Case Study:

grad jobs app & responsive website

Project Overview

The problem

Many graduates find themselves without employment or in fields that are not related to what they studied when they graduate.

The goal:

Design a multi platform app that will assist new graduates in finding jobs that align directly with what they studied.

The product:

Grad jobs is an online platform that helps new graduates find a job. Finding employment which directly aligns with what you have studied is difficult especially for new graduates. Grad jobs connects graduates to employment opportunities without any of the hassle.

My role:

UX designer leading the app and responsive website design from conception to delivery

Responsibilities:

Designing paper and digital wireframes, low and high-fidelity prototypes and mockups. Conducting interviews and usability studies, accounting for accessibility, determining information architecture, and responsive design.

Project Duration:

March 2022 to April 2022

Understanding the user

Statistics from multiple universities and colleges were used to develop interview questions, which I the used to conduct user interviews. The majority of users interviewed reported that they wish the transition from a higher learning institution was much more simple and that a mobile friendly app would be a life saver. The research feedback made it clear that most users were in need of such an app to aid them in finding jobs in an easier manor.

Persona & problem statement

Biopelo

Boipelo is a recent graduate having difficulty finding a job. She wants to get help in finding a job so that she can do work directly related to her qualifications.

Rethabile

Rethabile is an accountant looking to switch careers. He wants to get help finding a job in a private and secure manner, so that he can start a new career related to his new qualifications.

ideation

I used an ideation exercise to come up with ideas for how to address gaps identified in the competitive audit.

starting the design

digital wireframes

The initial designs for the Grad jobs app were created after ideating and drafting some paper wireframes. The design is focused on giving a personal experience for each user.

usability study findings

These were the main findings uncovered by the usability study:

1.Privacy

Users want the reassurance that their information is secure at all times.

2.Application Status

Users would like to know in what stage of the application process they are in.

3.Reminders

Users want a way to be notified if a job they are interested in is about to close a couple days in advance.

Refining the design

mockups

Using insights from the usability studies, I made changes to the design like adding a favorite button so the users can save jobs that they are interested in and look up later in a favorites list.

The same like button was added to the job details screen in case the user didn’t use it while scrolling through other jobs that they may be interested in.

accessibility considerations

1.Voice

Have voice features for visually impaired users

2.Screen Readers

Interactive elements to have clear labels for screen readers

refined designs

high-fidelty prototype

The high-fidelity prototype followed the same user flow as the low-fidelity prototype, including design changes made after the usability study.

View the Grad Jobs high-fidelity prototype here.

Responsive design

sitemap

Once the app designs were completed, work on designing the responsive website began. I used the Grad jobs sitemap to guide the organizational structure of each screen’s design to ensure a cohesive and consistent experience across devices.

responsive designs

The designs for screen size variation include mobile, tablet, and desktop. I optimized the designs to fit specific user needs of each device and screen size.

Mobile

Tablet

Desktop

going forward

takeaways

Impact

Our users reported that the app made them feel more comfortable with their job search. They like the fact that they feel involved in every step of the hiring process. One quote from peer feedback was “Grad Jobs make the applying for job less intimidating and easy”.

What I learned

I learned that looking for employment straight after graduating is not as easy for everyone. Working with people that had specific needs helped me come up with design solutions that were both useful and feasible.

next steps

1.Mentorship

Add a section where users can find one on one mentoring from real hiring managers.

2.Research

Conduct research on how successful the app is in reaching the goal to get fresh graduates jobs that they studied for.

3.Rewards

Provide rewards and incentives for users who manage to find work through the app.

< foodies app

code hut>

Google Sites

Report abuse