UI/UX • London School Of Economics
LSE, a globally recognised university and member of the Russell Group, aimed to improve student engagement by enhancing both the functionality and visual design of its Moodle learning management system.
Feb 3, 2025
CLIENT
London School of Economics
CLIENT
London School of Economics
CLIENT
London School of Economics
Role
Lead UX & UI
Role
Lead UX & UI
Role
Lead UX & UI
Service
UX Design
Service
UX Design
Service
UX Design
The problem:
The problem:
The problem:
LSE engaged us to redesign its Moodle environment to better support students enrolled in international programmes. Many learners were bypassing the central platform in favour of local portals, citing poor visual design and limited functionality. We worked closely with stakeholders to develop a flexible design system that enhanced visual appeal, improved navigation, and aligned with LSE’s brand. The result was a more engaging, intuitive VLE that encouraged consistent use across diverse global contexts.
The existing platform lacked a cohesive experience and didn’t reflect the institution’s identity or meet modern student expectations. The goal was to create a personalised, branded, and intuitive digital environment that supported learning and created a sense of community.
LSE engaged us to redesign its Moodle environment to better support students enrolled in international programmes. Many learners were bypassing the central platform in favour of local portals, citing poor visual design and limited functionality. We worked closely with stakeholders to develop a flexible design system that enhanced visual appeal, improved navigation, and aligned with LSE’s brand. The result was a more engaging, intuitive VLE that encouraged consistent use across diverse global contexts.
The existing platform lacked a cohesive experience and didn’t reflect the institution’s identity or meet modern student expectations. The goal was to create a personalised, branded, and intuitive digital environment that supported learning and created a sense of community.
LSE engaged us to redesign its Moodle environment to better support students enrolled in international programmes. Many learners were bypassing the central platform in favour of local portals, citing poor visual design and limited functionality. We worked closely with stakeholders to develop a flexible design system that enhanced visual appeal, improved navigation, and aligned with LSE’s brand. The result was a more engaging, intuitive VLE that encouraged consistent use across diverse global contexts.
The existing platform lacked a cohesive experience and didn’t reflect the institution’s identity or meet modern student expectations. The goal was to create a personalised, branded, and intuitive digital environment that supported learning and created a sense of community.
Client insights and needs
Client insights and needs
Client insights and needs
Students enrolled in its international programmes weren’t engaging with the central Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) as much as expected.
During stakeholder workshops, we uncovered five themes that the staff felt the current VLE experience was lacking and what they thought would add value for the students.
Consistent design
Due to the lack of consistency of portals for international programs, students have led to confusion and weakened the overall online experience of students. Demonstrate pathways to employment or further study Students are not aware of how LSE can help them continue toward employment or further study.
Create an experience for users to feel part of the LSE community
Students have felt disenfranchised, aim to display more student and university-generated content to drive positive sentiment and feel part of LSE.
Students enrolled in its international programmes weren’t engaging with the central Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) as much as expected.
During stakeholder workshops, we uncovered five themes that the staff felt the current VLE experience was lacking and what they thought would add value for the students.
Consistent design
Due to the lack of consistency of portals for international programs, students have led to confusion and weakened the overall online experience of students. Demonstrate pathways to employment or further study Students are not aware of how LSE can help them continue toward employment or further study.
Create an experience for users to feel part of the LSE community
Students have felt disenfranchised, aim to display more student and university-generated content to drive positive sentiment and feel part of LSE.
Students enrolled in its international programmes weren’t engaging with the central Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) as much as expected.
During stakeholder workshops, we uncovered five themes that the staff felt the current VLE experience was lacking and what they thought would add value for the students.
Consistent design
Due to the lack of consistency of portals for international programs, students have led to confusion and weakened the overall online experience of students. Demonstrate pathways to employment or further study Students are not aware of how LSE can help them continue toward employment or further study.
Create an experience for users to feel part of the LSE community
Students have felt disenfranchised, aim to display more student and university-generated content to drive positive sentiment and feel part of LSE.
Process
Process
Process
1. Discovery & Requirements Gathering
I facilitated stakeholder workshops to capture LSE’s “blue sky” vision for the LMS.
Defined key goals:
Track student progression across individual courses and the overall program
Display course- and institution-wide announcements
Surface event information relevant to each student
Provide a clear, stylised calendar with upcoming assessments
Create a sense of belonging through visual and content design
Mapped user journeys and information architecture.
Consulted with a third-party Moodle expert to assess feasibility.
Coordinated closely with developers to scope and schedule work.
2. Low-Fidelity Wireframing
Created wireframes for key screens:
Dashboard
Program page
Course home and content page
3. High-Fidelity Prototyping
Applied LSE’s brand language and colour palette.
Used student imagery and real-world photos to foster a strong sense of identity and inclusiveness.
Developed an interactive prototype showing key user flows and page interactions.
4. Collaboration & Delivery
Conducted iterative design reviews with stakeholders.
Supported handoff to developers, ensuring the vision remained intact through implementation.
1. Discovery & Requirements Gathering
I facilitated stakeholder workshops to capture LSE’s “blue sky” vision for the LMS.
Defined key goals:
Track student progression across individual courses and the overall program
Display course- and institution-wide announcements
Surface event information relevant to each student
Provide a clear, stylised calendar with upcoming assessments
Create a sense of belonging through visual and content design
Mapped user journeys and information architecture.
Consulted with a third-party Moodle expert to assess feasibility.
Coordinated closely with developers to scope and schedule work.
2. Low-Fidelity Wireframing
Created wireframes for key screens:
Dashboard
Program page
Course home and content page
3. High-Fidelity Prototyping
Applied LSE’s brand language and colour palette.
Used student imagery and real-world photos to foster a strong sense of identity and inclusiveness.
Developed an interactive prototype showing key user flows and page interactions.
4. Collaboration & Delivery
Conducted iterative design reviews with stakeholders.
Supported handoff to developers, ensuring the vision remained intact through implementation.
1. Discovery & Requirements Gathering
I facilitated stakeholder workshops to capture LSE’s “blue sky” vision for the LMS.
Defined key goals:
Track student progression across individual courses and the overall program
Display course- and institution-wide announcements
Surface event information relevant to each student
Provide a clear, stylised calendar with upcoming assessments
Create a sense of belonging through visual and content design
Mapped user journeys and information architecture.
Consulted with a third-party Moodle expert to assess feasibility.
Coordinated closely with developers to scope and schedule work.
2. Low-Fidelity Wireframing
Created wireframes for key screens:
Dashboard
Program page
Course home and content page
3. High-Fidelity Prototyping
Applied LSE’s brand language and colour palette.
Used student imagery and real-world photos to foster a strong sense of identity and inclusiveness.
Developed an interactive prototype showing key user flows and page interactions.
4. Collaboration & Delivery
Conducted iterative design reviews with stakeholders.
Supported handoff to developers, ensuring the vision remained intact through implementation.
Solutions
Solutions
Solutions
Delivered a fully customised Moodle experience, including:
Student dashboard displaying course progress, critical announcements, and key assignments
Stylised calendar and tagging system to prioritise relevant content
Branded visual design using imagery, typography, and layout choices that reinforced the LSE identity
Scalable components designed to support future content and course variations
Delivered a fully customised Moodle experience, including:
Student dashboard displaying course progress, critical announcements, and key assignments
Stylised calendar and tagging system to prioritise relevant content
Branded visual design using imagery, typography, and layout choices that reinforced the LSE identity
Scalable components designed to support future content and course variations
Delivered a fully customised Moodle experience, including:
Student dashboard displaying course progress, critical announcements, and key assignments
Stylised calendar and tagging system to prioritise relevant content
Branded visual design using imagery, typography, and layout choices that reinforced the LSE identity
Scalable components designed to support future content and course variations
Impact
Impact
Impact
Platform usage rates increased by 30% (daily log-ins, course accesses) among international programme students.
The project was delivered on time and under budget with strong client satisfaction, particularly regarding visual polish, stakeholder communication, and alignment with institutional goals.
Testimonial:
“Curio’s approach was collaborative and flexible, always giving us the time and space to elaborate on our needs as the customer. Their way of working helps us to achieve our ambitious goals for the project.”
— Olly Trumble, Head of University of London Programmes, LSE
Reflection
This project sharpened my ability to balance user needs, technical constraints, and brand identity within a complex institutional context.
Collaborating with developers early on ensured design feasibility, while ongoing feedback loops with stakeholders helped maintain alignment and trust throughout. The result was a solution that felt truly tailored to the LSE community.
Platform usage rates increased by 30% (daily log-ins, course accesses) among international programme students.
The project was delivered on time and under budget with strong client satisfaction, particularly regarding visual polish, stakeholder communication, and alignment with institutional goals.
Testimonial:
“Curio’s approach was collaborative and flexible, always giving us the time and space to elaborate on our needs as the customer. Their way of working helps us to achieve our ambitious goals for the project.”
— Olly Trumble, Head of University of London Programmes, LSE
Reflection
This project sharpened my ability to balance user needs, technical constraints, and brand identity within a complex institutional context.
Collaborating with developers early on ensured design feasibility, while ongoing feedback loops with stakeholders helped maintain alignment and trust throughout. The result was a solution that felt truly tailored to the LSE community.
Platform usage rates increased by 30% (daily log-ins, course accesses) among international programme students.
The project was delivered on time and under budget with strong client satisfaction, particularly regarding visual polish, stakeholder communication, and alignment with institutional goals.
Testimonial:
“Curio’s approach was collaborative and flexible, always giving us the time and space to elaborate on our needs as the customer. Their way of working helps us to achieve our ambitious goals for the project.”
— Olly Trumble, Head of University of London Programmes, LSE
Reflection
This project sharpened my ability to balance user needs, technical constraints, and brand identity within a complex institutional context.
Collaborating with developers early on ensured design feasibility, while ongoing feedback loops with stakeholders helped maintain alignment and trust throughout. The result was a solution that felt truly tailored to the LSE community.
