Project Overview
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The Problem
Individuals had trouble navigating their careers in the US. Stressors were identified with visa sponsorship, networking, and lack of guidance through the process of developing careers and job searching.
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The Goal
Design an app and responsive website that will provide career mentorship and networking for individuals in the US.
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The Product
SunUp is a career mentorship program in the US helping individuals start or continue their careers. SunUp was created with first generation immigrants in mind, and offers visa help, multilingual mentors, networking, meetups, and webinars for their clients.
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My Role
UX designer building the app and responsive website user interface from conception to delivery.
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My Responsibilities
Conducted user interviews, created paper and digital wireframes, designed low and high-fidelity prototypes, conducted usability studies, accounted for accessibility, iterated on designs, and responsive design.
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Project Duration
December 2021 to March 2022
Understanding the User
I began my user research by interviewing target users to better understand their perspectives. Most participants mentioned struggles in starting their careers in the US, based on lack of support or guidance. The interviews confirmed that users would appreciate career mentorship if offered.
Personas and Problem Statements
Rafa is an MBA student who needs career mentorship because they are struggling to navigate the job world as a first-generation immigrant.
Savi is a lawyer who needs guidance in furthering their career and gain the skills, connections, and experience they wish they received during college and law school.
Competitive Audit
An audit of direct and indirect competitors illuminated gaps and opportunities to consider in creating the SunUp app and website.
Starting the Design
Ideation
Beginning with the app screens, I ideated based on research collected from user interviews and the competitive audit.
My focus was on simplifying the user process of finding a mentor.
Digital Wireframes
Continuing to iterate on designs, I created digital wireframes for the SunUp app. These designs placed mentorship offerings front and center for users to access easily.
Usability Study Findings
I conducted an unmoderated usability study with 5 participants using a low-fidelity prototype.
Calendar
Participants couldn’t find the month in the calendar when booking an appointment
Mentors List
Participants wanted to browse all mentors on one page
Home Page
Participants preferred fewer items on the home page
Refining the Design
Mockups
Iterating on designs based on usability study insights, I used the Gestalt principles of similarity and proximity to group items and simplify the user layout.
Based on user feedback, the search function was adjusted to a scrolling page of mentors.
Accessibility Considerations
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Included captions for screen readers and added context in navigation and descriptions.
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Enlarged button size for easier clicking and viewing.
Refined Designs
High-Fidelity Prototype
The high-fidelity prototype followed the original user flow from the low-fidelity prototype, with adjustments and additions based on user feedback.
Responsive Design
Sitemap
Once the app designs were completed, I began to work on the information architecture of the responsive website. This site map helped me visualize how to orient and connect pages within the user flow, and to provide consistency across all screen sizes.
Responsive Designs
The screen sizes designed for were mobile, tablet, and desktop. Optimizations were made for each screen size while maintaining original designs and functions.
Going Forward
Takeaways
Impact
Users shared that they would benefit from using the SunUp app in their career development and that the app was easy to use.
Quote from user feedback:
“Setting up an appointment with someone who could help me with my career was seamless”
What I learned
I learned that working to solve a large problem can be done by beginning the process with curiosity and empathy. When I looked for answers I found them in the users.
Next Steps
Conduct user research to confirm user needs are being met and iterate on designs to address any new pain points.
Add more resources to support users in their careers.