As a graphic design teacher, I regularly create presentations, posters, announcements, and materials for school events. When I started exploring ideas for a digital product, I wanted to create something connected to my own experiences while addressing a problem other educators face.
For Week 1, I researched the digital product market for educators, focusing on Teachers Pay Teachers, Canva, and Etsy. My goal was to understand what resources were already available, what made them successful, and where there might be opportunities for improvement.
One thing that stood out to me was how many products focused on individual classroom needs rather than offering a consistent visual system. Teachers Pay Teachers has a wide variety of resources, but designs vary from seller to sellers. Canva offers accessible, customizable templates, although many designs feel more appropriate for elementary classrooms. Etsy also has plenty of affordable options, but many products prioritize trendy aesthetics.
This made me think about the importance of balancing visual appeal with actual functionality. As a designer, I appreciate a cohesive aesthetic, but as a teacher, I know that convenience and usability are just as important. Based on my findings, I developed three product concepts: a High School Teacher Classroom Visual Kit, a School Communication Kit, and Classroom & Beyond, which combines both ideas into one toolkit.
By the end of Week 1, Classroom & Beyond became my strongest direction. This research helped me shift my focus from simply creating designs to understanding what educators actually need.
My biggest takeaway is that a successful digital product should do more than look appealing. It should solve a real problem. Moving forward, I want to create a practical, cohesive toolkit that makes visual communication easier both inside and beyond the classroom.
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