This prospective design system for a new ion course starts with core values: warmth, touch, and nostalgia. It evokes early memories, creating a safe space to explore, imagine, and grow — think primary colors, sticky arcade carpet, dixie cups of lemonade, and marble notebooks.
The ion platform has a minimal UI that puts learning content front and center. That’s why this course features skeuomorphic elements and a hand-made look. The platform is a window into this nostalgic, tactile world, where learners are invited to feel a sense of connection, and ultimately trust.
color + inclusion
Like all ion courses, this design system begins with two warm colors — red and gold. Shades of blue, derived from the ion brand guide, offer cool contrast and balance. Primary-esque colors tap into learners’ nostalgic memories, suggesting that these skills are fundamental. Designs are tested for many different types of vision, so anyone can learn.
texture
The look of paper and pencil bring back memories of school lessons, the ultimate testament to the power of social learning. Tapping into tactile memory helps create a comfortable learning space, full of warm nostalgic fuzzies. Hand-drawn embellishments are both instructional and fun. Think of hand-written notes — and doodles in the margins.
type
This course uses a variety of typefaces — but instead of variety for its own sake, different typefaces create a hierarchy of information. Designs use Bely for titles, a punchy, high-contrast typeface; Poppins for all body text, so that important content is clear and consistent with the ion brand guidelines; and my own handwriting for captions, bringing a touch of personality and hand-made-ness to the screen.
proposal
Before any design system comes to life, it has to exist in presentation form. Check out some slides from the original pitch deck below.
Bold colors and type make learning memorable and fun, but at the end of the day, communication and learning come first. This design proposal pushes the limits of what’s possible within ion’s brand guidelines. It’s fresh and unexpected, while staying true to ion’s aesthetic, vision, and mission.