Blending Graphic Design, E-Learning, and UI/UX: My Journey to Creating Seamless Digital Experiences
- Denishia Macon-Lynn
- Mar 21
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 22
If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout my career, it’s that creativity isn’t linear, it evolves. When I started out in graphic design, I saw it as a way to create visually compelling work, to bring ideas to life through color, typography, and composition. But as I gained experience, I realized that design is more than just making things look good. It’s about communication, problem-solving, and user experience.
My journey has taken me through branding, e-learning, and now UI/UX design, and each step has felt like a natural progression, even when I didn’t see the full picture at the time. With every new skill I’ve learned, I’ve uncovered deeper connections between visual storytelling, digital learning, and user-centered experiences.
Now, as I expand my skills in Figma and UI/UX through the Google Coursera course I started in March 2025, I can see how all of these elements, branding, e-learning, and UX, blend together to create seamless, intuitive, and engaging digital experiences. This is my story of how these disciplines have shaped my approach to design and how embracing change has been the most powerful part of my career.
The Graphic Design Foundation: Where It All Began
Like many designers, my journey started in college, where I studied Visual Communications and Graphic Design at the University of South Carolina in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Back then, design was about aesthetics and branding: understanding how to craft a strong visual identity, create logos, and develop marketing materials that made an impact.
I loved the creative process, but what fascinated me most was the strategy behind it. Good design isn’t just about making things look appealing: it’s about making them functional, meaningful, and effective. Whether it was designing for a brand, a campaign, or a product, the goal was always the same: to communicate a message in the clearest, most engaging way possible.
At the time, I didn’t realize how much this mindset would prepare me for my next step: e-learning design.
Stepping Into E-Learning: Designing for Engagement and Understanding
My transition into e-learning design wasn’t something I had planned, but looking back, it made perfect sense. From 2014 to 2019, I worked as a multimedia specialist, designing educational course modules and interactive learning experiences. At the time, I was still rooted in traditional graphic design, but now I had to think beyond visuals: I had to think about how people learn.
Designing for e-learning required a different mindset. It wasn’t just about making the pages look professional or adding engaging animations; it was about enhancing comprehension and retention. Every color choice, font selection, and layout decision had to serve a purpose: to guide the learner, reduce cognitive load, and create an intuitive experience.
Then, in 2023, I took on a new role as a production artist in the compliance training industry. This was a shift for me as I was now working on course design for compliance training programs, ensuring that complex topics were visually structured, engaging, and easy to digest. I was collaborating closely with writers, designers and developers, further deepening my understanding of how design impacts user learning and experience.
Even though I was still thinking in terms of “design,” I began to recognize that what I was really doing was user experience (UX) design, long before I had the formal terminology for it.
The UI/UX Connection: Merging Aesthetics with Usability
By 2025, I found myself drawn to UI/UX design in a way I couldn’t ignore. I had already spent years designing interfaces for e-learning platforms and working on digital experiences, but I wanted to take it further. That’s when I decided to formally expand my skill set through Google’s UI/UX Design Coursera course, which I started in March 2025.
This course has reinforced something I already knew intuitively: design is not just about visuals: it’s about usability, interaction, and the human experience. UI/UX is the perfect blend of what I love about branding, strategy, and educational design because it all comes down to one thing: how people interact with and experience digital spaces.
Learning Figma has been a game-changer. Unlike static design tools, Figma allows for prototyping, real-time collaboration, and user testing: all of which are crucial in UI/UX. It’s exciting to see how my background in graphic design and e-learning naturally integrates with these new tools and methodologies. The same principles apply:
Clarity matters. Just like in branding and e-learning, UI design must guide users effortlessly.
Engagement is key. Whether it’s an online course or a mobile app, users must feel connected and motivated to interact.
Functionality drives experience. A beautiful interface means nothing if it’s not intuitive or accessible.
The more I learn about UI/UX, the more I see the parallels with the work I’ve been doing for years. It’s not just another skill, it’s really an evolution of everything I’ve built so far.
Brand Strategy and the Bigger Picture
Throughout my career, one thing has remained constant: the need for intentional, user-centered design. Whether I’m working on branding, an e-learning course, or a website prototype, the goal is always to create a seamless, engaging experience that resonates with the audience.
Brand strategy and UI/UX aren’t separate worlds, they overlap in powerful ways. A well-designed brand is not just about a logo or color palette; it’s about how people interact with and perceive a brand across all touchpoints. The same is true for e-learning: if the experience isn’t intuitive, engaging, and accessible, it won’t be effective.
By combining my skills in graphic design, e-learning, and now UI/UX, I’m able to create cohesive digital experiences that are not only visually appealing but also functional, user-friendly, and strategically aligned with business goals.
Reflections: The Beauty of a Non-Linear Creative Journey
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that your career doesn’t have to follow a straight path. When I started in graphic design, I never imagined I’d end up exploring e-learning or UI/UX. But each step along the way has shaped my understanding of how design impacts people.
I used to think I had to choose one lane: to be just a graphic designer, just an e-learning specialist, or just a UI/UX designer. Now, I see that the real magic happens when you bring all of your skills together to create something unique.
For anyone feeling like they’re pivoting too much, or that their skills don’t quite fit into one box: Embrace It. The best innovations come from blending disciplines, thinking holistically, and staying open to new possibilities. Right now, I’m excited to keep expanding my UI/UX knowledge and applying it to real-world projects. I see endless opportunities to bridge the gap between branding, e-learning, and digital experiences, and I’m eager to explore what’s next.
If my journey has taught me anything, it’s that design is about evolution. The tools may change, the industry may shift, but the core principle remains: great design is about people.
I can’t wait to see where this path leads next.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences on this topic. Share in the comments below, and let’s inspire each other.
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Thank you for this inspiration and insightful journey. I think for all technical fields this applies as similar experience we all can relate to. By the way beautiful website also.