Brief

Marina Nails Academy needed an online learning platform to expand their nail design education beyond physical classes. The platform needed to be visually attractive, user-friendly, and cost-effective, allowing them to sell courses online while maintaining their premium brand positioning.

Challenge

The project presented several significant constraints:

• Limited budget requiring free or low-cost solutions
• Need for intuitive interfaces for both instructors and students
• Requirement for students to submit assignments and receive feedback
• Integration of secure payment processing for course sales
• Maintaining the academy’s high-end visual aesthetic in a template-based environment
• Creating a platform that non-technical staff could manage independently

Solution

I developed a comprehensive solution that balanced technical requirements with design excellence:

Platform Selection & Customization

After careful evaluation of various options, I selected WordPress with LearnPress as the core platform, chosen specifically for:

• Visual appeal that aligned with the premium brand positioning
• Intuitive user interface for both students and instructors
• Flexible content delivery options for different learning styles
• Cost-effective implementation requiring no custom coding

Key Features Implementation

• Custom Assignment System: Implemented assignment upload functionality allowing students to submit their nail design work
• Visual Course Navigation: Created an intuitive visual course structure that mimicked the in-person learning experience
• Progress Tracking: Integrated student progress indicators to enhance motivation and completion rates
• Responsive Design: Ensured full functionality across all devices, particularly important for students working from tablets

Visual Design Integration

• Adapted the academy’s existing brand elements to create a cohesive digital environment
• Designed custom course thumbnail templates that maintained visual consistency
• Created an instructor profile system that highlighted the expertise of the teaching staff
• Developed a visual language for different course categories and difficulty levels

User Experience Optimization

• Simplified the course enrollment process to minimize abandonment
• Created intuitive navigation paths based on student learning journeys
• Implemented one-click access to frequently used resources
• Designed clear feedback mechanisms for submitted assignments

Results

The e-learning platform transformed Marina Nails Academy’s business model:

• Successfully transitioned from exclusively in-person to hybrid learning
• Expanded their student base beyond geographical limitations
• Created a new revenue stream through digital course sales
• Established a scalable system that could grow with their course catalog
• Provided a professional online presence that reinforced their brand positioning

Key Takeaways

This project demonstrates my ability to:

• Translate business requirements into effective digital solutions
• Create visually appealing, user-friendly learning environments
• Implement complex functionality within budget constraints
• Balance technical requirements with aesthetic considerations
• Deliver solutions that clients can maintain independently

Need a custom e-learning platform or digital transformation for your educational business? Contact me to discuss how strategic web design can expand your reach and impact.