The Language Toolkit project emerged to meet the demand for a comprehensive starting point tailored for students enrolled in language courses at the University of Sydney. As the Design Lead, I steered the design team throughout the creation of this transformative toolkit, generously funded by Student Life Grants.
Background
The project commenced with a collaborative effort involving cross-functional teams in research, design, and execution. Recognising the diverse linguistic needs of the university's curriculum, we identified an opportunity to craft a comprehensive Language Toolkit catering to multiple languages, including French, Italian, Spanish, German, Chinese, Indonesian, and Hindi.
Process
As the leader of the design team, I developed a robust Visual Language System encompassing the content strategy, typography, and colour schemes. This ensured a consistent and visually appealing experience across all language courses.
Through close collaboration, each team member—possessing expertise in a distinct language—played a pivotal role in crafting unified designs for a diverse range of language courses. This effort was aimed at ensuring the Language Toolkit was well-equipped to assist students and educators on their language learning journey.
Simultaneously, we conducted thorough research to curate a variety of resources best suited for beginners—including books, movies, music, and more—enabling students to immerse themselves effectively in their target language.
Outcome
We delivered a comprehensive Language Toolkit catering to seven language courses, fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment. The designs were user-centric, enhancing the overall language learning experience for both students and educators.
Despite the challenges of a tight timeline, the project successfully adhered to the schedule, showcasing the efficiency of the design process. Positive feedback from students and educators indicated a significant improvement in the language learning experience.
The project contributed significantly to enhancing language education at the University of Sydney, reflected in the widespread adoption of the Language Toolkit across various language courses. Gaining recognition from the university, the project played a crucial role in advancing language learning initiatives.
The Language Toolkit project imparted valuable lessons in effective collaboration, emphasising the importance of a cohesive visual language and adapting to tight timelines. Even in cases where projects encountered unforeseen challenges, the journey itself became a rich source of insights for continuous improvement.
In conclusion, the Language Toolkit project exemplified the successful combination of design leadership, collaboration, and efficient execution in creating a transformative language learning experience for the University of Sydney community. The toolkit now serves as a model for future initiatives aimed at enhancing education through innovative design solutions.
