended design, ensuring a high-quality user experience.
Bug Fixes & Iteration: Addressing UI inconsistencies and improving usability where necessary.
Outcome
The redesigned Study Planner successfully delivered a more accessible and engaging experience for students, making it easier to plan their studies on mobile devices.
Key Results:
A more intuitive study planner that reduced the time required to set up a schedule.
A consistent experience across desktop and mobile, increasing engagement.
Enhanced usability through a visually engaging and user-friendly design.
Final Thoughts
Designing the Study Planner app was a great learning experience that reinforced the importance of user-centred thinking, even in the early stages of my career. The project challenged me to simplify complex workflows and create an engaging mobile experience without sacrificing functionality. Today, I continue to apply these lessons, ensuring that usability testing and iterative design are at the heart of my process.
Outcome
The redesigned Study Planner successfully delivered a more accessible and engaging experience for students, making it easier to plan their studies on mobile devices.
Key Results:
A more intuitive study planner that reduced the time required to set up a schedule.
A consistent experience across desktop and mobile, increasing engagement.
Enhanced usability through a visually engaging and user-friendly design.
Final Thoughts
Designing the Study Planner app was a great learning experience that reinforced the importance of user-centred thinking, even in the early stages of my career. The project challenged me to simplify complex workflows and create an engaging mobile experience without sacrificing functionality. Today, I continue to apply these lessons, ensuring that usability testing and iterative design are at the heart of my process.
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Copyright 2025 by LJ Hazzard
Copyright 2025 by LJ Hazzard
Copyright 2025 by LJ Hazzard