Forge Your Path
Forge Your Path is a holistic career coaching app, with a focus on empowering recent graduates on their unique journeys into the professional world. Our app serves as a community-based platform seeking to address the diverse challenges that individuals may face in navigating the workforce. From personalizing coaching and skill-building to inclusive networking and online resources that encompass global opportunities, our app encourages users to forge their individual and successful paths. Forge Your Path's commitment to diversity, accessibility, and continuous learning makes us the definitive choice for recent graduates navigating the complexities of the job market.
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UX Researcher & UX Designer
November 14 - January 28 (2 months)
"I am motivated to embrace a new challenge in the IT industry while being a devoted dad and husband..."
Understanding the User
Problem
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Recent college graduates face diverse challenges, including overcoming biases, accessibility barriers, building a diverse network, successful job & industry pairings, and managing skill development during career transitions. Existing career coaching platforms lack comprehensive, inclusive, and personalized solutions to address these multifaceted needs, leaving a gap in the market for a user-centric and accessible app.
Pain Points
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Lack of Personalization (no tailoring to individual needs and preferences - i.e. industry, professional values, etc.)
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Limited Diversity in context (i.e. lack of inclusive content - mentorship options, blogs, etc.)
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Minimal Community Engagement (engagement allows users to connect & share insights)
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Limited Opportunities (i.e. lack of various job recommendations, skills courses, etc.)
Goal
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Our Career Coaching app aims to revolutionize the post-graduate journey for recent college graduates by providing a holistic platform that offers inclusive job resources, facilitates accessible networking, advocates for inclusivity in various industries, personalized job/industry matching, and supports effective skill development. The goal is to empower users to overcome challenges, secure meaningful opportunities, and contribute to transforming the workforce.
User Persona: Taylor Washington (29)
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Ph.D. in Sociology
- Wants to pursue a career in social justice advocacy
- Faces communication barriers in professional settings
- Responsible, Quiet, & Intelligent
User Persona: Alex Chen (22)
"I am trying desperately to pave my way through the rigorous tech landscape..."
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B.S. in Computer Science
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Wants a fulfilling role in software development
- Has trouble balancing job hunting with dyslexia challenges
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Dedicated, Insecure, & Logical
User Persona: Manuel Rodriguez (35)
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A.A.S. in IT
- Wants to transition from education to IT
- Needs to learn how to achieve a work-life balance
- Kind, Impatient, & Outgoing
"I want to combat discrimination in the workforce and show how to be a leader in Business..."
User Persona: Jordan Williams (25)
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MBA
- Wants to excel in a leadership role within the business sector
- Faces discrimination during the interview process
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Loyal, Anxious, & Hard-Working
"I want to feel my voice being heard at a job that is meaningful to me..."
Discover more User Research, such as Empathy & User Journey Maps
Starting The Design
Site Map
Storyboarding & Sketching
Mobile
While sketching, we found that the elements that worked best were:
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Menu header on the right
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Both rectangular & circle photos
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Create widgets
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Large photo with title above the fold
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More images, less text
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Create section dividers
Desktop
While sketching, we found that the elements that worked best were:
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Create widgets
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Main photo with smaller text/image combinations
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User profile on the right
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Vertical section dividers
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Cirlce & rectangular photos
Close Up Storyboard
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Big Picture Storyboard
Unmoderated Usability Study + System Usability Scale Completion
Study Details
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How easily can users navigate the platform to achieve specific tasks, such as account creation?
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In what ways, can the platform be more user-friendly and personalized?
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How satisfied are users with the current features and functionalities?
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Which features resonate most with users, and why?
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Are there any specific design elements that hinder the user experience?
Observations
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4 out of 5 participants found the onboarding process intuitive
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4 out of 5 participants provided recommendations for refining features
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3 out of 5 participants valued and suggested improvements for inclusivity features
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4 out of 5 participants actively engaged and appreciated all the personalization and services
Insights & Recommendations
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Users determined the navigation was intuitive with clear labels and straightforward layouts
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Consistently prioritize and invest in user-friendly design principles, focusing on clear labels and straightforward layouts to enhance usability
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Emphasis on the value of user feedback for enhanced user satisfaction
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Incorporate changes surrounding saved matches, visual engagement measures, and combining similar features to evolve the platform
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Users suggested additional features catering to diverse abilities
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Amplify efforts in inclusive design practices, such as virtual events, tutorials/tooltips, and accessibility functions
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Users thoroughly appreciated the personalized features
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Continually diversify and personalize content, ensuring users a rich tapestry of features to keep a high level of engagement​​​
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Refining The Design
We strategically introduced a distinct profile section, ensuring that users can effortlessly manage their saved matches, upcoming sessions, and events while still maintaining a user-friendly dashboard for personalized recommendations and engagement tracking. To enhance user engagement, we merged "User Stories" with "Articles/Blogs" and created "Career Chronicles," as a new feature. This addition incorporates videos of professionals across diverse industries, offering authentic insights, interviews, and day-in-the-ife narratives. This makes the platform visually engaging with a richer, more immersive experience. As a commitment to inclusivity, we integrated virtual events and courses for remote accessibility while being able to reach a global audience. We also prioritized representation by curating diverse content and imagery within the app to deliberately and authentically represent a broad spectrum of individuals. Lastly, we created a logout function for a more seamless and intuitive user navigation journey.
Accessibility Considerations:
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1. Virtual Learning & Events
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Ensures virtual participation options for users who may prefer or require remote access
2. Customizable Accessibility Preferences
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Integrating robust accessibility preferences allows users to customize their experience for diverse needs
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3. Diverse Representation
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Actively promote diverse representation in images and content to create a welcoming and relatable platform
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4. Inclusive Filters
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Inclusive filters that cater to various demographics (i.e. industry, professional values, etc.)
Final High Fidelity Prototypes
Takeaways
Forge Your Path is poised to revolutionize career development, providing an immersive platform that transcends conventional boundaries. Our commitment to inclusivity and personalized journeys redefines the way users navigate their professional trajectories. By embracing a holistic approach, we empower individuals to overcome challenges, unlock personalized opportunities, and contribute to a transformative shift in the workforce. Forge Your Path doesn't just offer features; it spearheads a paradigm shift in career empowerment, cultivating an environment where every user can truly forge their unique and impactful path.
Impact of Design
Strategic Iteration
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Continuous refinement for optimal results
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User-Centric Engagement
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Prioritize features that captivate and involve users
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Inclusive Design Principles
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Ensure diverse representation and accessible design
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Holistic Approaches
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Address the complete user journey for a comprehensive solution
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User Feedback
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Encourage valuable and authentic insights for continuous improvements
What I Learned
