Pearson set out to solve a widespread problem for educators: creating activities that truly match the lesson, the level and the curriculum. Teachers were spending hours preparing materials, often wrestling with AI tools that couldn’t understand proficiency levels or coursebook context.
We worked with them to shape Smart Lesson Generator, an AI-powered tool that helps teachers create meaningful activities in seconds. Our work combined global teacher research, considered UX design and close collaboration with Pearson’s internal design team.
Pearson set out to solve a widespread problem for educators: creating activities that truly match the lesson, the level and the curriculum. Teachers were spending hours preparing materials, often wrestling with AI tools that couldn’t understand proficiency levels or coursebook context.
We worked with them to shape Smart Lesson Generator, an AI-powered tool that helps teachers create meaningful activities in seconds. Our work combined global teacher research, considered UX design and close collaboration with Pearson’s internal design team.
Understanding the real problem
In our early research sessions with teachers around the world, it became clear how much time they were losing to lesson planning. Those experimenting with AI still spent evenings tweaking prompts, correcting inappropriate levelling and rewriting activities to fit their book. When a teacher told us, “The fact that it’s connected to the book I use, that’s the real difference,” it reframed the challenge entirely. The opportunity wasn’t to create a faster generator, but a smarter one, one that already spoke the language of the coursebook. That insight shaped every design decision that followed.
Understanding the real problem
In our early research sessions with teachers around the world, it became clear how much time they were losing to lesson planning. Those experimenting with AI still spent evenings tweaking prompts, correcting inappropriate levelling and rewriting activities to fit their book. When a teacher told us, “The fact that it’s connected to the book I use, that’s the real difference,” it reframed the challenge entirely. The opportunity wasn’t to create a faster generator, but a smarter one, one that already spoke the language of the coursebook. That insight shaped every design decision that followed.
Designing for speed, clarity and trust
Working closely with the Pearson team, we redesigned the experience around a single guiding idea: creating an activity should feel almost effortless. We integrated Smart Lesson Generator directly with Pearson courseware so teachers could choose their lesson and instantly receive aligned activities without typing a single prompt.
We focused on making the interface clean, calm and purposeful. We led the core user journeys and UX, while collaborating with Pearson’s design team on the visual direction to make the best use of their component library.
Designing for speed, clarity and trust
Working closely with the Pearson team, we redesigned the experience around a single guiding idea: creating an activity should feel almost effortless. We integrated Smart Lesson Generator directly with Pearson courseware so teachers could choose their lesson and instantly receive aligned activities without typing a single prompt.
We focused on making the interface clean, calm and purposeful. We led the core user journeys and UX, while collaborating with Pearson’s design team on the visual direction to make the best use of their component library.
Designing for speed, clarity and trust
Working closely with the Pearson team, we redesigned the experience around a single guiding idea: creating an activity should feel almost effortless. We integrated Smart Lesson Generator directly with Pearson courseware so teachers could choose their lesson and instantly receive aligned activities without typing a single prompt.
We focused on making the interface clean, calm and purposeful. We led the core user journeys and UX, while collaborating with Pearson’s design team on the visual direction to make the best use of their component library.
Giving teachers their time back
When we tested the tool with educators, the impact was immediate. Activities that once took half an hour or more were now being created in under sixty seconds. Teachers reported saving up to two hours a week, time they could put into planning creatively, trying new approaches or simply enjoying their evenings.
For teachers who wanted more flexibility, we designed a simple way to create personalised activities using their own topics.
Giving teachers their time back
When we tested the tool with educators, the impact was immediate. Activities that once took half an hour or more were now being created in under sixty seconds. Teachers reported saving up to two hours a week, time they could put into planning creatively, trying new approaches or simply enjoying their evenings.
For teachers who wanted more flexibility, we designed a simple way to create personalised activities using their own topics.
Giving teachers their time back
When we tested the tool with educators, the impact was immediate. Activities that once took half an hour or more were now being created in under sixty seconds. Teachers reported saving up to two hours a week, time they could put into planning creatively, trying new approaches or simply enjoying their evenings.
For teachers who wanted more flexibility, we designed a simple way to create personalised activities using their own topics.
What we learned
The breakthrough came from removing friction and meeting teachers exactly where they already work. By integrating with existing coursebooks and reducing cognitive load at every step, Smart Lesson Generator became a reliable companion that improved teaching as well as saving time. Teachers consistently told us the levelling was “always appropriate,” and usage data showed behaviour shifting as the tool rolled out globally.
What we learned
The breakthrough came from removing friction and meeting teachers exactly where they already work. By integrating with existing coursebooks and reducing cognitive load at every step, Smart Lesson Generator became a reliable companion that improved teaching as well as saving time. Teachers consistently told us the levelling was “always appropriate,” and usage data showed behaviour shifting as the tool rolled out globally.
What we learned
The breakthrough came from removing friction and meeting teachers exactly where they already work. By integrating with existing coursebooks and reducing cognitive load at every step, Smart Lesson Generator became a reliable companion that improved teaching as well as saving time. Teachers consistently told us the levelling was “always appropriate,” and usage data showed behaviour shifting as the tool rolled out globally.
“Cosmic showed real pragmatism and flexibility to support us in getting our MVP to market in 16 weeks. They’ve supported us in each of our core stages of research, ideation and build, and have been able to move quickly to speak with our customers, generate insights and work with the team to feed this into the roadmap.”
Pearson Product Manager
“Cosmic showed real pragmatism and flexibility to support us in getting our MVP to market in 16 weeks. They’ve supported us in each of our core stages of research, ideation and build, and have been able to move quickly to speak with our customers, generate insights and work with the team to feed this into the roadmap.”
Pearson Product Manager
“Cosmic showed real pragmatism and flexibility to support us in getting our MVP to market in 16 weeks. They’ve supported us in each of our core stages of research, ideation and build, and have been able to move quickly to speak with our customers, generate insights and work with the team to feed this into the roadmap.”
Pearson Product Manager
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© 2025 Cosmic Velocity Ltd.
Let’s work together
If you have a project in mind or would like to find out more about how we can work together, get in touch with us:
© 2025 Cosmic Velocity Ltd.
Let’s work together
If you have a project in mind or would like to find out more about how we can work together, get in touch with us:
© 2025 Cosmic Velocity Ltd.