Tunelingo
Timeline
3 months
Type
Freelance
Team
2 people
Platform
Web (responsive)
Role:
As sole Product Designer, I designed the end-to-end learning experience and user flow for this innovative music and language learning platform. I translated the final designs into a functional front-end.
Context:
This project was motivated by the idea that music enthusiasts can learn languages more intuitively by engaging with songs they already enjoy. By using lyrics-driven learning, the platform aimed to combine language acquisition and music appreciation into a single, engaging experience that lowers the user friction in learning.
Problem:
People who enjoy singing and music are often exposed to foreign language songs they love, but lack an intuitive way to understand the lyrics, practice pronunciation, and learn everyday language while developing their musical skills. Existing language learning tools are disconnected from music, while music platforms do not support language learning.
Solution:
The solution was a lyric-driven learning experience that integrates language understanding and singing practice into a single, guided flow. By allowing users to learn through songs they already enjoy, the design aimed to make language learning more intuitive, emotionally engaging, and accessible, while supporting pronunciation and musical expression without relying on traditional drills.
User Insight:
Discovery (7 participants questionnaire):
Interviews with music enthusiasts revealed strong motivation to learn languages through songs, but there are no good platforms to turn this curiosity into sustained learning.
Low-Fidelity Usability Testing (8 music enthusiasts):
Early wireframe testing showed that users needed a guided learning flow rather than open exploration, leading to a more structured, curriculum-based flow, where users progressed from simple to more difficult songs in terms of lyrics.
Low-Fidelity Usability Testing (8 music enthusiasts):
Testing clickable prototypes revealed that clear visual hierarchy focused every part on learner engagement and reduced confusion during lyric learning.
MVP Usability Testing (5 music enthusiasts):
Early users reported higher motivation and confidence when language learning and singing practice were combined in a single, cohesive experience.
Core Flow
Reflection
Tunelingo was an early end-to-end product design project that taught me how ideas evolve through iteration. I began by considering low-fidelity wireframes, low and mid fidelity prototypes, focusing on interaction flow, content hierarchy, and progressive feature focus. Moving into mid-fi and hi-fi tool designs facilitated user onboarding at the wireframe stage, particularly around pacing and cognitive load.
I tested the prototype with 5 participants and iterated based on recurring feedback. While users found the music-based learning concept engaging, several struggled with clarity in visual progression and expectations within a session. In response, I refined layout elements, simplified the information and added visual cues to better guide attention. This process reinforced the importance of designing for cohesive learning journeys, not just engaging moments.
Through Tunelingo, I learned that learning products require strong scaffolding and feedback loops to support sustained engagement. This project helped shift my approach from feature-driven exploration toward more systematic thinking about user experience and retention.