Cisco U.
Cisco U.
Overview
Cisco’s IT certifications are the gold standard in the industry, and the company provides several online learning tools to help professionals prepare for their exams and stay up-to-date. Cisco came to us to craft an exciting new vision of a unified, best-in-class IT learning destination. Using a learner-first approach, we re-imagined their digital learning experience and created an entirely new product and brand, called Cisco U.
Year
2022 (9 months)
Role
Design Director
Deliverables
Foundational Research, Design Strategy, Experience Architecture, Branding, Product Design, Content Strategy, Evaluative Research
Overview
Cisco’s IT certifications are the gold standard in the industry, and the company provides several online learning tools to help professionals prepare for their exams and stay up-to-date. Cisco came to us to craft an exciting new vision of a unified, best-in-class IT learning destination. Using a learner-first approach, we re-imagined their digital learning experience and created an entirely new product and brand, called Cisco U.
Year
2022 (9 months)
Role
Design Director
Deliverables
Foundational Research, Design Strategy, Experience Architecture, Branding, Product Design, Content Strategy, Evaluative Research
Project Goal
Deliver a best-in-class brand and product experience to help IT professionals achieve their career goals.
Project Goal
Deliver a best-in-class brand and product experience to help IT professionals achieve their career goals.
Research & Strategy
Understanding the learner experience.
We began with foundational research to understand how IT professionals approach certification and online learning. These insights, combined with a competitive review and cross-team workshop, helped us align the team around a learner-first strategy.
Research & Strategy
Understanding the learner experience.
We began with foundational research to understand how IT professionals approach certification and online learning. These insights, combined with a competitive review and cross-team workshop, helped us align the team around a learner-first strategy.
Research Findings (redacted)
“We want [our users] to know we are behind them and in their corner.”
Client stakeholder
Strategy Workshop
Branding
A fresh look for Cisco.
The platform needed to feel distinct from Cisco’s enterprise roots while maintaining their credibility. We developed an energetic visual identity using bold color, expressive imagery, and confident typography to position Cisco U. as a modern destination for professional growth.
Branding
A fresh look for Cisco.
The platform needed to feel distinct from Cisco’s enterprise roots while maintaining their credibility. We developed an energetic visual identity using bold color, expressive imagery, and confident typography to position Cisco U. as a modern destination for professional growth.
Brand Foundations
Brand elements
Logo
Motion Study
Visual Sketches
Vision
A modern platform for IT learning.
Borrowing patterns from mobile design, the experience prioritizes personalized learning paths and discovery through a prominent, search-first model, encouraging learners to quickly find content that aligns with their goals.\
Vision
A modern platform for IT learning.
Borrowing patterns from mobile design, the experience prioritizes personalized learning paths and discovery through a prominent, search-first model, encouraging learners to quickly find content that aligns with their goals.\
Concept Cards
Wireframes
Learning Paths & Courses
Mobile Home
Reminders
Refinement
Bringing the vision to life.
With the direction established, I led the effort to flesh out the full platform experience. We focused first on making Cisco’s expansive catalog approachable through structured learning paths and interactive coursework.
Refinement
Bringing the vision to life.
With the direction established, I led the effort to flesh out the full platform experience. We focused first on making Cisco’s expansive catalog approachable through structured learning paths and interactive coursework.
User Archetypes
Learning Paths
Explore page
Course Cards
Mobile Courses
“This is great...I would be much more motivated if all the courses had [interactive labs].”
Testing Participant
Interactive Labs
Refinement
Tracking progress and outcomes.
Beyond individual courses, the platform supports long-term professional development. We designed tools for setting personal goals, tracking progress, and helping organizations grow their teams.
Refinement
Tracking progress and outcomes.
Beyond individual courses, the platform supports long-term professional development. We designed tools for setting personal goals, tracking progress, and helping organizations grow their teams.
Course Completion
“This is really relevant. [Your career goals] may be big, so you need to divide that into smaller goals.
Testing Participant
Goal Tracking
Landing Page
Certification Overview
Admin Console
Launch
Introducing Cisco U.
To prepare for scale, we refined the IA and developed a reusable component library to support Cisco’s growing catalog. Cisco U. debuted at Cisco Live, where Cisco showcased the new identity and platform to the global Cisco community.
Launch
Introducing Cisco U.
To prepare for scale, we refined the IA and developed a reusable component library to support Cisco’s growing catalog. Cisco U. debuted at Cisco Live, where Cisco showcased the new identity and platform to the global Cisco community.
Cisco Live
2026 Chris Mueller Design
2026 Chris Mueller Design