{ TouchBase } Streamlining Student Job Hunting into a Tailored, Accessible App for Success.
{ TouchBase } Streamlining Student Job Hunting into a Tailored, Accessible App for Success.
{ TouchBase } Streamlining Student Job Hunting into a Tailored, Accessible App for Success.
ROLE
ROLE
ROLE
Product Designer
Product Designer
Product Designer
TEAM
TEAM
TEAM
3 Designers
4 Designers + 8 Devs
4 Designers + 8 Devs
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
TIMELINE
Jan. 26-27th 2024
Jan. 26-27th 2024
Jan. 26-27th 2024
Project Overview
Project Overview
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
What is TouchBase?
What is TouchBase?
TouchBase, designed by me and my two teammates (Sarah Chang and Yeon Joo Nam), for the 2024 Rice University Designathon, redefines job searching for undergraduates with accessible and causal job-finding, swipe-to-match feature, and streamlined profile setup. It offers a personalized, hassle-free experience, focusing on user preferences and transparent communication with recruiters.
TouchBase, designed by me and my two teammates (Sarah Chang and Yeon Joo Nam), for the 2024 Rice University Designathon, redefines job searching for undergraduates with accessible and causal job-finding, swipe-to-match feature, and streamlined profile setup. It offers a personalized, hassle-free experience, focusing on user preferences and transparent communication with recruiters.
TouchBase, designed by me and my two teammates (Sarah Chang and Yeon Joo Nam), for the 2024 Rice University Designathon, redefines job searching for undergraduates with accessible and causal job-finding, swipe-to-match feature, and streamlined profile setup. It offers a personalized, hassle-free experience, focusing on user preferences and transparent communication with recruiters.
THE PROBLEM
THE PROBLEM
A Sisyphean Undergrad Job-Hunting Experience
A Sisyphean Undergrad Job-Hunting Experience
The undergrad job hunt mirrors Sisyphus’ endless task—pushing a cracked boulder up a foggy hill, its weight growing with burnout as it rolls back with every silent rejection.
The undergrad job hunt mirrors Sisyphus’ endless task—pushing a cracked boulder up a foggy hill, its weight growing with burnout as it rolls back with every silent rejection.
The undergrad job hunt mirrors Sisyphus’ endless task—pushing a cracked boulder up a foggy hill, its weight growing with burnout as it rolls back with every silent rejection.
The process is hindered by:
The process is hindered by:
The process is hindered by:
Inadequate Communication and Matching Systems
Job seekers face a discouraging process characterized by a lack of feedback and inefficient matching with potential employers, contributing to a one-sided and unproductive job search experience.
Inadequate Communication and Matching Systems
Job seekers face a discouraging process characterized by a lack of feedback and inefficient matching with potential employers, contributing to a one-sided and unproductive job search experience.
Inadequate Communication and Matching Systems
Job seekers face a discouraging process characterized by a lack of feedback and inefficient matching with potential employers, contributing to a one-sided and unproductive job search experience.
Outdated Job Listings and Application Processes
Many job postings are not regularly updated and outdated. Furthermore, the reliance on traditional, laptop-based applications—-makes the user's application process inefficient and difficult.
Outdated Job Listings and Application Processes
Many job postings are not regularly updated and outdated. Furthermore, the reliance on traditional, laptop-based applications—-makes the user's application process inefficient and difficult.
Outdated Job Listings and Application Processes
Many job postings are not regularly updated and outdated. Furthermore, the reliance on traditional, laptop-based applications—-makes the user's application process inefficient and difficult.
Discovery + Refinement
Discovery + Refinement
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
Understanding the Job Platform Landscape
Understanding the Job Platform Landscape
To begin to understand the landscape of job search platforms and identify opportunities for innovation, we conducted a competitive analysis of four leading services: Handshake, LinkedIn, RippleMatch, and Indeed. Our goal was to uncover strengths and weaknesses in their features, usability, and user engagement strategies to inspire and inform the design of our own solution.
To begin to understand the landscape of job search platforms and identify opportunities for innovation, we conducted a competitive analysis of four leading services: Handshake, LinkedIn, RippleMatch, and Indeed. Our goal was to uncover strengths and weaknesses in their features, usability, and user engagement strategies to inspire and inform the design of our own solution.
To begin to understand the landscape of job search platforms and identify opportunities for innovation, we conducted a competitive analysis of four leading services: Handshake, LinkedIn, RippleMatch, and Indeed. Our goal was to uncover strengths and weaknesses in their features, usability, and user engagement strategies to inspire and inform the design of our own solution.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Specialized platforms target niche experiences, general ones offer variety, with algorithmic personalization, streamlined applications, and better communication boosting satisfaction and transparency.
Specialized platforms target niche experiences, general ones offer variety, with algorithmic personalization, streamlined applications, and better communication boosting satisfaction and transparency.
USER RESEARCH
USER RESEARCH
Unpacking Undergrad Job Struggles
Unpacking Undergrad Job Struggles
Our team conducted a comprehensive investigation into the undergraduate job search experience, employing a mixed-methods approach centered around survey forms (32 responses). This methodology allowed us to gather both quantitative and qualitative insights, revealing significant challenges faced by students:
Our team conducted a comprehensive investigation into the undergraduate job search experience, employing a mixed-methods approach centered around survey forms (32 responses). This methodology allowed us to gather both quantitative and qualitative insights, revealing significant challenges faced by students:
Our team conducted a comprehensive investigation into the undergraduate job search experience, employing a mixed-methods approach centered around survey forms (32 responses). This methodology allowed us to gather both quantitative and qualitative insights, revealing significant challenges faced by students:
USER PERSONA
USER PERSONA
Meet our Undergraduate
Meet our Undergraduate
From our survey data analysis, we synthesized a user persona that would guide our future design solutions.
From our survey data analysis, we synthesized a user persona that would guide our future design solutions.
From our survey data analysis, we synthesized a user persona that would guide our future design solutions.
Ethan a driven 21-year-old Business Administration junior, is navigating the complex job search landscape—facing significant challenges with current job platforms. These include unintuitive interfaces, lack of personalized job matches, and inefficient tracking methods. Additionally, Ethan finds the lack of communication and transparency between applicants and hirers frustrating, leaving him feeling in the dark about him application status and feedback.
Ethan a driven 21-year-old Business Administration junior, is navigating the complex job search landscape—facing significant challenges with current job platforms. These include unintuitive interfaces, lack of personalized job matches, and inefficient tracking methods. Additionally, Ethan finds the lack of communication and transparency between applicants and hirers frustrating, leaving him feeling in the dark about him application status and feedback.
Ethan a driven 21-year-old Business Administration junior, is navigating the complex job search landscape—facing significant challenges with current job platforms. These include unintuitive interfaces, lack of personalized job matches, and inefficient tracking methods. Additionally, Ethan finds the lack of communication and transparency between applicants and hirers frustrating, leaving him feeling in the dark about him application status and feedback.
So what does Ethan need?
So what does Ethan need?
So what does Ethan need?
Tailored Job Opportunities
Tailored Job Opportunities
Tailored Job Opportunities
Ethan seeks a platform that delivers job suggestions closely aligned with his career goals and academic achievements.
Ethan seeks a platform that delivers job suggestions closely aligned with his career goals and academic achievements.
Ethan seeks a platform that delivers job suggestions closely aligned with his career goals and academic achievements.
Streamlined Job-Search Experience
Streamlined Job-Search Experience
Streamlined Job-Search Experience
He aims to use a platform that simplifies the search process, incorporating an intuitive interface and tracking system, eliminating the need for external tools.
He aims to use a platform that simplifies the search process, incorporating an intuitive interface and tracking system, eliminating the need for external tools.
He aims to use a platform that simplifies the search process, incorporating an intuitive interface and tracking system, eliminating the need for external tools.
Communication and Transparency
Communication and Transparency
Communication and Transparency
Ethan wants to ensure clear, direct communication with potential employers, gaining insights into his application status and receiving constructive feedback.
Ethan wants to ensure clear, direct communication with potential employers, gaining insights into his application status and receiving constructive feedback.
Ethan wants to ensure clear, direct communication with potential employers, gaining insights into his application status and receiving constructive feedback.
How might we revolutionize the job search experience for undergraduates to ensure a seamless, efficient, and transparent process
that meets their unique needs?
How might we revolutionize the job search experience for undergraduates to ensure a seamless, efficient, and transparent process
that meets their unique needs?
How might we revolutionize the job search experience for undergraduates to ensure a seamless, efficient, and transparent process
that meets their unique needs?
DESIGN GOALS
DESIGN GOALS
Guiding our Designs
Guiding our Designs
In response to our findings, we established three key design goals to guide the development of TouchBase's feature architecture and its low-fidelity designs:
In response to our findings, we established three key design goals to guide the development of TouchBase's feature architecture and its low-fidelity designs:
In response to our findings, we established three key design goals to guide the development of TouchBase's feature architecture and its low-fidelity designs:
LOFI DESIGNS
LOFI DESIGNS
Crafting Wireframes
Crafting Wireframes
Low-Fidelity Designs of TouchBase
Low-Fidelity Designs of TouchBase
Low-Fidelity Designs of TouchBase
LO-FI ITERATIONS
LO-FI ITERATIONS
DESIGN SYSTEM
DESIGN SYSTEM
Colors, Typography, and Visuals
Colors, Typography, and Visuals
With the needs and user-base of TouchBase in mind, we landed on key colors, fonts, and visuals that would guide our Hi-Fidelity designs.
With the needs and user-base of TouchBase in mind, we landed on key colors, fonts, and visuals that would guide our Hi-Fidelity designs.
With the needs and user-base of TouchBase in mind, we landed on key colors, fonts, and visuals that would guide our Hi-Fidelity designs.
Solution
Solution
Final Designs
Final Designs
Introducing TouchBase
Introducing TouchBase
1
Guided Onboarding Journey
Navigate the initial setup through a step-by-step guided onboarding, ensuring a smooth start to your job search journey with TouchBase.
1
Guided Onboarding Journey
Navigate the initial setup through a step-by-step guided onboarding, ensuring a smooth start to your job search journey with TouchBase.
1
Guided Onboarding Journey
Navigate the initial setup through a step-by-step guided onboarding, ensuring a smooth start to your job search journey with TouchBase.
2
Curated Job & Application Dashboard
Explore handpicked job opportunities and monitor your application statuses all in one organized dashboard for a comprehensive job search overview.
2
Curated Job & Application Dashboard
Explore handpicked job opportunities and monitor your application statuses all in one organized dashboard for a comprehensive job search overview.
2
Curated Job & Application Dashboard
Explore handpicked job opportunities and monitor your application statuses all in one organized dashboard for a comprehensive job search overview.
3
Interactive Job Matching
Swipe through curated job opportunities with an interactive matching interface, designed for quick and easy responses to potential matches.
3
Interactive Job Matching
Swipe through curated job opportunities with an interactive matching interface, designed for quick and easy responses to potential matches.
3
Interactive Job Matching
Swipe through curated job opportunities with an interactive matching interface, designed for quick and easy responses to potential matches.
4
AI-Powered Career Advisor
Optimize your job search journey with an AI-Powered Career Coach, offering personalized resume critiques, mock interviews, and career advice to strengthen your professional profile.
4
AI-Powered Career Advisor
Optimize your job search journey with an AI-Powered Career Coach, offering personalized resume critiques, mock interviews, and career advice to strengthen your professional profile.
4
AI-Powered Career Advisor
Optimize your job search journey with an AI-Powered Career Coach, offering personalized resume critiques, mock interviews, and career advice to strengthen your professional profile.
5
Direct Communication Hub
Swipe through curated job opportunities with an interactive matching interface, designed for quick and easy responses to potential matches.
5
Direct Communication Hub
Swipe through curated job opportunities with an interactive matching interface, designed for quick and easy responses to potential matches.
5
Direct Communication Hub
Swipe through curated job opportunities with an interactive matching interface, designed for quick and easy responses to potential matches.
6
Customizable Profile
Build your own professional profile, and showcase your skills, experience, and achievements to potential employers.
6
Customizable Profile
Build your own professional profile, and showcase your skills, experience, and achievements to potential employers.
6
Customizable Profile
Build your own professional profile, and showcase your skills, experience, and achievements to potential employers.
Looking Ahead
Looking Ahead
REFLECTION
REFLECTION
A Few Takeaways
A Few Takeaways
In reflecting on the development of TouchBase, three main takeaways stand out: the importance of teamwork, the commitment to purposeful design, and most critically, the necessity of user research. Each of these elements played a pivotal role in shaping our project, guiding us through the myriad challenges and decisions that ultimately defined our approach and our final product.
During our project, a round of user research unexpectedly shifted our perspective. Initially, we came to the table with predefined notions, based on our individual experiences with job searching. However, engaging in conversations with fellow undergraduates unveiled a whole bunch of unique experiences and needs that diverged significantly from our own initial assumptions. This pivotal moment of realization highlighted the transformative power of research and collaboration. It really reminded us that to create something truly user-centric, we must look beyond our own experiences, integrating the insights we gain from user stories and perspectives. This lesson not only shaped TouchBase into a more impactful platform but also deeply ingrained in us the value of purposeful design driven by comprehensive user research.
In reflecting on the development of TouchBase, three main takeaways stand out: the importance of teamwork, the commitment to purposeful design, and most critically, the necessity of user research. Each of these elements played a pivotal role in shaping our project, guiding us through the myriad challenges and decisions that ultimately defined our approach and our final product.
During our project, a round of user research unexpectedly shifted our perspective. Initially, we came to the table with predefined notions, based on our individual experiences with job searching. However, engaging in conversations with fellow undergraduates unveiled a whole bunch of unique experiences and needs that diverged significantly from our own initial assumptions. This pivotal moment of realization highlighted the transformative power of research and collaboration. It really reminded us that to create something truly user-centric, we must look beyond our own experiences, integrating the insights we gain from user stories and perspectives. This lesson not only shaped TouchBase into a more impactful platform but also deeply ingrained in us the value of purposeful design driven by comprehensive user research.
In reflecting on the development of TouchBase, three main takeaways stand out: the importance of teamwork, the commitment to purposeful design, and most critically, the necessity of user research. Each of these elements played a pivotal role in shaping our project, guiding us through the myriad challenges and decisions that ultimately defined our approach and our final product.
During our project, a round of user research unexpectedly shifted our perspective. Initially, we came to the table with predefined notions, based on our individual experiences with job searching. However, engaging in conversations with fellow undergraduates unveiled a whole bunch of unique experiences and needs that diverged significantly from our own initial assumptions. This pivotal moment of realization highlighted the transformative power of research and collaboration. It really reminded us that to create something truly user-centric, we must look beyond our own experiences, integrating the insights we gain from user stories and perspectives. This lesson not only shaped TouchBase into a more impactful platform but also deeply ingrained in us the value of purposeful design driven by comprehensive user research.