IXL Ultimate Summer Workbook
A real workbook used by thousands of families — with 4.5★+ reviews on Amazon!
The IXL Ultimate Summer Workbook supports students as they move to next grade with short, daily practice in math, reading, geography, and science. When I started this project, I kept thinking about how summer feels to a child: lighter, freer, and full of small adventures. I didn’t want this book to feel like homework. I wanted it to feel like something friendly that could sit on the kitchen table and gently invite kids back to learning each day.
I led the design for both the cover and the interior experience, shaping how children, parents, and teachers interact with the book from the very first glance to the very last page.
Concept
The heart idea: learning can be part of a happy summer routine. Instead of making each page feel like an assignment, I focused on making it feel approachable, easily guided, and playful. That meant creating layouts that help children focus without feeling crowded, choosing colors and visual elements that feel friendly and encouraging, and building a structure that stays consistent so kids quickly understand what to do. Each page was designed to feel like a small win rather than a big task.
Challenge
This workbook needed to bring together multiple subjects in one place without overwhelming young learners. It had to feel playful enough for children, but also trustworthy enough for parents and teachers. At the same time, it needed to be clear enough for kids to use with very little help, and flexible enough to scale across other grades and future books. The challenge wasn’t just making something that looked good; it was designing something that truly fits into real family life, where attention spans are short, and routines aren’t always perfect.
Solution
To meet those needs, I created a design system that keeps things simple and comforting. I built a clear layout structure with a strong visual hierarchy so instructions and activities are easy to follow. Color and icon cues help children recognize different subjects without needing to read every word. I limited the number of page types so the experience feels familiar and easy-to-digest, and designed the cover to feel joyful while clearly showing the grade level and what’s inside. The visual style stays warm and inviting, but always puts clarity first.
Design Process
1. Start with people, not pages
Aligned with curriculum and product partners to understand: what students need to learn, how long activities should take, and what parents care about most.
2. Build the system before building the book
Designed the grid, typography rules, and color logic first, so every page would feel connected.
3. Design a few pages deeply before designing many
Created core layouts (math, reading, mixed review) and refined them for:
readability, balance, and ease of understanding.
4. Always think about real hands, not just screens
Spacing, contrast, and flow were adjusted with print and real use in mind.
Outcome
This project became a real consumer product on Amazon, earning 4.5★+ reviews and becoming a trusted summer learning tool for families.
This project became more than a set of pages; it became a real product that families choose and use. The IXL Ultimate Summer Workbooks are sold on Amazon, many of which receive strong ratings and positive reviews from parents and educators for being clear, helpful, and kid-friendly!
What matters most to me is that these books live in real homes, schools, educational institutions, not just in design files. Families use them at the kitchen table to help kids stay sharp over the summer without pressure. Beyond building a design system that can grow across future editions, this project brings IXL’s calm, encouraging learning experience from screens into everyday moments, making practice feel supportive instead of stressful.
