End-to-End Application
This project was an individual, end-to-end UX case study completed as part of my capstone for Designlab.
Over the course of this project, I designed Parla, a mobile app aimed at beginner language learners looking to learn new languages through cultural immersion, not just traditional lessons.
The goal was to help users confidently explore new environments by integrating real-world phrases, etiquette, and cultural understanding into their learning.
Research
To ground the project in real user needs, I conducted:
User interviews (4 participants)
Competitive analysis (Duolingo, Pimsleur, Babbel)
Affinity mapping and persona development
Through research, I discovered that many users:
Lose motivation when apps feel repetitive or shallow.
Desire practical, real-world language learning.
Crave confidence when navigating new cultures, especially solo travelers.
An important insight: Users want to feel like they are preparing for real conversations and situations—not just memorizing vocabulary.
This finding heavily influenced the rest of the design process.
Research Analysis
Using the research insights, I created key deliverables:
Personas
Sitemap focused around a streamlined Home, Culture, Practice, and Progress flow
Task/User Flows mapped to completing a Cultural Bite (learn + practice a real-world phrase)
These deliverables kept user goals and business needs aligned throughout the design.
Design
LoFi Design
HiFi Design
I created a clickable hi-fidelity prototype and conducted usability testing with pretend users (based on real feedback methods):
Task: Navigate to a Culture Bite and practice a phrase.
Results:
Users found the navigation clear and practice feature intuitive.
However, they suggested earlier language indication, a more defined "completion" moment after practice, and more detailed course progress tracking.
These insights will inform future iterations to improve onboarding clarity and reinforce user motivation throughout the journey.
Final Conclusion
Parla addresses a real gap in language learning by blending language, culture, and confidence into one experience.
Moving forward, I would:
Integrate a lightweight onboarding flow for setting the user's target language.
Build stronger celebratory moments post-practice to sustain engagement.
Expand progress tracking to include milestones, badges, and social sharing features.
Overall, Parla is designed to help users not just speak a language—but live it.
