The Opportunity
Emerson Collective, founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, launched a nationwide competition to fundamentally redesign American high schools. The initiative needed a digital platform that could serve as the central hub — not just a website, but an ecosystem of tools that would enable diverse teams across the country to envision, design, and submit innovative school models.
My Direction
As Design Director, I designed XQSUPERSCHOOL.ORG as the competition's central hub — a comprehensive platform that housed competition information, educational resources, and community features. The key innovation was the XQ Canvas Framework, a collaborative design tool inspired by the Business Model Canvas. It enabled applicant teams to iteratively develop their high school vision through structured yet creative exercises.
I also designed the XQ Directory — a team-building feature that allowed individuals passionate about education reform to find and connect with each other, forming the diverse teams the competition required. Motion design and storyboarding brought these tools to life, making complex processes feel intuitive and engaging. The platform achieved significant nationwide participation in the school redesign competition.
Tools & Methods
Results
XQSUPERSCHOOL.ORG — Competition Hub
XQ Canvas Framework
XQ Directory — Team Building
Deliverables
- Experience Strategy
- UX/UI Design
- XQ Canvas Framework
- XQ Directory
- Motion Design
Methods
- Experience Strategy
- Storyboarding & Animation
- Framework Design
- Workshop Facilitation
Team
Amplify Education partnership. Creative director, visual designer, business strategist, web developer, media strategist, project manager. I served as Design Director — leading experience strategy, UX/UI design, framework design, and motion design.