Origin Story... Cultivating learning, creativity, and play

Make this picture into a logo

I started UX of EdTech (UXE) in 2020 because I was a 7th-grade teacher studying UX design. It was a podcast and the whole project was like my college (networking). At the time, I wanted to pull back the curtain and learn from product teams working on stuff that made its way into the classroom.

Here is the old trusty podcast graphic.

The podcast soon gave way to a community. I was meeting so many cool folks and I wanted everyone to get connected. There are many kindred spirits out there in this space of “learning” and “edu.” Sharing out learnings soon evolved into a written publication that amplified the voices and work of others. Again, this was kind of like my college. Learning tons. Working on projects.

I hit a crossroads a year or two in, where I realized that I had benefited significantly from the hard work put into the brand (God’s grace), and I could go a couple of different paths. I could lean into content creation and cementing this as a personal brand. Or I could figure out a way to detach it from myself and let it open up opportunities for others. Let me tell you, it’s wayyy funner to do the latter!

My husband and I chose to start the Studio. I saw a real need for part-time work, and I found a model that connects talent specialized to the needs of a project but in a… fractional and affordable kind of way. I know awesome UXers (read: product designers, learning designers, researchers, writers), I know where to find educators and students, and I know people who are hiring and seeking UX help. I realized we could connect folks up.

Since our Community is a pretty dynamic group, we have been able to tap people into the Studio team and assemble some really awesome squads. We’ve had great success. Our network is wide and the bench is deep. We are simply setup to always be finding the right fit.

All of this to say, it was time for a visual evolution to catch-up to what UXE is today. Perceptive to our shifting times. Optimistic to do good. Curious. Playful.

Visual Evolution

This is a picture of one of the walls in my tiny office. I share this space with my favorite designers, my kids. I currently have a 4yo, 2yo, and baby and so you can imagine… creativity is raw and beautiful with them. They are my most precious inspiration and this image captures the essence of the new visual direction I wanted UXE to take.

So how in the world does one translate this into a logo and visual identity?
I had the privilege to partner with Fons Mans, an incredible visionary and brand designer. I really wanted to find someone external to UXE to come in with fresh eyes, divergent thinking, and take some of our pillars to new places.

Here are some things that I showed Fons to communicate UXE’s personality. Art, graphs, grids, paper, books books books, play-based learning, toys, making, adventure… these are key words that came up. Here a few of the clippings (apologies that I have no idea on the sources for a few of these).

A notebook by Owen Schuh

from Anna

Calvin and Hobbes in an imagination machine

hi block kids!

listening zen

We sifted through a good number of drafts and compositions. My teammates (Nicole Gallardo, Sarah Mondestin, and Alexandra Gwynn) weighed in. I agonized. Touching a logo is so emotional OMG. It became clear that the challenge would be maintaining the recognizability of the old logo, while evolving into something softer, more professional, and playful. After a number of iterations, Fons developed a direction that felt perfect.

Wordmark

moves and shapes

Community, Podcast, and Studio

I think about all of the people I have met through our Community and variety of projects and newcomers that we have attracted. Many shapes, sizes, and creative expressions would be the only way to describe it. We needed a system that captures the budding creativity of UXE while also allowing us to keep changing and head off to the races.

When I look at our little avatar, it feels like a party.

Yo! The possibilities with these shapes are endless. I’m saving some of our experiments for another story, but suffice it to say, there are lots of toys and pieces to play with around here.

What it all means

I think I share all of this for at least two reasons.

old and new

First, I want to capture this important milestone and create an opportunity to look back on this article in the faraway future. Our little tugboat OG logo took us very far, and I am thrilled to think about the horizons this new one will pursue.

Second, I think personality and mission alignment are really important. This is a little peek (though indirect) into the personality and heart of UX of EdTech. We are continually partnering with folks who care a ton about learning in all of its shapes and forms. We love this space and want to have fun.

If anything here resonates with you, we’d love to connect.

When you are needing UX support in the learning space, you might think of (and visualize) the Studio and Community at UX of EdTech.

Special Mentions:

Sarah Mondestin… for volunteering countless hours in the earlier days and sharing your unbelievably bright mind and heart

Nicole Gallardo… for your steady advising as a founder… you are such a boss and I’m constantly impressed by all you do, just wow

Alex Gwynn… for your help in cultivating community and handling any curve ball that has come during the growing pains, your deep care in any project is astounding

The team at Backpack Interactive… for continually elevating this space with remarkable design work and showing kindness when I was a teacher trying to learn UX

Harrison Wheeler… surprise, your podcast (Technically Speaking) really inspired me to start my own, thanks for taking a coffee chat

All team members and podcasts guests… can’t thank you enough and I’ve got more opportunities for you

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Why Learning Experience Design principles should matter for UX designers in EdTech (Article) →
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🎙️ How to Collab with UX of EdTech (Podcast) →
Alicia Quan introduces Sarah Mondestin as the new podcast co-host and they discuss the UXE’s Studio and Community.

Community (Website) →
Are you a product designer, UX researcher, UX writer, or learning designer working in the EdTech space? Consider joining our Slack community.

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