Ongoing · Interaction Design · UI/UX Design · Development
My School is an all-in-one academic planner designed to help students manage schedules, assignments, exams, and wellbeing across Apple platforms. Independently designed, developed, and published on the App Store.
As a student, I struggled to find a single app that could effectively manage timetables, assessments, and everyday academic planning. Existing apps tended to focus on only one part of the student experience, requiring users to switch between multiple platforms. Conversations with 20 fellow students revealed that more than three quarters relied on at least two apps, highlighting an opportunity to create a more unified academic companion.
I led every stage of My School, from identifying the opportunity and designing the user experience to development, App Store release, and continuous iteration. As an independent project, every design and product decision was my responsibility.
Rather than designing another timetable or task manager, My School was designed as a complete academic companion. The experience connects planning classes, managing assessments, tracking academic performance, supporting mental wellbeing, and accessing information wherever it is needed.
The design was guided by four principles:
• One Academic Journey — Treat planning, learning, performance, and wellbeing as connected parts of the same experience.
• Context Before Features — Present information when it is most relevant instead of expecting students to search for it.
• Designed Around Students — Adapt to different learning environments, study habits, and personal workflows.
• Native by Design — Leverage the strengths of every Apple platform while maintaining a familiar and consistent experience.
My School was designed around students' everyday academic workflows rather than individual features. Instead of expecting students to search for functionality, the experience surfaces the right information and tools at the right time, allowing them to focus on learning rather than managing multiple apps or navigating complex interfaces.
Academic planning involves far more than timetables and assignments. As the product grew, features were organised into clear groups to help students discover functionality naturally without overwhelming navigation.
My School builds on familiar Apple navigation patterns across platforms. Compact devices use a tab bar for quick access to core destinations, while iPad and Mac use a sidebar to support deeper organisation and more complex workflows. This keeps navigation familiar while making better use of each device.
The Home screen was designed around a simple question: “What do students need to know right now?” Rather than presenting every feature equally, it prioritises the most relevant information for the current moment, including upcoming classes, deadlines, travel time, weather, wellbeing reminders, and personalised insights.
Smart Brief and contextual shortcuts proactively surface relevant information, reducing the need to move between different parts of the app while keeping the Home experience focused and uncluttered.
Rather than treating wellbeing as separate from academic planning, My School integrates reflection into students' everyday workflows. Records can be linked to subjects, assignments, and exams, helping students understand how their studies influence their emotional state and recognise patterns through personalised insights over time.
While early versions of My School explored unique interfaces for each platform, the product gradually evolved towards a more unified design language. Today, every version shares a consistent visual identity and interaction model while adapting to the capabilities of each device.
Platform-specific adaptations ensure that every experience feels familiar without becoming identical. Larger devices support richer workflows through multiple windows, hover interactions, keyboard shortcuts, and menu commands, while other platforms introduce interactions tailored to their form factor and capabilities.
My School extends beyond the traditional app experience by bringing important information directly into the system. Rather than requiring students to repeatedly open the app, key information remains accessible through Live Activities, widgets, Spotlight Search, Siri, and Apple Shortcuts. These integrations reduce friction, support everyday workflows, and ensure that relevant information is always available at the right moment.
Since its initial release, My School has evolved through continuous iteration, with each update introducing new features, usability improvements, and refinements informed by everyday use and user feedback.
Early versions changed significantly as new workflows emerged and usability issues became apparent. Each iteration refined navigation, expanded functionality, and strengthened consistency across platforms while preserving the core vision of a unified academic companion. My School continues to evolve as new needs and opportunities emerge.
Since its App Store release, My School has received feedback from students across different countries, highlighting its interface, breadth of academic tools, and usefulness for everyday planning. This feedback continues to inform product decisions, helping prioritise improvements and shape future updates.
