Build University Online Platform
Led rapid development of an online learning platform in 3 weeks during COVID-19, enabling continued education for high schoolers in under-resourced communities.
Project Snapshot
Build.org (via C4EIS & Philosophie)
Education & Non-Profit
March 2020 - April 2020
Project Lead & Product Strategist
Responsive Web Design, Video Platforms, Learning Management Systems, Mobile-First Design
Project Management, Educational Platform Development, User Research, Emergency Response
Cross-functional team of 10+: Project Lead (myself), C4EIS Account Manager, 4 Build.org Stakeholders, 3 Video Producers, 1 Designer, 1 Developer
What It Was
An emergency response project to transform Build.org's hands-on Design Thinking curriculum into a mobile-first online learning platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. Build.org is a non-profit that works with high schoolers in under-resourced communities to develop their potential through entrepreneurship education. When schools suddenly closed, they needed to rapidly transition their 6-week in-person program to continue serving quarantined students and expand reach to new schools nationwide.
Overview of the online Design Thinking curriculum platform
What I Did
- Led project coordination across a complex team of 10+ stakeholders including Build.org educators, C4EIS account management, video producers, designers, and developers
- Created comprehensive project timeline using Gantt charts to align cross-functional teams and communicate critical dependencies for the 3-week deadline
- Conducted stakeholder interviews to translate vision from multiple perspectives into actionable product requirements
- Managed iterative design process from wireframes through high-fidelity mockups to final responsive website
- Followed up with usability research sprint, interviewing 12 high school students across 6 remote sessions to identify curriculum blockers in unmoderated environments
- Delivered prioritized improvement recommendations based on real student behavior and learning outcomes
Mobile-first landing page design
Course interface and curriculum delivery screens
What Came Out of It
- Successfully launched BuildUniversity.org on schedule, enabling Build.org to continue serving students during school closures
- Expanded organizational reach to new schools across the country through the accessible online format
- Received enthusiastic feedback from educators who were excited about better student engagement possibilities
- Identified specific curriculum challenges through follow-up research with 12 students, providing actionable insights for future iterations
- Validated concerns that educators had struggled to articulate, setting foundation for solution ideation workshops
- Demonstrated ability to execute rapid product development under extreme time pressure while maintaining quality standards
What I Learned
Complex multi-stakeholder projects require clear project management tools like Gantt charts to keep everyone aligned and accountable. When deadlines are non-negotiable, visual communication of dependencies becomes critical for preventing timeline slips. Emergency response projects can reveal new opportunities for impact and reach that might not have been explored otherwise. User research immediately after launch provides invaluable insights for product evolution and helps validate both successes and improvement areas.
Need Emergency Product Development?
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