Savvy Giving by Design
Streamlining the onboarding experience for interior designers, boosting confidence and clarity by 60%.
b2b tool
0->1 redesign
agile methodologies
Summary and Impact
Strong onboarding sets the stage for a successful, seamless program
Upwards Business Model
3 months post implementation, Savvy reported a 20% increase in interior designer inquiries for future projects.
Business Wide Growth
Savvy gained confidence reaching out to new sponsors as XFN collaboration became smoother and more transparent.
No Longer Skeptical
70% of designers felt less burdened and more confident continuing their projects, finding the onboarding helpful.
Cognitive Load Reduced
Designers responded positively, finding the new onboarding comprehensive and informative rather than overwhelming.
Solution
Empowering interior designers to start confidently and creatively
I leveraged Thinkific to design a cost-effective, scalable onboarding experience that’s intuitive for non-technical users and provides a structured training flow. By combining videos, visuals, and interactive content, designers gain clarity on their responsibilities, available resources, and how to balance communication with families and Savvy alike.
Savvy’s redesigned onboarding enhances partnerships and collaboration with designers by:
1
Delivering a curriculum-style training that supports different learning styles.
2
Guiding designers to start projects efficiently while abiding by protocols.
3
Reducing friction → more focus on crafting a meaningul room makeover.
Introduction
What is "Savvy Giving by Design"?
Savvy Giving by Design is a San Diego non-profit that brings comfort and healing to families with children facing medical challenges by partnering with interior designers to help transform their living spaces.
The Problem Space
Disoriented interior designers struggle, slowing and complicating the room makeover process
Defining the problem
Savvy recruits interior designers to bring each child’s dream space to life, but unclear expectations and responsibilities in the onboarding process created confusion, misalignment, and friction across the partnership.
Amy W.
"The current training process is too long and uninformative. There weren't any successful examples referenced or clear expectations, it was like being left in the dark.”
interior designer
15 yrs of experience
How might we simplify and humanize the onboarding experience to empower designers to quickly understand their role and focus on creating healing, joyful spaces for kids?
SWOT Analysis
Evaluating durable solutions to strengthen internal processes
Choosing the right platform meant creating a clear, structured training experience that would equip interior designers to confidently understand their responsibilities and uphold Savvy’s protocols.
iSpring Learn
Thinkific
✦ Affordable; good long-term feasibility.
✦ Course builder is user-friendly and follows curriculum-like style.
EdApp LMS
✦ Friendly for non-tech users to make quick edits for short lessons.
✦ Built for quick courses but has a steep payment plan.
Teach:able
Transforming onboarding into a sustainable engine for growth and impact
Thinkific validated how a simple yet structured platform could empower designers while supporting Savvy’s long-term growth by being/incorporating:
1
Cost-effective & scalable
Affordable to maintain as Savvy grows without heavy monthly costs.
2
Curriculum-style learning
Offers diversified content that match designers’ preferred ways of learning.
3
Built-in support systems
Provides forums, FAQs, & quizzes that give designers continued clarity.
User Flows
I mapped an end-to-end user flow to clarify the vision and simplify each step students would take
This blueprint became my north star, guiding what features to prioritize and shaping an interface that felt intuitive and intentional from the start.
Design System
A familiar visual language creates a smoother, more inviting transition
I built on Savvy's existing style guide, color palette, and typography to maintain credibility and give designers a familiar, trustworthy experience.
Reflections & Takeaways
Understanding how Savvy’s designers learn and what the organization stands for reminded me that good design starts with empathy and ends with impact. To stay grounded in that, I:
Immersed myself in designer needs and learning styles to shape clearer, more intuitive pathways.
Built a system that eases onboarding and lightens Savvy’s operational load.
Saw the real-world value when my work helped streamline their mission to support more families.
