AWS EC2 Redesign
AWS EC2 is one of the most widely used AWS services—but it’s notoriously hard to navigate. I independently designed a feature concept for the EC2 desktop platform, “Beginner Mode”, aimed at improving the user experience for newcomers and enhancing the overall UI.
Date
May 2025
Date
May 2025
Role
Product Designer
Role
Product Designer
Project Type
Independent Case Study
Project Type
Independent Case Study
Tools + Skills
Figma, User Research
Tools + Skills
Figma, User Research
Improving Early User Retention
at Learvo
Learvo is a learning platform built around flashcards and structured study tools. While the core functionality was strong, the product struggled with new user retention.
Working on a team of five designers, I focused on onboarding, navigation, UI clarity, and design system improvements to make the product easier to use and more engaging.
Date
Aug 2025 - Dec 2025
Date
Aug 2025 - Dec 2025
Role
Product Designer
Role
Product Designer
Project Type
Contract
Project Type
Contract
Tools + Skills
Figma, User Research
Tools + Skills
Figma, User Research
Wait, what is Learvo?
Learvo is an AI-powered flashcard platform built around spaced repetition, with tools to generate flashcards from notes or videos and support learning through mnemonics and audio.
Originally designed for medical students, Learvo reduces friction in traditional flashcard tools while supporting consistent study habits.
The Problem
New users were quickly abandoning the platform. Core features were buried, navigation was unclear, there was little guidance on what users should do or how to use the product, and the UI felt clunky and visually unrefined. These issues led to the development of a key question:
How might we help new users quickly understand Learvo’s value and feel confident using the product, rather than abandoning it early?
But before we answer that, here's a glance at the users:
UX Audit to Determine Project Scope
Before proposing solutions, I conducted a lightweight UX audit across Learvo’s core product surfaces to understand where users were experiencing friction, particularly during first-time use.
The audit focused on key usability principles, including:
Clarity of primary actions
Visual hierarchy and information density
Consistency of UI components and patterns
Navigation and orientation within the product
Rather than evaluating individual screens in isolation, I examined how these elements worked together across the end-to-end experience.
My research revealed that EC2 is a vast and complex platform. To create meaningful design improvements, I needed to narrow the project scope. I focused on the dashboard and Launch Instance flow — the first screens beginners see. A Beginner Mode toggle makes the redesign accessible, giving newcomers guidance while keeping full control for advanced users.
My research revealed that EC2 is a vast and complex platform. To create meaningful design improvements, I needed to narrow the project scope. I focused on the dashboard and Launch Instance flow — the first screens beginners see. A Beginner Mode toggle makes the redesign accessible, giving newcomers guidance while keeping full control for advanced users.
Key Findings
1. Onboarding & Guidance
New users were dropped directly into the product with little direction. Core features were buried, and there was no clear indication of what users should do first or how different tools connected.
2. Navigation & Orientation Gaps
Users lacked clear signals about where they were within the product or how different sections related to one another, which contributed to disorientation and slower task completion. The Learvo logo redirected users to a signup page rather than functioning as a reliable anchor back to a home state. Additionally, there was no clear home or landing page—users were dropped directly into the flashcards view, making it difficult to understand the broader structure of the product or where to begin.
3. Visual Clutter in Core Workflows
The flashcards table and other study flows contained dense layouts, competing visual elements, and inconsistent spacing. This reduced scanability and increased cognitive load during frequent study sessions.
4. Inconsistent UI Patterns
Buttons, typography, spacing, and component states varied across screens. These inconsistencies made the product feel less predictable, and professional, losing user trust and retention.
My research revealed that EC2 is a vast and complex platform. To create meaningful design improvements, I needed to narrow the project scope. I focused on the dashboard and Launch Instance flow — the first screens beginners see. A Beginner Mode toggle makes the redesign accessible, giving newcomers guidance while keeping full control for advanced users.
My research revealed that EC2 is a vast and complex platform. To create meaningful design improvements, I needed to narrow the project scope. I focused on the dashboard and Launch Instance flow — the first screens beginners see. A Beginner Mode toggle makes the redesign accessible, giving newcomers guidance while keeping full control for advanced users.
Project Scope
The audit highlighted clarity Learvo’s primary gap, especially for new users. Based on this, the project focused on improving onboarding, visual hierarchy, navigation, and UI consistency in order to reduce cognitive load and help users reach value more quickly.
My research revealed that EC2 is a vast and complex platform. To create meaningful design improvements, I needed to narrow the project scope. I focused on the dashboard and Launch Instance flow — the first screens beginners see. A Beginner Mode toggle makes the redesign accessible, giving newcomers guidance while keeping full control for advanced users.
My research revealed that EC2 is a vast and complex platform. To create meaningful design improvements, I needed to narrow the project scope. I focused on the dashboard and Launch Instance flow — the first screens beginners see. A Beginner Mode toggle makes the redesign accessible, giving newcomers guidance while keeping full control for advanced users.
Initiative 1: New User Tutorial Flow
Problem
New users were dropped into the product with no guidance, causing confusion and early abandonment.
Solution
I designed a lightweight tutorial flow that introduces key features progressively and gives users clear direction on what to do first, without inhibiting their freedom in the product.
Problem
New users were dropped into the product with no guidance, causing confusion and early abandonment.
Solution
I designed a lightweight tutorial flow that introduces key features progressively and gives users clear direction on what to do first, without inhibiting their freedom in the product.
Problem
New users were dropped into the product with no guidance, causing confusion and early abandonment.
Solution
I designed a lightweight tutorial flow that introduces key features progressively and gives users clear direction on what to do first, without inhibiting their freedom in the product.
Video Overview
Video Overview
Video Overview
Still Images
Still Images
Still Images
Initiative 2: Navigation and Orientation Cues
Problem
Users lacked clear signals about where they were in the product or how different sections connected, leading to disorientation and slower task completion.
Solution
I clarified navigation and orientation by establishing the Flashcards page as a reliable home state and introducing dashboard-like elements (Recently Studied section) to help users understand their progress and next steps.
Design Tradeoff
While a dedicated learning dashboard was the ideal long-term solution, engineering constraints meant it wasn’t immediately feasible. Instead, we incrementally evolved the existing Flashcards page by surfacing progress and study cues directly within it, allowing us to improve orientation and guidance without blocking development.
Image 1: after changes
Image 2: before changes
Problem
Users lacked clear signals about where they were in the product or how different sections connected, leading to disorientation and slower task completion.
Solution
I clarified navigation and orientation by establishing the Flashcards page as a reliable home state and introducing dashboard-like elements (Recently Studied section) to help users understand their progress and next steps.
Design Tradeoff
While a dedicated learning dashboard was the ideal long-term solution, engineering constraints meant it wasn’t immediately feasible. Instead, we incrementally evolved the existing Flashcards page by surfacing progress and study cues directly within it, allowing us to improve orientation and guidance without blocking development.
Image 1: after changes
Image 2: before changes
Problem
Users lacked clear signals about where they were in the product or how different sections connected, leading to disorientation and slower task completion.
Solution
I clarified navigation and orientation by establishing the Flashcards page as a reliable home state and introducing dashboard-like elements (Recently Studied section) to help users understand their progress and next steps.
Design Tradeoff
While a dedicated learning dashboard was the ideal long-term solution, engineering constraints meant it wasn’t immediately feasible. Instead, we incrementally evolved the existing Flashcards page by surfacing progress and study cues directly within it, allowing us to improve orientation and guidance without blocking development.
Image 1: after changes
Image 2: before changes
Initiative 3: Design System, UI Consistency, Core UI Improvements
Problem
Inconsistent UI patterns and visually cluttered interfaces especially within the tables, made the product harder to learn, scan, and use confidently.
Solution
I standardized core components, typography, spacing, and states, and applied these patterns to redesign the tables, reducing visual noise, strengthening hierarchy, and improving usability in one of the product’s most frequently used workflows.
Problem
Inconsistent UI patterns and visually cluttered interfaces especially within the tables, made the product harder to learn, scan, and use confidently.
Solution
I standardized core components, typography, spacing, and states, and applied these patterns to redesign the tables, reducing visual noise, strengthening hierarchy, and improving usability in one of the product’s most frequently used workflows.
Problem
Inconsistent UI patterns and visually cluttered interfaces especially within the tables, made the product harder to learn, scan, and use confidently.
Solution
I standardized core components, typography, spacing, and states, and applied these patterns to redesign the tables, reducing visual noise, strengthening hierarchy, and improving usability in one of the product’s most frequently used workflows.
Design System
Design System
Design System
Dashboard UI (Table and Deck Study Progress Cards), after and before
Dashboard UI (Table and Deck Study Progress Cards), after and before
Dashboard UI (Table and Deck Study Progress Cards), after and before
Dashboard
Dashboard
Dashboard
Launch Instance
Launch Instance
Based on insights from user feedback and previous iterations, I transitioned to a lighter, more streamlined interface that prioritizes clarity, readability, and confidence for new users. I also consolidated the header into the left navigation to reduce redundancy and surface navigation in a more intuitive location.
I initially explored designs that stayed close to the existing AWS visual system to better understand the design language and constraints. While this approach was useful early on, feedback showed that elements like low contrast, heavy borders, large unused areas, and a top header with unclear actions still created cognitive load for beginners.
Outcomes
Using Microsoft Clarity session recordings and engagement trends, we observed measurable improvements in early user behavior after the design changes were introduced:
~30–40% reduction in immediate session abandonment among new users
Increased engagement with core features, with more users creating or reviewing flashcards during their first session
Fewer navigation loops and backtracks, suggesting improved orientation and wayfinding
Shorter time to first meaningful action, indicating clearer guidance and reduced cognitive load
In addition to behavioral data, the customer success team shared positive qualitative feedback from direct user conversations. New users reported feeling more oriented within the product, better understanding what they should do first, and finding the interface easier to use and less overwhelming.
Together, these signals suggest that clarifying onboarding, navigation, and UI hierarchy helped users understand Learvo’s value faster and engage more confidently with the product.
I tested the prototype with 4 peers who were new to EC2:
• All preferred the Beginner Mode flow and highlighted reduced anxiety in setup.
• Testers had 90% fewer errors navigating from the dashboard through the Launch Instance workflow, compared to the current workflow.
I tested the prototype with 4 peers who were new to EC2:
• All preferred the Beginner Mode flow and highlighted reduced anxiety in setup.
• Testers had 90% fewer errors navigating from the dashboard through the Launch Instance workflow, compared to the current workflow.
Takeaways
Takeaways
Clear guidance helps users stick around.
New users were more likely to engage when the product clearly showed them what to do first and how features fit together.
Good design works within constraints.
Limited engineering resources meant focusing on the most impactful improvements and adjusting designs to what could realistically be built.
Speed matters in early-stage products.
Shipping small, meaningful changes quickly was more effective than waiting for fully polished solutions.
Consistency makes products easier to use.
Aligning layouts, components, and patterns reduced confusion and made the product feel more intuitive.
Clear guidance helps users stick around.
New users were more likely to engage when the product clearly showed them what to do first and how features fit together.
Good design works within constraints.
Limited engineering resources meant focusing on the most impactful improvements and adjusting designs to what could realistically be built.
Speed matters in early-stage products.
Shipping small, meaningful changes quickly was more effective than waiting for fully polished solutions.
Consistency makes products easier to use.
Aligning layouts, components, and patterns reduced confusion and made the product feel more intuitive.
Clear guidance helps users stick around.
New users were more likely to engage when the product clearly showed them what to do first and how features fit together.
Good design works within constraints.
Limited engineering resources meant focusing on the most impactful improvements and adjusting designs to what could realistically be built.
Speed matters in early-stage products.
Shipping small, meaningful changes quickly was more effective than waiting for fully polished solutions.
Consistency makes products easier to use.
Aligning layouts, components, and patterns reduced confusion and made the product feel more intuitive.