Overview
A rewards platform for teachers who collect magazine orders from students and earn points redeemable for free classroom supplies. Teachers distribute order forms, track student purchases, and accumulate points based on total sales. The platform required both UX/UI improvements and technical authentication changes to evolve from a campaign-based system using mailed promotion codes into a user-friendly, year-round digital experience..
UX Lead & Designer
Figma - Zeplin - Mouseflow - Qualtrix - Quantum Metric
3 months (6 sprint cycle)
The Problem
Teachers expressed frustration with a complex login process that required a unique user ID and promotional code for each new campaign period. To address this, the business aimed to introduce a streamlined login strategy, enabling teachers to access the rewards platform, their accounts, and promotional campaigns with a single email and password. However, this approach introduced technical challenges: aligning email addresses with the existing database limited the use of standard authentication methods and necessitated innovative design solutions.
Legacy Database – System built around generated Teacher IDs and complex points tracking across campaigns.
Scalability Bottleneck – Reliance on physical mail created delays and increased operational costs.
Poor User Experience – Teachers waited for mailed access codes each campaign period and struggled to locate their unique IDs and codes.
Account Matching Challenge – Transitioning to password-based login required linking new accounts to existing records with points and order history.
The Process
User Flow Mapping – Analyzed existing teacher workflows around orders, points tracking, and gift redemption.
Wireframing – Created low-fidelity wireframes for new authentication flows and dashboard navigation.
Prototyping – Built interactive prototypes to test complex account verification and login processes.
Final Mockups – Produced high-fidelity designs using established design system components and UI patterns.
Mobile Optimization – Ensured responsive design for teachers accessing the platform on personal devices (though most used laptops).
Cross-Team Collaboration – Partnered extensively with development and data teams to validate technical feasibility and align on solutions that balanced user experience with system constraints.
Solutions
A Teacher ID + Password authentication system that preserved all existing data:
Existing Teachers:
Login with familiar Teacher ID + promotional code
Directed to password addition flow after login (using existing verification step)
Receive email confirmation with new login credentials (email + password for future use)
New Teachers:
Self-service account creation with email registration
Backend automatically matches new accounts to existing teacher records and data
Interface Design:
Dual Login Options: Interface supports both email + password and Teacher ID + promotional code
Smart Pathways: Separate entry points for existing vs. new teachers
Design System Integration: All interfaces built using existing UI components and patterns
Mobile Optimization: Responsive design for teachers accessing on personal devices
The Outcome
UX/UI Improvements
Improved Login Success: 92% of teachers were able to login without assistance
Improved Login Satisfaction: Teacher login satisfaction improved from 2.3/5 to 4.6/5 rating
Technical Results
Migration Success: 95% of active teachers successfully transitioned to new authentication system
Data Integrity: Account information, rewards points or order history date successfully matched to user email identifier
Performance: Platform load times improved 20% through optimized interface design
Accessibility Compliance: Achieved WCAG 2.1 AA standards across all platform functions
Business Impact
Teacher Engagement: 40% increase in platform usage due to improved user experience and year-round accessibility
Customer Service Reduction: 35% decrease in support tickets related to access issues
Platform Scalability: Foundation established for additional teacher-focused features and year-round engagement
The transition from a promotional access model to a standard user authentication system represents a critical evolution for the digital dashboard platform. This change addresses current operational inefficiencies while creating a foundation for sustainable growth and enhanced user experiences. Through careful planning, phased implementation, and attention to user needs, this transition will position the platform for long-term success as a comprehensive digital service rather than a limited promotional tool.
The investment in user authentication infrastructure will pay dividends through improved operational efficiency, enhanced security, better user experiences, and the capability to implement advanced features that drive user engagement and business value.
© 2025