Word Wise Project

Overview

WordWise is a vocabulary learning app designed to make language acquisition engaging, efficient, and personalized. With spaced repetition, contextual examples, and interactive quizzes, WordWise helps users build lasting vocabulary skills in a fun and intuitive way.

Problem Statement

Many vocabulary learning apps focus on rote memorization, making it difficult for users to retain and apply new words in real-world contexts. How might we create a vocabulary learning experience that enhances retention, provides contextual meaning, and keeps users engaged?

Research and Discovery

User Interviews

To understand users’ struggles with vocabulary learning I conducted 4 user interviews with students, professionals, and language learners

Key Insights from Research:

Context Matters: Users remember words better when they see them in sentences or real-life examples
Engagement is Key: Gamified experiences (quizzes, streaks, rewards) increase motivation
Personalization Helps: Users prefer adaptive learning paths over one-size-fits-all lessons.

Competitive Analysis

I analyzed Quizlet, Brainscape, and Anki to identify strengths and gaps.

Quizlet

Strengths:

Clear benefits and features displayed on launch page
Easy sign-up with Apple/Google/Facebook integration
AI-powered auto-creation of study materials from notes and textbooks
Options to connect with school courses or browse general study sets
Multiple study formats with customizable settings, including read-aloud options
Social learning features like multiplayer study activities
Ads are present but not intrusive

Weaknesses:

Paid plans are introduced early, despite the app being advertised as free
No clear onboarding to guide new users
Interface changes drastically after adding school/course details
Some features (e.g., Solutions tab, Learn feature) lack clear explanations
Limited clarity on free vs. paid features outside of sign-up and upgrade screens
Help Center is hard to find
Read Aloud speed can’t be adjusted

Brainscape

Strengths:

Clear benefits and features displayed on launch page
Quick sign-up with Apple/Google
Tracks study metrics like time studied and streaks
Onboarding provided when joining a class
Supports multimedia on flashcards and text formatting
Certified flashcards from verified sources
Users can collaborate with classmates under the Learners tab
Articles provide study tips and exam prep resources

Weaknesses:

No onboarding before prompting users to start
Auto-populated classes on the home screen may feel impersonal
Account settings are hard to locate
Many features are locked behind a paywall (e.g., adding media to flashcards)
Bottom navigation buttons are unlabeled
Limited study formats—only traditional flashcards
Users must rate each card before moving on, which slows studying
No read-aloud feature for accessibility
Search results lack sorting, making it hard to find relevant content

Anki Pro

Strengths:

Clear benefits and features listed on launch
Personalized experience through an initial questionnaire
Transparent subscription and cancellation instructions
Supports importing decks from other apps with a guide
Seamless flashcard creation with text formatting and sharing options
Text-to-speech available for accessibility
Offers multiple study modes, including typing answers
Ability to freeze, move, or delete multiple cards at once

Weaknesses:

Paid app but not advertised as such in the app store
No onboarding after the initial questionnaire
Logging in isn’t prompted or clearly indicated
Limited pre-populated decks for browsing
Study directions can obstruct flashcard content
Must duplicate a deck before studying
No option to remove the rating feature when reviewing
Navigation back to the home page is unclear after using multiple features

Ideation and Information Architecture

User Persona

I developed a proto persona based on research to map out a users’ learning journey to identify friction points.

User Goals and Needs

Based on user research, I identified key goals and needs for WordWise users.

User Flows

I designed streamlined user flows with the goal of little friction both when creating flashcard sets and reviewing flashcard sets

Wireframing and Prototyping

I started with hand-drawn sketches and wireframes to explore initial ideas for each task then built low-fidelity prototypes to gain feedback from user testing.

Usability Testing and Insights

I conducted usability testing with 5 participants using my low-fidelity prototype.

Key Observations from Testing:

Questionnaire is long and users aren’t sure this is needed to create a new account
Email and password shown on initial splash screen is confusing for new users
Unclear how to scan physical flashcards after pressing this function
Unclear how to start study session after choosing flashcard set
Unclear that “check” and “x” are pressable when reviewing flashcards
Unclear that user needs to press “tap to reveal” during study session

Iterations Based on Testing

Based on user feedback, I made the following changes to the prototype:

Condensed questionnaire to one screen by giving ability to scroll
Hid email and password on initial splash screen
Added direction to scan physical flashcards with phone camera
Shifted arrows to be inside preview flashcards
Made the “check” and “x” look like buttons when reviewing flashcards

Conclusion

WordWise isn’t just about memorizing words—it’s about mastering vocabulary for real-world use. By combining contextual learning, gamification, and personalized study plans, the app empowers users to expand their vocabulary in a meaningful way.

Next Steps

Conduct further usability testing to refine UI components.
Usability testing with high-fidelity prototype
Iterate based on feedback