From Classroom to Customer Journey: Why Educational Principles Are Product Design’s Secret Weapon
In the past, I wrote about how transferrable skills are everywhere, focusing on my journey from education to tech. Today, I want to dive deeper into a powerful connection many product teams overlook: the remarkable parallel between educational frameworks and effective product design.
The Lightbulb Moment
At Product Camp ATL, my friend Lyschel Shipp and I prepared to share an insight that has become increasingly clear in our careers: the principles that make great teachers are the same ones that create exceptional product experiences. Think about the last time you struggled to learn a new product. What made it difficult? More importantly, what finally helped you succeed? Chances are, that breakthrough came through one of the same principles teachers use daily.
Educational Principles Hidden in Your Favorite Products
While there’s an impressive array of educational principles that can be translated to product design, let’s focus on three fundamental concepts that can transform user experiences:
Scaffolding: The Art of Progressive Release
Remember how teachers break down complex topics by providing support along the way and eventually taking that support away? That’s scaffolding, and it’s everywhere in excellent product design. It’s about gradually removing support and guidance so users can complete tasks independently — just like training wheels on a bicycle.
Take two powerful examples:
- In the Classroom: When teaching reading comprehension, teachers strategically use visual cues and images to support struggling readers, gradually removing these aids as students build confidence and skill.
- In Product Design: Slack brilliantly applies this principle in their onboarding. When users first open the application, it highlights and displays key features to help with navigation, making the platform more accessible to newcomers. Just like those reading comprehension aids, these guides naturally fade away as users become more proficient.
Mailchimp’s email campaign creation process is another excellent example. It doesn’t overwhelm you with every possible option at once. Instead, it guides you through a carefully structured sequence: first, the basics, then more advanced features as you grow comfortable. This isn’t just good UX — it’s straight out of the educator’s playbook.
Differentiated Learning: One Size Fits None
- In the Classroom: We know that every student learns differently. Think of Johnny, an auditory learner, and Susie, who learns best through video. A skilled teacher might give Johnny a podcast about the Civil War while Susie watches a documentary — different paths to the same learning outcome.
- In Product Design: Microsoft Excel masterfully applies this principle through multiple accessibility features:
- Screen readers for auditory learners
- Alt text for visual content
- Keyboard navigation for different interaction preferences
- Customizable display settings
This isn’t just about accessibility — it’s about recognizing and supporting different user preferences and needs while ensuring everyone can achieve their goals. Just as a teacher provides different approaches for different learners, great products offer various ways to accomplish tasks based on user expertise and preferences.
Feedback Loops: The Power of Immediate Response
- In the Classroom: Every teacher knows the value of timely feedback, but it’s more than immediate corrections. In education, this might look like:
- Homework followed by a next-day quiz
- Parent and student questionnaires to gather experience feedback
- Regular progress assessments - In Product Design: Duolingo has turned this educational principle into an art form with the following:
- Immediate correction when mistakes occur
- Weekly learner reports via email showing progress
- Gamified feedback through points and timed challenges
These same principles can be powerfully applied in qualitative and quantitative user research, creating a continuous cycle of improvement.
From Theory to Practice: Implementing Educational Principles in Product Design
How can product teams start thinking like educators? Here are key strategies:
1. Empower Through Differentiation: Design features that adapt to different user levels. Just as teachers differentiate instruction, your product should support both novices and power users effectively.
2. Build Confidence Through Scaffolding: Implement progressive disclosure patterns that gradually introduce complexity. Users, like students, need a clear path from basic to advanced capabilities.
3. Foster Community Learning: Create opportunities for peer support and social learning. In classrooms and products alike, some of the best learning happens through community interaction.
4. Simplify Through Chunking: Break complex processes into digestible steps. This fundamental teaching strategy is equally crucial in product design for reducing cognitive load and improving comprehension.
The Data Speaks
The impact of implementing educational principles in product design is measurable:
- Scaffolding can increase knowledge retention by 30%
- Feedback loops boost user retention by 20%
- Differentiated learning approaches can improve user engagement by 40%
- Proper chunking can reduce cognitive load by 50%
The Critical Questions
As product designers, we need to ask ourselves the same questions teachers ask about their students:
- Are we meeting users where they are?
- Are we empowering users to progress at their own pace?
- Are we fostering connections and creating a welcoming environment?
Moving Forward
The intersection of education and product design isn’t just a theoretical framework — it’s a practical approach to creating more intuitive, engaging, and successful products. As someone who has stood in both worlds, I can attest that the skills and principles that make a great teacher are the same ones that create exceptional product experiences.
Put on your teacher hat the next time you design a user experience. Consider how an educator would approach helping someone learn and master your product. Outstanding product design, like excellent teaching, ultimately empowers users to succeed.
Have you noticed educational principles at work in your favorite products? I’d love to hear your examples and insights in the comments below.
