--- title: "Blueprints and Breakthroughs: Setting the Standard for Success" source: https://octily.com/insights/blueprints-and-breakthroughs-setting-the-standard-for-success/ description: "Five ways to boost your learning platform with Custom design and stronger rollouts create the foundation for a learning culture that lasts and grows with you." --- # Blueprints and Breakthroughs: Setting the Standard for Success ![Susan Smit](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/render/image/public/client-logos/team/susan-smit-new.png?width=168&quality=70&resize=contain) Written by Susan Smit Publication date August 29, 2025 Categories Insights Newsletter Reading time 4 min read ## 5 Ways to Raise Your Learning Game We still like to think that August in Europe means a slower pace thanks to summer holidays. Turns out… not this year. Between working on some amazing client projects, we’ve been busy improving the Octily Content Editor by adding new functionality and making the user experience even smoother. And behind the scenes? There is plenty brewing in our “secret laboratory” that we cannot wait to share soon. We’re also excited to welcome **Lin** to the team as **Full-Stack UX Designer**, bringing loads of visual design skills and a serious depth of UX know-how. Yes, that is “user experience experience”… still a tongue twister. This month, we’re going back to the foundations. You can have the best learning content in the world, but without the right culture, structure, and rollout, your shiny new LXP might just sit there unused. Here are **five ways to raise your learning game**: 1. **Smarter page design** that’s easier to use and on-brand 2. **Better rollout strategies** that build momentum 3. **Performance reviews** that save time and effort 4. **Embedding learning** into everyday work 5. **Visual storytelling** that connects with your audience Each one can make the difference between a platform your team ignores and one they actually use. Ready to see how structure and culture can set the standard for success? ### Build Smarter: How Template Pages and Components Help HR Teams Move Faster If you’ve ever had to wait days for a page update, launched a campaign without a proper landing page, or answered the same HR question on repeat, you know how frustrating slow changes can be. With **templates and components in the Octily Content Editor**, you decide what to update and when. Templates give you the structure. Components give you the flexibility. Together, they let you move faster, keep pages fresh, and make sure the right information reaches the right people at the right time. **💬 “Can we fix it today?” Now you can.** [Take Control](https://octily.com/insights/build-smarter-how-template-pages-and-components-help-hr-teams-move-faster/) ### The Octily Effect: Before and After Cornerstone Page Customization “Wait… this is Cornerstone?” We hear that a lot. The truth is, you don’t need to start from scratch to give your platform a fresh look and better experience. By rethinking layout, structure, and design, we turn rigid, generic pages into spaces that are clear, on-brand, and easy to use, without losing your existing data. ✔️ **Pages designed** to match your brand and your needs ✔️ **Clear layouts** that guide people to the right place ✔️ **Relevant content** for every role or region ✔️ Less “Where do I click?” and more “That’s what I needed” ✔️ **Easy updates** with the Octily Content Editor ✨ **Think house makeover show, but for your LMS.** [See the Before & Afters](https://octily.com/insights/the-octily-effect-before-and-after-cornerstone-page-customization/) ### How to Roll Out an LXP During Digital Transformation LXP launches during digital transformation can’t just be big announcements or quiet background changes. The most effective rollouts start small, build momentum, and scale in waves. **💡 Start small. Learn fast. Build momentum.** [See How It’s Done](https://octily.com/insights/how-to-roll-out-an-lxp-during-digital-transformation/) ### The Real Cost of Bad UX in Performance Reviews A clunky review process doesn’t just slow things down. It eats time, drains budgets, and pulls focus from real conversations. Use our Performance Review Cost Calculator to see what it’s really costing and where smarter design can save hours. **⏱️ Shifts reviews from time-drain to performance gain** [Read the Article](https://octily.com/insights/the-real-cost-of-bad-ux-in-performance-reviews/) ### Octily Beneath the Surface: Behind Every Photo is a Story Not every great photo comes from a big shoot. Some are quick snaps that capture something real, the ones you keep because they still make you feel something. For World Photo Day, we’re sharing the stories behind the images that make us smile, laugh, or tear up, and why those moments matter in our work. **📸 Authentic images connect more deeply than polished ones.** [Read the Article](https://octily.com/insights/octily-beneath-the-surface-behind-every-photo-is-a-story/) ### “No Time to Learn” Isn’t the Real Problem When learning feels like an optional extra, it’s the first thing to get dropped. The real challenge isn’t time, it’s making learning part of the everyday flow of work. From structure and visibility to culture and design, small changes can turn skipped sessions into habits that stick. **📚 Build learning into the day so it becomes second nature.** [Read the Article](https://octily.com/insights/no-time-to-learn-isnt-the-real-problem/) ### Simen Says: Your Go-To for Quick Fixes and Expert Tips Got a tricky Cornerstone question? Simen has the answers. From quick fixes to complex configurations, Simen Says is where you will find expert insights on Cornerstone OnDemand, Saba Cloud, and EdCast. Browse existing tips or submit your own question. Your challenge today might help others tomorrow. **💡 Featured Questions:** - **Can I personalize the learner’s homepage in CSOD?** **🚀 Find out what Simen says.** [Read More](https://octily.com/simen-says/) ### Let’s Collaborate Want content that pops, pages with personality, or a brand that actually feels like you? Let’s make it happen. [Get in touch](https://octily.com/get-in-touch/), [send an email](mailto:octily@octily.com?subject=Let%27s%20build%20something%20amazing%20together), or [book a meeting](https://octily.com/meet). We would love to explore what we can create together. ![Susan Smit](https://ebnnmeydktscnefergjm.supabase.co/storage/v1/render/image/public/client-logos/team/susan-smit-new.png?width=168&quality=70&resize=contain) Written by Susan Smit August 29, 2025 [Customization ### LXP (formerly EdCast) Redesign Cornerstone LXP (formerly EdCast) around the learning needs of your team with custom experiences. Explore More](https://octily.com/customization/cornerstone-lxp-edcast/) ![Octily Content Editor](https://octily.com/assets/octily-content-editor-DWKOFO7u.webp) Products ### Octily Content Editor Give HR teams the power to create, update, and manage Cornerstone pages independently with a real-time editor. Explore More [Customization ### Brand Identity Bring your corporate identity to life with fully branded learning experiences that feel like your own. Explore More](https://octily.com/customization/brand-identity/) ![Employee Engagement](https://octily.com/assets/employee-engagement-bg-CZN97gFI.webp) Customization ### Employee Engagement Boost engagement with dynamic, interactive pages that make employees want to return to the platform. Explore More ## Nice to meet you! Want to learn more about what we do? Let’s start a conversation. [Get in Touch](https://octily.com/get-in-touch/) [Book a Meeting](https://octily.com/meet)