Redesign of TST Prep Educational Website – Case Study

Redesign of TST Prep Educational Website – Case Study

Revolutionizing Online Education: The Comprehensive Redesign of TST Prep

This case study was written by Ady Media Design and reviewed and approved by Serenichron on 10/29/2024.

In an increasingly competitive digital landscape, educational platforms must continually evolve to meet user expectations and deliver seamless experiences. TST Prep, a premier website dedicated to helping students excel in TOEFL and Duolingo English Test preparation, recognized the need to modernize its website. With a very high volume of active users and an extensive database, the challenge was not just a visual refresh, but a full-scale technical overhaul designed to improve performance, functionality, and user engagement.

Revamping TST Prep: A Comprehensive Redesign for Enhanced Learning and User Experience

Ady Media Design was entrusted by TST Prep’s representative, alongside Serenichron, with the task of revamping TST Prep’s online presence, by addressing both front-end design and back-end functionalities. The goal was to migrate from the existing Divi and Thrive Architect setup to a more robust and scalable framework, using Elementor Pro as the primary builder. Additionally, the project sought to integrate cutting-edge technologies like AI-driven tools – including text-to-speech functionality via Azure and ChatGPT integration – to enhance the learning experience, outside the scope of Ady Media Design’s responsibilities. This ambitious redesign also needed to improve the site’s speed, modernize its design, and streamline complex data migrations without disrupting the user experience.

Collaborative Excellence: A Multi-Phased Approach to the TST Prep Redesign

Working closely with the client, Serenichron, the responsible for managing the TST Prep website, and development partners CodingHeads, Ady Media Design embarked on a multi-phased process to ensure that the new TST Prep website not only met but exceeded its operational goals. This case study provides a comprehensive look at the stages of the redesign, from initial planning and theme selection to complex data migration and the integration of new automation features. Each phase reflects the meticulous planning, testing, and implementation strategies that were key to the project’s success.

Overview of TST Prep, Serenichron, and CodingHeads

This section provides a comprehensive overview of the key players involved in the TST Prep redesign project.

• TST Prep: is a comprehensive educational website designed to help English language learners improve their scores on the TOEFL and Duolingo English Test. It offers a variety of online courses and practice materials, primarily using the LearnDash suite of plugins. The website had an existing foundation built on BuddyBoss, Thrive Architect, and Divi Builder, but was due for a complete overhaul to modernize its interface and improve performance and user experience. The focus of the redesign was on providing a faster, more responsive, and visually engaging website that integrated advanced functionalities, including AI tools like text-to-speech via Azure and ChatGPT API for automated learning support.
• Serenichron: a Romania-based multidisciplinary enterprise dedicated to facilitating the growth of small and medium-sized businesses, spearheaded the management of TST Prep. As the managing entity for TST Prep website, they played a pivotal role in overseeing data migration, website security, and integration of artificial intelligence functionalities. Their collaboration with Ady Media Design ensured that the new website retained all critical functionalities while significantly enhancing user experience.
• CodingHeads: a Romanian development firm, provided crucial technical support during the redesign. They worked closely with Serenichron and Ady Media Design to implement cutting-edge technology, particularly for the AI components and React-based development. Their involvement extended to troubleshooting complex plugin integrations and managing code quality as well as for the extraction and transfer of important data metadata information from the database to complete the user data migration process.

Partnering with Serenichron and CodingHeads, Ady Media Design contributed their technical expertise, focusing on implementing advanced features and ensuring a seamless integration of new technologies. Together, these organizations collaborated to elevate TST Prep’s digital presence and enhance the user experience for its extensive learner base.

Project Information and Requirements

For Ady Media Design and Serenichron, the main requirement for this project was the complete redesign of TST Prep’s website to improve its overall user experience and streamline its content delivery, particularly its online content and landing pages for courses. Key objectives included:

• Migration from Divi and Thrive Architect to Elementor Pro for a more seamless user experience.
• Implementation of AI functionalities such as text-to-speech and ChatGPT integration to provide more interactive learning experiences.
• Maintaining data integrity for all users, ensuring smooth content migration without disrupting ongoing learning progress.
• Reducing load times and improving site performance while retaining key functionalities like WooCommerce, FunnelKit, LearnDash, and Ninja Forms.
• Simplifying the purchase and access processes for users to improve the conversion rate.

The redesign also involved the introduction of modern automation features to enhance both the educational content and marketing efforts.

Development Process: Design, Migration, and Solutions

The development process for the TST Prep website redesign was marked by a systematic and collaborative approach, ensuring that every aspect of the project was meticulously planned and executed. Ady Media Design and Serenichron employed a structured methodology, integrating best practices in design, development, and data migration to achieve the project’s ambitious objectives. The team engaged in continuous communication with the client, Serenichron, and the technical experts at CodingHeads, ensuring alignment and transparency throughout the project lifecycle.

A Collaborative and Strategic Redesign: From Planning to Implementation

This section delves into the detailed stages of the development process, highlighting the key phases: initial planning, theme selection, content migration, and the implementation of advanced functionalities. Each stage was designed to address specific challenges while enhancing the overall user experience. By combining innovative design with robust technological solutions, Ady Media Design not only transformed the TST Prep website but also laid a strong foundation for future growth and scalability. This thorough examination provides insights into the challenges encountered, the strategies employed to overcome them, and the collaborative spirit that defined this successful redesign.

Initial Planning

Ady Media Design began by setting up a rigorous planning process and participated in weekly meetings (both online and on-site) with the project team to outline key steps and milestones. This ensured a collaborative environment, where all decisions were made with the client representative’s full involvement.

The initial planning phase was crucial for laying the groundwork for the TST Prep website redesign. Ady Media Design focused on establishing clear project goals, timelines, and collaborative frameworks to ensure that all stakeholders were aligned from the outset. Engaging in regular communication with the client, Serenichron, the team held brainstorming sessions and workshops to define key requirements, discuss user experience enhancements, and identify potential challenges. This proactive approach not only fostered a shared vision for the project but also facilitated a structured roadmap that guided subsequent stages of development. By prioritizing comprehensive planning, Ady Media Design set the stage for a successful and efficient redesign process, ultimately aiming to elevate TST Prep’s online presence and user engagement.

Theme Selection

The theme selection phase was pivotal in the TST Prep redesign project, as it directly impacted both the visual appeal and functional capabilities of the website. This meticulous analysis included assessing compatibility with essential plugins, performance benchmarks, and user interface design. The goal was to identify a theme that not only met the technical requirements but also aligned with TST Prep’s vision of a modern and engaging user experience.

Selecting the Perfect Theme: A Rigorous Evaluation Leading to EduBlink

Ady Media Design undertook an extensive evaluation process, testing over 50 WordPress themes specifically tailored for educational platforms, evaluating them for compatibility, performance, and design. After narrowing down the options to six finalists, the team conducted rigorous testing to ensure each theme’s functionality and responsiveness. Ultimately, the chosen theme, EduBlink, stood out for its clean code, robust features, and seamless integration with LearnDash, setting a strong foundation for the redesigned platform. EduBlink, an educational theme that met all the client’s technical and design expectations, was chosen for its:

• Compatibility with LearnDash and other plugins.
• Design quality and responsiveness.
• Clean, high-performance code and full customization capability.
• Flexibility with both WordPress and React Next.js versions, allowing for future scalability.

Staging Setup and Content Migration

We began by setting up a development environment where part of the existing content was cloned for testing. This allowed the team to experiment with design elements and functional upgrades without disrupting the live site.

Later, a fully functional staging environment was created on the client’s server area, in fact a clone of the entire production website, where the content created on the development environment was loaded. The team meticulously cleaned the staging environment by removing unnecessary plugins, scripts, and outdated features that could conflict with the new design. Critical database tables were identified for smooth data migration later.

Ensuring a Seamless Transition: Staging Setup and Precise Content Migration

The staging setup and content migration phase was a crucial step in the TST Prep website redesign, ensuring a smooth transition from the old website to the new one. Together with Serenichron, Ady Media Design established a dedicated staging environment that mirrored the existing site, allowing for thorough testing and content evaluation without affecting the live user experience. This approach enabled the team to meticulously plan and execute the migration of valuable educational materials, user data, and course progressions. By systematically analyzing the existing content and reformatting it for compatibility with the new theme and plugins, the team aimed to preserve the integrity of user experiences while enhancing overall site functionality. This phase not only laid the groundwork for the upcoming design implementations but also emphasized the importance of maintaining data accuracy and continuity throughout the migration process.

Rebuilding the Site

The rebuilding phase was essential to the TST Prep website redesign, focusing on creating a modern, user-friendly interface while integrating advanced functionalities. Ady Media Design worked with Serenichron’s designer and leveraged Elementor Pro to reconstruct the site, transitioning content from the previous BuddyBoss, Divi and Thrive Architect platforms. This involved a comprehensive overhaul of the layout, navigation, and educational content delivery. The team aimed to enhance the visual appeal and usability of the site, ensuring that users could easily access and engage with the learning materials. Key features, such as customized LearnDash components and interactive elements, were meticulously integrated to improve the overall user experience. By combining aesthetic design with robust functionality, this phase laid the foundation for a responsive and engaging website that better serves the needs of TST Prep’s diverse user base.

The core of the project involved:

• Migrating all content from Divi and Thrive to Elementor Pro, focusing on building new, more visually appealing pages.
• Recreating LearnDash grids and course content, integrating landing pages and user dashboards for better user engagement.
• Developing AI-driven elements, such as text-to-speech capabilities through Azure and ChatGPT integration for interactive learning.

Dividing the master project into focused sub-streams

The master project was divided into distinct phases, with each stage carefully leveled to ensure efficient workflow management and timely completion. This approach allowed the project team to allocate additional resources where necessary, ensuring smooth transitions between tasks. For instance, migrating all content from Divi and Thrive to Elementor Pro required focused attention on restructuring the design for enhanced visual appeal, which was addressed by dedicating design experts to this phase. Meanwhile, a separate team worked on recreating LearnDash grids and course content, concentrating on optimizing user engagement through improved landing pages and custom dashboard.

As the project progressed, additional resources were directed towards the development of AI-driven features, including the integration of text-to-speech via Azure and ChatGPT functionalities for interactive learning experiences.

By dividing and leveling the project, the team was able to effectively handle these complex tasks simultaneously, ensuring that each aspect of the redesign received the attention and expertise needed to deliver a cohesive and high-quality result.

Sequential Data Migrations

The sequential data migrations phase was a crucial component of the TST Prep website redesign, focusing on the careful transfer of extensive user data and content to the new platform. Ady Media Design and Serenichron implemented a meticulous strategy to ensure that each element – ranging from user accounts and course progressions to WooCommerce transactions – was accurately migrated without loss or disruption. This involved conducting multiple test migrations to validate the integrity of the data and address any discrepancies before the final launch. The team prioritized maintaining data consistency and continuity, ensuring that existing users could seamlessly transition to the new site without losing their educational progress and ensuring post-transition monitoring to address any outlier events.

By employing a structured approach to data migration, Ady Media Design aimed to create a smooth user experience while minimizing potential challenges associated with such a large-scale transfer.

Challenges and Strategic Solutions in the TST Prep Redesign

The challenges and solutions phase of the TST Prep website redesign highlighted the complexities involved in transforming a large educational website while maintaining functionality and user experience. Throughout the project, Ady Media Design and Serenichron encountered various hurdles, including compatibility issues with plugins, data migration discrepancies, and the integration of advanced AI features.

Tackling Complexities: How Ady Media Design Delivered a Seamless and Resilient Website

Each challenge required innovative solutions, rigorous testing, and collaborative problem-solving with the client and development partners. By proactively addressing these issues, the team not only ensured a smooth redesign process but also enhanced the overall resilience of the website. This section outlines the key obstacles faced during the project and the strategic solutions implemented to overcome them, showcasing the adaptability and expertise of Ady Media Design in delivering a successful outcome.

Several challenges arose during the project:

• Integration roadblocks: We discovered a few compatibility issues with LearnDash and other plugins, particularly concerning core Elementor elements and custom design scripts for smooth WooCommerce integrations. Ady Media Design’s deep testing helped identify them early and address them to developers to avoid post-launch complications.
• Data migration issues: During migration, metadata discrepancies and missing key elements were identified, leading to a multi-step migration process. A unique solution was to increment the database IDs from 1M from the start, ensuring that the newly migrated data did not conflict with the existing production data, which capped around 300K. Adjustments were performed by Serenichron through advanced database manipulation techniques.
• AI integration: The integration of advanced AI tools like ChatGPT posed challenges due to website limitations, but the use of React Redux and back-end AI processing smoothed this out. This task was completely taken over by Serenichron and CodingHeads.

Functional Features: Before and After

The transformation of TST Prep’s website involved a significant evolution in its functional features, greatly enhancing the overall user experience. In this section, we examine the key differences between the website’s original state and its redesigned version. Before the redesign, the site struggled with outdated design elements, slow load times, and limited interactivity, which hindered user engagement and learning effectiveness. The redesign addressed these issues by introducing a modern, responsive layout, faster performance, and advanced functionalities, such as AI-driven tools and improved navigation. By comparing the before-and-after scenarios, this section illustrates the substantial upgrades made to the website, showcasing how the redesign has elevated TST Prep to a leading position in online education.

Before:

• Website: Built with Divi and Thrive Architect on BuddyBoss platform.
• Plugins: LearnDash and BuddyBoss with basic WooCommerce integration.
• User experience: Slow and somewhat outdated, with a cluttered design and limited interaction options.

After:

• Website: Rebuilt using Elementor Pro with custom LearnDash implementations.
• Performance: Enhanced load speeds and smoother content delivery, particularly for online courses.
• AI Features: Integrated AI-driven tools, such as ChatGPT and text-to-speech capabilities, providing a more interactive user experience.
• Improved UX/UI: Clean, modern design with improved navigation, user dashboards, and course purchasing options.
• Automation: Systems designed to simplify marketing and sales processes, improving the conversion rate and user retention.

Results, and Statistics

By analyzing statistics such as improved load times, increased user engagement, and enhanced conversion rates, we can gauge the effectiveness of the new website in meeting its educational goals. This section presents the tangible results of the redesign, highlighting key performance metrics and user feedback that illustrate the success of the project.

A Complete Transformation: Key Results of the TST Prep Redesign

The redesign of TST Prep, managed by Ady Media Design in collaboration with Serenichron and CodingHeads, was a comprehensive transformation. The project resulted in:

• A marked improvement in user engagement due to the improved interface.
• A seamless migration of all users and their data without any major issues.
• Integration of cutting-edge AI features that positioned TST Prep as a forward-thinking educational platform.

The redesigned TST Prep not only provides a more engaging and efficient learning experience for users but also positions the website for future growth and innovation in the online education sector.

Partner with Ady Media Design for Cutting-Edge Digital Solutions

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The conclusion phase of the TST Prep website redesign encapsulates the project’s overall impact and the achievements realized through the collaborative efforts of Ady Media Design, Serenichron, and CodingHeads. The TST Prep redesign project exemplifies Ady Media Design’s expertise in managing large-scale, technically complex projects while delivering innovative, creative and impactful solutions. Our collaborative approach, combined with meticulous planning and execution, enabled us to transform TST Prep into a cutting-edge educational website that meets the evolving needs of its users.

As we continue to push the boundaries of web design and development, we invite you to explore how Ady Media Design can elevate your own digital presence. Our expertise in creating modern, responsive websites and integrating cutting-edge technologies ensures that your platform not only meets but exceeds user expectations. Trust Ady Media Design to deliver the innovative solutions your platform needs to stay ahead.

Contact us today to discuss your next project and explore the potential for digital transformation in your educational platform!

Expert Recommendations and Testimonials from Ady Media Design

Valuable Insights and Real Experiences from Our Partners and Clients

Additionally, we encourage you to explore Ady Media Design’s recommendations regarding the evolution of TST Prep, as well as insights into partnering with industry leaders like Serenichron and CodingHeads. Whether you’re seeking expertise in online education or large-scale projects, AI integrations, massive data migrations, platform security, or digital marketing strategies, their teams are equipped to help you navigate these complex areas with precision and innovation.

TST Prep is an exceptional website dedicated to helping English language learners achieve success in TOEFL and Duolingo tests. Their commitment to providing high-quality, interactive educational content sets them apart in the online learning space. The collaborative spirit and forward-thinking approach of the TST Prep team ensured the success of the redesign, focusing on user experience, content accessibility, and integrating innovative features. TST Prep is a model for educational platforms seeking to combine high-quality content with cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional learning outcomes.

Explore how TST Prep can integrate more personalized features to improve student engagement and outcomes!

Serenichron played a pivotal role in the successful management of the TST Prep project. Their deep understanding of the platform’s strategic goals, combined with their exceptional project management and coordination skills, ensured that all stakeholders remained aligned throughout the redesign process. Serenichron’s expertise in website management and data security, as well as their dedication to maintaining high standards, makes them an invaluable partner for any large-scale digital transformation.

Connect with Serenichron to discover new strategies for enhancing your project management and technology initiatives!

CodingHeads provided invaluable technical expertise during the TST Prep redesign. Their proficiency in handling complex integrations, particularly in AI development and React-based front-end solutions, was instrumental in the success of the project. CodingHeads is a highly skilled and reliable development partner, adept at managing complex technical challenges and delivering innovative, high-performance solutions. Their collaborative approach and technical precision make them an outstanding partner for any development project requiring advanced digital solutions.

Reach out to discuss how CodingHeads can elevate your tech development processes and deliver exceptional results for your projects!