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NCLEX High Yield

NCLEX High Yield

NCLEX High Yield

Information Architecture, UX Writing, Design System

Information Architecture, UX Writing, Design System

Information Architecture, UX Writing, Design System

(Role)

(Role)

(Role)

UX/UI Designer

UX/UI Designer

UX/UI Designer

(Tools)

(Tools)

(Tools)

Figma, Figjam

Figma, Figjam

Figma, Figjam

(Duration)

(Duration)

(Duration)

3 weeks

3 weeks

3 weeks

(Preview)

Prototype

Prototype

Prototype

(Introduction)

(Introduction)

(Introduction)

Rebuilding a Centralized Platform for Nursing Exam Success

NCLEX High Yield is a vital resource for nursing students preparing for one of the most important exams of their careers. Founded by the charismatic and relatable Dr. Zeeshan Hoodbuoy, the platform has become a trusted name in nursing education, known for its high-yield content, a top-ranking podcast, and a thriving online community.


However, with their rapid growth, it became clear that the platform was not built to meet the evolving usability demands. The fragmented UI, unclear navigation, and two host-sites created barriers for users already under immense stress. This was an opportunity to restructure their foundation and digital experience of the NCLEX High Yield site.

NCLEX High Yield is a vital resource for nursing students preparing for one of the most important exams of their careers. Founded by the charismatic and relatable Dr. Zeeshan Hoodbuoy, the platform has become a trusted name in nursing education, known for its high-yield content, a top-ranking podcast, and a thriving online community.


However, with their rapid growth, it became clear that the platform was not built to meet the evolving usability demands. The fragmented UI, unclear navigation, and two host-sites created barriers for users already under immense stress. This was an opportunity to restructure their foundation and digital experience of the NCLEX High Yield site.

NCLEX High Yield is a vital resource for nursing students preparing for one of the most important exams of their careers. Founded by the charismatic and relatable Dr. Zeeshan Hoodbuoy, the platform has become a trusted name in nursing education, known for its high-yield content, a top-ranking podcast, and a thriving online community.


However, with their rapid growth, it became clear that the platform was not built to meet the evolving usability demands. The fragmented UI, unclear navigation, and two host-sites created barriers for users already under immense stress. This was an opportunity to restructure their foundation and digital experience of the NCLEX High Yield site.

(Shopify Site)

(Teachable Site)

(Lost in Navigation)

Addressing Usability and Information Architecture Challenges Across Two Sites

Addressing Usability and Information Architecture Challenges Across Two Sites

Addressing Usability and Information Architecture Challenges Across Two Sites

During our initial walk-through, we quickly identified a disconnect between NCLEX's main site (hosted on Shopify) and their course content site (hosted on Teachable). The sites suffered from poor information architecture, making it difficult for users to locate relevant content. The user journey was disjointed, bouncing between two platforms with inconsistent UI and 3 different navigation structures. Even when users managed to reach a page containing the information they needed, cluttered and unclear copy further complicated their experience.


These challenges hindered users' ability to efficiently access the resources they required, ultimately undermining the platform's functionality.

During our initial walk-through, we quickly identified a disconnect between NCLEX's main site (hosted on Shopify) and their course content site (hosted on Teachable). The sites suffered from poor information architecture, making it difficult for users to locate relevant content. The user journey was disjointed, bouncing between two platforms with inconsistent UI and 3 different navigation structures. Even when users managed to reach a page containing the information they needed, cluttered and unclear copy further complicated their experience.


These challenges hindered users' ability to efficiently access the resources they required, ultimately undermining the platform's functionality.

During our initial walk-through, we quickly identified a disconnect between NCLEX's main site (hosted on Shopify) and their course content site (hosted on Teachable). The sites suffered from poor information architecture, making it difficult for users to locate relevant content. The user journey was disjointed, bouncing between two platforms with inconsistent UI and 3 different navigation structures. Even when users managed to reach a page containing the information they needed, cluttered and unclear copy further complicated their experience.


These challenges hindered users' ability to efficiently access the resources they required, ultimately undermining the platform's functionality.

(No visual hierarchy in copy)

(Important text embedded into images)

(Research)

(Research)

(Research)

Investigating User Pain Points

Investigating User Pain Points

Investigating User Pain Points

To validate our hypotheses, our team set out to understand NCLEX High Yield's users' struggles, goals, and expectations directly. We conducted:

  • 6 Usability Tests

  • 8 Survey Responses

  • Competitor Analysis

  • Heuristic Evaluation

  • SWOT Analysis

(Key Findings)

A Relatable Edge Undermined by Poor Usability

A Relatable Edge Undermined by Poor Usability

A Relatable Edge Undermined by Poor Usability

From our initial meeting with Dr. Zeeshan, we learned that his content resonated most strongly with students who shared similar experiences to his own—failing the NCLEX on their first attempt and, in many cases, being non-native English speakers. This demographic insight heightened our concern about the site's readability challenges, which we already recognized as a key issue requiring immediate attention.


We used the user list provided by NCLEX to send out a survey. This not only helped us gather surface-level information quickly, but also allowed more time to dig deeper into usability testing… which confirmed a majority of the students were non-native English speakers.


After Affinity Mapping findings from Usability Tests, the following four main takeaways were discovered:

From our initial meeting with Dr. Zeeshan, we learned that his content resonated most strongly with students who shared similar experiences to his own—failing the NCLEX on their first attempt and, in many cases, being non-native English speakers. This demographic insight heightened our concern about the site's readability challenges, which we already recognized as a key issue requiring immediate attention.


We used the user list provided by NCLEX to send out a survey. This not only helped us gather surface-level information quickly, but also allowed more time to dig deeper into usability testing… which confirmed a majority of the students were non-native English speakers.


After Affinity Mapping findings from Usability Tests, the following four main takeaways were discovered:

From our initial meeting with Dr. Zeeshan, we learned that his content resonated most strongly with students who shared similar experiences to his own—failing the NCLEX on their first attempt and, in many cases, being non-native English speakers. This demographic insight heightened our concern about the site's readability challenges, which we already recognized as a key issue requiring immediate attention.


We used the user list provided by NCLEX to send out a survey. This not only helped us gather surface-level information quickly, but also allowed more time to dig deeper into usability testing… which confirmed a majority of the students were non-native English speakers.


After Affinity Mapping findings from Usability Tests, the following four main takeaways were discovered:

1. Disjointed Navigation

Users felt that constantly switching between the Shopify and Teachable sites created a disjointed experience, made more frustrating by the lack of consistency in menu items.

"The two sites get confusing because I never know where I am."

Users felt that constantly switching between the Shopify and Teachable sites created a disjointed experience, made more frustrating by the lack of consistency in menu items.

"The two sites get confusing because I never know where I am."

Users felt that constantly switching between the Shopify and Teachable sites created a disjointed experience, made more frustrating by the lack of consistency in menu items.

"The two sites get confusing because I never know where I am."

2. Difficulty Finding Information

Users struggled to find course details and resources due to poor labeling and inconsistent naming conventions (e.g., "on-demand lectures" vs. "self-paced course")

"This was so hard to find—I had to click through so much stuff."

Users struggled to find course details and resources due to poor labeling and inconsistent naming conventions (e.g., "on-demand lectures" vs. "self-paced course")

"This was so hard to find—I had to click through so much stuff."

Users struggled to find course details and resources due to poor labeling and inconsistent naming conventions (e.g., "on-demand lectures" vs. "self-paced course")

"This was so hard to find—I had to click through so much stuff."

  1. Unclear Value Proposition

Important information was poorly structured, making it harder for users, many of whom spoke English as a second language, to understand the products' value.

"I just don’t understand what the course entails. Is this just test-taking strategies?"

Important information was poorly structured, making it harder for users, many of whom spoke English as a second language, to understand the products' value.

"I just don’t understand what the course entails. Is this just test-taking strategies?"

Important information was poorly structured, making it harder for users, many of whom spoke English as a second language, to understand the products' value.

"I just don’t understand what the course entails. Is this just test-taking strategies?"

  1. Accessing Course Material

Many users couldn’t find the login page, since it was only available through the course site, which people might not know how to get to.

"I had to Google ‘NCLEX High Yield login’ to find it."

Many users couldn’t find the login page, since it was only available through the course site, which people might not know how to get to.

"I had to Google ‘NCLEX High Yield login’ to find it."

Many users couldn’t find the login page, since it was only available through the course site, which people might not know how to get to.

"I had to Google ‘NCLEX High Yield login’ to find it."

(The Solution)

(The Solution)

(The Solution)

Designing for Today and Tomorrow

Designing for Today and Tomorrow

Designing for Today and Tomorrow

With only three weeks to complete this sprint, we had to focus on prioritizing solutions that were both impactful and feasible. While the temptation to design like "the sky's the limit", as Dr. Zeeshan put it, we knew that balance was key. Our client granted us the freedom to explore innovative, ideal solutions without immediate consideration for technological limitations. However, we recognized that any proposed design had to work within their current tech stack while remaining adaptable for future needs.


Given the significant time, effort, and cost required to consolidate their main site and on-demand course site from a developer stand-point, we realized this separation would likely persist for the foreseeable future. This insight shaped our approach: we aimed to design a solution that addressed their present challenges while ensuring flexibility for future growth.


We focused our efforts on 3 key deliverables:

  1. Detailed Sitemap

Streamlining navigation between Shopify and Teachable.

  1. High-Fidelity Wireframes

Showcasing key pages that highlight examples of possible modular layouts.

  1. Complete Design System

Showcasing a custom, flexible design system, including UX Writing Standards.

(UX Writing)

(UX Writing)

(UX Writing)

Creating User-Centered Language for Learning Success

Creating User-Centered Language for Learning Success

With our users in mind—who are already facing the stress of passing the NCLEX, along with the added challenge of navigating complex material in English as a second language—I aimed to minimize additional frustration caused by unclear language or inconsistent terminology. Leveraging Nielsen Norman Group's UX Content Standards, I analyzed the existing copy across both sites and enhanced the information architecture through clear, user-focused language.


To address these challenges, I developed a 40-page content standards document customized specifically to the copy currently showcased on the NCLEX High Yield site. This included guidelines for purpose-driven call-to-action phrasing, proper PDP text hierarchy, and a comprehensive content strategy aligned with the company’s voice and tone. The document serves as a resource for NCLEX High Yield to create consistent future page content or to onboard developers, designers, and content management staff efficiently.


I compiled these examples to tie seamlessly into the updated wireframes, ensuring the client understood the foundational structure we were building. This approach provided clarity, alignment, and a roadmap for future iterations of the site.

With our users in mind—who are already facing the stress of passing the NCLEX, along with the added challenge of navigating complex material in English as a second language—I aimed to minimize additional frustration caused by unclear language or inconsistent terminology. Leveraging Nielsen Norman Group's UX Content Standards, I analyzed the existing copy across both sites and enhanced the information architecture through clear, user-focused language.


To address these challenges, I developed a 40-page content standards document customized specifically to the copy currently showcased on the NCLEX High Yield site. This included guidelines for purpose-driven call-to-action phrasing, proper PDP text hierarchy, and a comprehensive content strategy aligned with the company’s voice and tone. The document serves as a resource for NCLEX High Yield to create consistent future page content or to onboard developers, designers, and content management staff efficiently.


I compiled these examples to tie seamlessly into the updated wireframes, ensuring the client understood the foundational structure we were building. This approach provided clarity, alignment, and a roadmap for future iterations of the site.

View Figma File

View Figma File

View Figma File

(Sketching and Wireframes)

(Sketching and Wireframes)

(Sketching and Wireframes)

From Concept to Clarity

From Concept to Clarity

Collaborating on sketches and wireframes, we aimed to address key challenges in usability and information architecture while preserving NCLEX High Yield’s approachable and student-focused identity. This phase allowed us to refine the site's layout, organize content more intuitively, streamline navigation, and ensure the design reflected the professionalism and trustworthiness of its content through modular design and UX writing.

Collaborating on sketches and wireframes, we aimed to address key challenges in usability and information architecture while preserving NCLEX High Yield’s approachable and student-focused identity. This phase allowed us to refine the site's layout, organize content more intuitively, streamline navigation, and ensure the design reflected the professionalism and trustworthiness of its content through modular design and UX writing.

(The Final Design System)

(The Final Design System)

(The Final Design System)

From Triage to Transformation

From Triage to Transformation

From Triage to Transformation

After refining wireframes, we created a complete design system that could meet current needs while preparing for the demands of tomorrow. Each section was built as a flexible module. This modular approach ensures seamless integration with Shopify’s CMS while allowing future teams to adapt layouts and content with ease. With usability, consistency, and scalability as guiding principles, we focused on solving existing pain points while elevating NCLEX High Yield’s identity as a trusted, student-focused resource.

Centralized Course Navigation

All course offerings consolidated into a single dropdown menu, where users can now easily explore, compare, and decide which course best fits their needs.


Usability testing showed that labels like 'On-demand' were unclear to users in terms of course titles. We updated them to 'Live-Online Course' and 'Self-Paced Course,' ensuring clarity throughout the site.

Content and Resource Hub

To foster ongoing engagement, we introduced a new content and resource hub that enables NCLEX HY to share live web events like weekly trivia and Zoom review sessions with direct sign-up links, while also building a library of recorded sessions and podcasts to provide students with easy access to valuable resources and enhance SEO and user retention.

About Us

To build trust, we repositioned the About page as a top-level navigation item, emphasizing the instructors' qualifications and unique teaching methods to reassure users that they are learning from experts who genuinely understand their challenges.

View Prototype

View Prototype

View Prototype

View Design System

View Design System

View Design System

View Content Standards

View Content Standards

View Content Standards