Increased vocabulary confidence for 500 students

SafetyCulture product interface showing user onboarding improvements
SafetyCulture product interface showing user onboarding improvements

The Challenge

A Teach For India fellow in Ahmedabad was teaching a class where 25% of students read below grade level. She had one lesson plan for 45 students, no way to tell who needed what, and no budget for extra support.

Every student got the same instruction, the same homework, the same weekly test. The students falling behind couldn't complete work at home, came back further behind, and gradually disengaged. The problem wasn't the curriculum. It was that revision happened outside class, where nothing adapted to each student's level.

The Solution

I built VocabPal: a five-stage reading assessment that finds a student's level in ten questions, then adapts to it. Runs on older tablets, works offline, speaks in a natural Indian English voice. The teacher dashboard shows exactly who needs phonics work, who needs fluency practice, and who's ready to move on.

The Result

Vocabulary confidence rose for 500 students across the program. Teachers reported stronger classroom participation within the first term.

Book a consult

Book a consultation

Do you need to rapidly validate ideas too?

  • Alignment across teams.

    Akash is particularly strong at bringing people together, creating alignment across teams, and making collaboration feel natural and energising. What sets Akash apart is how he connects great design to real business outcomes.

    Lisi Schappi

    Senior Director of Design, Deputy

  • Clarity to complex problem space.

    Akash brought clarity to complex problem spaces and helped align product, design, and engineering around well-reasoned solutions. I would happily work with Akash again and strongly recommend him as a strategic design partner.

    woman in white and blue checked dress shirt
    Klaas Raaijmakers

    Director of Product & Growth, Think Digitally (ex-CPO, Deputy)

  • Problem first. Design second.

    Working with Akash was a genuine partnership. He consistently pushed us to think deeper about the problem, not just the solution, and helped build lasting design capability within the team.

    man in white crew neck shirt wearing black sunglasses
    Jacob Tait

    Principal Product Manager, Heidi (ex-SafetyCulture)

  • Alignment across teams.

    Akash is particularly strong at bringing people together, creating alignment across teams, and making collaboration feel natural and energising. What sets Akash apart is how he connects great design to real business outcomes.

    Lisi Schappi

    Sr. Director of Design, Deputy

  • Clarity to complex problem space.

    Akash brought clarity to complex problem spaces and helped align product, design, and engineering around well-reasoned solutions. I would happily work with Akash again and strongly recommend him as a strategic design partner.

    woman in white and blue checked dress shirt

    Klaas Raaijmakers

    Dir. of Product + Growth, Think Digitally (ex-CPO, Deputy)

  • Problem first. Design second.

    Working with Akash was a genuine partnership. He consistently pushed us to think deeper about the problem, not just the solution, and helped build lasting design capability within the team.

    man in white crew neck shirt wearing black sunglasses

    Jacob Tait

    Principal PM, Heidi (ex-SafetyCulture)

  • Alignment across teams.

    Akash is particularly strong at bringing people together, creating alignment across teams, and making collaboration feel natural and energising. What sets Akash apart is how he connects great design to real business outcomes.

    Lisi Schappi

    Senior Director of Design, Deputy

  • Clarity to complex problem space.

    Akash brought clarity to complex problem spaces and helped align product, design, and engineering around well-reasoned solutions. I would happily work with Akash again and strongly recommend him as a strategic design partner.

    woman in white and blue checked dress shirt
    Klaas Raaijmakers

    Director of Product & Growth, Think Digitally (ex-CPO, Deputy)

  • Problem first. Design second.

    Working with Akash was a genuine partnership. He consistently pushed us to think deeper about the problem, not just the solution, and helped build lasting design capability within the team.

    man in white crew neck shirt wearing black sunglasses
    Jacob Tait

    Principal Product Manager, Heidi (ex-SafetyCulture)

See more work

SafetyCulture product interface showing user onboarding improvements
Reduced onboarding time from 1 week to 4 hours
Pet Circle product interface showing repeat customer improvements
Reduced support tickets from 10% to 2%
Reduced financial admin tasks through automation
Akash, product strategy and UX consultant

Let's hit those goals

No hard selling. We spend the first call aligning on your current state and answering any questions you might have.

Find the gap

Find the gap

Design By Drops

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, the Wiradyuri people, and pay respect to Elders past, present and future and extends our respect to all First Nations Peoples in Wagga Wagga.

I recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and continuing connection with the land and rivers. I also recognise the resilience, strength and pride of the Wiradyuri and First Nations communities.

© 2026 Akash Datta, All rights reserved.

Akash, product strategy and UX consultant

Let's hit those goals

No hard selling. We spend the first call aligning on your current state and answering any questions you might have.

Find the gap

Find the gap

Design By Drops

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, the Wiradyuri people, and pay respect to Elders past, present and future and extends our respect to all First Nations Peoples in Wagga Wagga.

I recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and continuing connection with the land and rivers. I also recognise the resilience, strength and pride of the Wiradyuri and First Nations communities.

© 2026 Akash Datta, All rights reserved.

Akash, product strategy and UX consultant

Let's hit those goals

No hard selling. We spend the first call aligning on your current state and answering any questions you might have.

Find the gap

Find the gap

Design By Drops

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land, the Wiradyuri people, and pay respect to Elders past, present and future and extends our respect to all First Nations Peoples in Wagga Wagga.

I recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and continuing connection with the land and rivers. I also recognise the resilience, strength and pride of the Wiradyuri and First Nations communities.

© 2026 Akash Datta, All rights reserved.