💰 Interactive Budgeting Prototype (All-New Adobe Captivate Honest Review)

This functional prototype was developed to teach young adults how to build a personal monthly budget. Designed using Adobe Captivate All-New and following the Successive Approximation Model (SAM), the project went through rapid design cycles to build, test, and refine interactive components quickly. The module includes real-world examples, a drag-and-drop budgeting simulation, and a structured learner flow to support applied financial learning.

Throughout the process, I used Captivate as my primary authoring tool. It proved to be streamlined and relatively easy to use, especially for rapid prototyping. It made it simple to build drag-and-drop activities, add audio narration, and export SCORM-compliant files for LMS upload. However, as I pushed for greater visual polish and functionality, I encountered some meaningful limitations.

✅ Pros:

• Quick to learn and use for interactive eLearning

• SCORM-compatible with easy LMS integration

• Great for basic interactivity and accessibility support

  
  

❌ Cons:

• Limited creative freedom with layout and positioning (elements snap into containers)

• No control over exact project dimensions, which affects how content displays when embedded

• Lack of consistent animation control — for example, you cannot animate audio triggers (e.g., sound when clicking “Submit”)

• Fewer built-in modern templates or design elements

• Visual customization is clunky — gradients, layering, or detailed spacing often require workarounds

• No timeline view, making it harder to sync multiple elements precisely

These limitations influenced some of the design choices in the prototype. For instance, cleaner UI elements and subtle animations were difficult to implement, and some layout adjustments weren’t possible without more advanced coding. That said, the module remains fully functional, meets its learning goals, and offers an engaging experience for first-time budgeters.

Click to open.

📈 Planned Improvements for the Next Version:

• Refining the visual design, images, and fixing gradient inconsistencies

• Adding full accessibility features, including alt text for screen readers

• Introducing light animations to enhance visual engagement

• Including a brief knowledge check to reinforce key takeaways

• Adding a goal review slide to revisit learning objectives post-assessment

This project demonstrates my ability to rapidly develop instructional content, iterate based on tool constraints, and still deliver a meaningful, learner-centered design. It also showcases my capacity to reflect on design tools critically — understanding where they shine, where they fall short, and how to improve outcomes moving forward.