CMU x Mastercard Foundation
Designing web tools and digital experiences to empower African entrepreneurs in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation
Web & Digital Experiences
4 months
UX Designer
01
What Is It?
Learning Sciences for Innovators (LSFI) is a philanthropy-driven partnership between Carnegie Mellon University and the Mastercard Foundation. The initiative functions as an incubator and accelerator that supports African tech startups.
The team set out to relaunch an internal tool—a set of research-backed principles on edtech product design—into a cohesive, dual-format resource for public impact. The goal was to improve accessibility and engagement through a physical card deck and a digital platform. I led the design and implementation of the digital experience, building a responsive web app for a diverse global audience.
Beyond the web experience itself, my work expanded into creating a unified design system and brand style guide to align assets across touchpoints. I also supported the program’s growth by designing materials and experiences for outreach, marketing, and events.
02
Have a Look
03
My Impacts
The redesigned digital experience significantly expanded LSFI’s visibility and engagement. In the first quarter post-launch, active users increased by 466%, spanning across 25+ countries, reflecting improved accessibility and real-world utility. The site recorded 5,000+ tracked interactions (+584%), a 730% increase in engaged sessions, and an 85% boost in average session duration, indicating users were not only arriving but engaging more deeply with the content while showing sustained interest. These outcomes validated a strong product–market fit and contributed to LSFI’s growth.
Beyond the core web experience, I also took on responsibilities that enhanced LSFI’s operational impact. I helped reduce physical card production costs by 64% while maintaining higher overall quality, restructured the backend content system to support long-term scalability, and supported marketing efforts through video production and early social media rollout.
