Lesson Scheduling System
My Role: User Research | UX Design | Prototype
At Guitar Center, I designed graphic and UX concepts to enhance existing programs and supported the development of new agile marketing tools. Drawing on my UX training, art school education, and over 8 years of experience in marketing, design, and website management, I proactively created features aligned with the company’s vision. I collaborated with the marketing team, district manager, and VP of Guitar Center Lessons, Ryan Flannery, to present insights and solutions.
The following projects are based on actual programs that Guitar Center either had access to or was in the process of developing.
Research
User Research
While working as a Lesson Lead at Guitar Center, I conducted user interviews with six lesson associates who regularly interacted with the scheduling app. This group included five instructors and one experienced lesson associate.
Define
Pain Points
Problem 1: Mobile usability issues
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Not responsive on mobile devices
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Requiring users to zoom in and pan around, making navigation cumbersome
Problem 2: Difficult student check-ins
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No streamlined way to check in students, leading to inefficiencies in tracking attendance
Problem 3: Error prone video class selection
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Instructors teaching virtual lessons needed to zoom in to select a students video link
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Often resulting in selecting the wrong student for a video lesson
Problem 4: Schedule reability issues
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The lack of clear separation between time blocks made it difficult for associates to quickly determine class times
Prototype
Designed a mobile-friendly app prototype that allowed instructors to seamlessly view and manage their schedules while maintaining the colorful, structured desktop layout.
Video button to start online video lesson of the day
Introduced a personal notes feature, allowing instructors to document key details for each student and track their upcoming lessons in one place.
Impact
Alternating color design easily indicates schedule times of classes
Check in, cancel, or edit lesson time
Guitar Center currently has a scheduling website for lesson associates on desktop, and I designed a prototype that builds on its foundation while addressing key staff pain points. The refined desktop version streamlines scheduling, while a new mobile app concept allows instructors to easily view schedules and check in students.
Ryan Flannery, VP of Lessons Nationwide, valued my insights on enhancing Guitar Center’s digital experience. While not part of the marketing team, my perspective aligned with their ongoing improvements, and they were open to discussing my ideas. Their commitment to innovation made this an exciting exploration of what’s possible for their lesson program.