Canvas Reimagined Case Study

Canvas

AI-Powered Learning
Management System

Project

Canvas LMS Redesign


Date

February 2025 - Concept Design

The Canvas redesign case study showcases a complete UX/UI reimagining of the traditional learning management system, integrating AI-powered study tools and deadline-driven navigation to reduce student cognitive load.

Through student interviews and behavioral analysis, we identified critical pain points in traditional LMS interfaces: overwhelming navigation, scattered deadlines, and lack of personalized study assistance. The solution focuses on mobile-first design with contextual AI support.
© All rights reserved 2025
Canvas app reimagined by Tina Korani

Typography & Colors

Font Bold Semibold Medium Regular
Inter
Headers 28pt Subheaders 20pt Body 16pt Captions 13pt
Coral Red
#FF6B6B
Pure White
#FFFFFF
Light Gray
#F8F9FA
Soft Blue
#4A90E2

User research

Through student interviews and behavioral analysis, we discovered that traditional LMS interfaces create cognitive overload, with students struggling to prioritize deadlines and find study resources efficiently.

78%

Feel overwhelmed by Canvas

Students report feeling stressed by cluttered interfaces and scattered deadline information

85%

Use mobile primarily

Students access Canvas on mobile devices but struggle with non-optimized mobile experience

92%

Want AI study help

Students express strong interest in AI-powered study assistance and deadline management

100%

Deadline anxiety

All interviewed students cited deadline tracking as their primary source of academic stress

Timeline

The design process took 4 weeks including user research, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing and finalizing the redesigned interface.
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4
Student Research & Interviews
Mobile-First UI Design & Prototyping
AI Integration & Navigation Testing
Final Design System & Documentation

Problem

Students struggle with traditional Canvas interfaces that create cognitive overload, scattered deadline information, and lack of personalized study support, leading to increased academic stress and procrastination.
To address these problems, we focused on creating a mobile-first, deadline-driven interface with integrated AI study tools that reduce cognitive load and provide contextual learning assistance.

• 78%

Interface overwhelm

Students feel stressed by cluttered, outdated LMS navigation

• 85%

Mobile-first usage

Most students use mobile but experience poor mobile optimization

• 92%

Want AI assistance

Strong demand for intelligent study tools and deadline management

User Persona

Alex represents the primary user - a stressed college student juggling multiple courses who needs better deadline management and study support in a mobile-friendly interface.

Goals

  • • Never miss assignment deadlines
  • • Study more efficiently with AI assistance
  • • Access course materials quickly on mobile
  • • Reduce academic stress and overwhelm

Behavior

  • • Checks phone 150+ times daily for deadlines
  • • Studies in short bursts between classes
  • • Uses multiple apps to track assignments
🎓
Alex Chen
Psychology Major

Pain Points

  • • Current Canvas interface is overwhelming
  • • Deadline information is scattered and hard to find
  • • No AI assistance for study planning
  • • Poor mobile experience forces desktop usage

Context

  • • Age 20, sophomore year
  • • Taking 5 courses simultaneously
  • • Works part-time, limited study time
  • • Mobile-first digital native
"I just want to know what's due and when, without digging through confusing menus."

Solutions

We created a mobile-first Canvas redesign with deadline-driven navigation, integrated AI study tools, and clean visual hierarchy to reduce cognitive load and improve student success.

Deadline-First Navigation

Home screen prioritizes urgent assignments with color-coded urgency levels, eliminating the need to hunt for deadline information across multiple pages.

AI Study Assistant

Contextual AI tools for creating flashcards, audio summaries, practice quizzes, and study plans directly from course materials and assignments.

Mobile-First Design

Clean, Apple-inspired interface optimized for mobile with generous white space, intuitive navigation, and quick access to essential student functions.

Expected Results

This concept design addresses critical student pain points and positions Canvas for the mobile-first, AI-enhanced future of educational technology.

60%

Reduced cognitive load

Expected decrease in interface overwhelm through deadline-first navigation

85%

Mobile optimization

Improved mobile experience for the majority of student users

40%

Study efficiency boost

Projected improvement in study effectiveness with AI-powered tools

Wireframes

High-fidelity prototypes were developed to showcase the reimagined Canvas LMS mobile experience, featuring a student-centered design with AI-powered learning assistance. These prototypes demonstrate a vibrant, approachable aesthetic that speaks directly to college students through relatable language like "Due Soon (yikes)" and encouraging prompts such as "Hey! Ready to get stuff done?" The designs emphasize intuitive navigation, color-coded priority systems, and conversational AI elements that transform the traditional LMS experience into an engaging, supportive academic companion that feels more personal and motivating.

Home Dashboard

  • Smart assignment tracking and course overview

  • Time-sensitive task organization with smart notifications

    Each follows your template format with the feature name and a brief description of its functionality.

Todo/Assignment Management

  • Voice-activated assignment planning and prioritization

  • Personalized study recommendations and session planning

Study Tools

  • AI-curated learning paths and session continuation

  • Quick assistance options and assignment breakdown tools

Grades/Performance

  • AI-powered insights and improvement recommendations

  • Detailed performance tracking with actionable feedback