Scooler
Redesigning an AI-Powered University Application Platform
Overview
Scooler is an AI-powered platform designed to help students discover universities, understand their academic pathways, and complete applications with greater confidence and efficiency.
I joined as the founding product designer at a critical stage. The team had already built an ambitious MVP, but the product experience was fragmented, over-scoped, and difficult for students to navigate. My role was to audit the existing experience, define a clearer product strategy, and redesign the platform around the most valuable student journeys.
Team
Founders, Engineers, Marketing
Responsibilities
- Product strategy
- UX research
- Information architecture
- Interaction design
- Design systems
- Usability testing
- Marketing website design
The Challenge
The initial MVP attempted to solve multiple student problems simultaneously through a collection of disconnected AI-powered experiences.
As a result:
- Navigation lacked clarity
- Key student goals required too many steps
- AI features felt isolated rather than integrated
- The product contained more screens and complexity than required for an early-stage launch
What worked
- Clear value proposition at entry
- Collected enough context to personalise early
What didn't
- Too many steps before the student reached the product
- Required information upfront that could have been deferred
- No progress indicator — felt endless
My Approach
1. Product Strategy Matrix
Before redesigning, I mapped user goals and competitive positioning to define where Scooler could deliver the most meaningful differentiation.
2. Auditing and Simplifying the MVP
I conducted a full audit of the existing product experience, mapping user journeys, identifying redundant flows, and evaluating where students encountered friction.
Across three design iterations, I reduced the overall screen count by approximately 35%.
3. Reimagining the Role of AI
One of the most significant product decisions involved redefining Skye, Scooler's AI assistant.
Initially, Skye existed primarily as a chatbot.
I proposed repositioning Skye as the platform's central intelligence layer — a control center that could surface recommendations, clarify pathways, guide decisions, and coordinate actions throughout the product.
Key Experiences Designed
Designed a guided onboarding experience that collected student goals, academic interests, qualifications, and preferences.
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Web Design
Marketing Website
Beyond the product itself, I designed the company's marketing website.
Impact
Product Outcomes
- Reduced overall screen count by 35%
- Prioritized five high-impact user journeys
- Repositioned AI as the platform's core guidance layer
- Validated key product decisions through usability testing
- Delivered end-to-end experiences across discovery, planning, application preparation, and submission
Navigation clarity
was 54%
School-match confidence
was 41%
Understanding of AI guidance
was 38%
Overall user satisfaction
was 3.1
Reflection
This project reinforced the importance of treating AI as a product capability rather than a standalone feature.
The most valuable outcome wasn't adding more AI functionality — it was creating a clear experience where AI actively helped students progress toward their goals.
