CareerCompass
CareerCompass
ROLE
UX/UI & Product Designer
UX/UI & Product Designer
Timeline
August 2023 - Present
August 2023 - Present
Project Overview
Project Overview
Early-career professionals and students often struggle to find relevant career events such as workshops, tech talks, and job fairs due to scattered information across multiple sources.
They need a centralized platform that makes it easier to discover and register for opportunities aligned with their career goals and location.
Early-career professionals and students often struggle to find relevant career events such as workshops, tech talks, and job fairs due to scattered information across multiple sources.
They need a centralized platform that makes it easier to discover and register for opportunities aligned with their career goals and location.
“How might we design a seamless platform that empowers users to discover career events, build meaningful connections, and grow confidently in their professional path?”
Project Background and Personal Journey
As an international student and a UI/UX designer, I often saw how difficult it was for students and early-career professionals to find the right career events at the right time. Many of us relied on scattered links, word of mouth, or last-minute posts to discover workshops, tech talks, or career fairs. This inspired me to create CareerCompass a simple, reliable way to explore opportunities without feeling overwhelmed.
CareerCompass began as a small idea to help students stay updated about events happening nearby. But as I continued designing, it evolved into a career-focused companion app that connects users with events, organizers, and institutions in one place. My goal was to create an experience that feels intuitive, supportive, and community-driven, especially for students navigating a new country and career system.
This project reflects my belief that good design can reduce confusion and increase confidence. Every screen—from event discovery to registration—is crafted to motivate users to explore, learn, and take the next step in their career journey.
Project Background and Personal Journey
As an international student and a UI/UX designer, I often saw how difficult it was for students and early-career professionals to find the right career events at the right time. Many of us relied on scattered links, word of mouth, or last-minute posts to discover workshops, tech talks, or career fairs. This inspired me to create CareerCompass a simple, reliable way to explore opportunities without feeling overwhelmed.
CareerCompass began as a small idea to help students stay updated about events happening nearby. But as I continued designing, it evolved into a career-focused companion app that connects users with events, organizers, and institutions in one place. My goal was to create an experience that feels intuitive, supportive, and community-driven, especially for students navigating a new country and career system.
This project reflects my belief that good design can reduce confusion and increase confidence. Every screen—from event discovery to registration—is crafted to motivate users to explore, learn, and take the next step in their career journey.
Problem
Problem
Students and early-career professionals struggle to find relevant career events because information is scattered across university boards, social media, and word of mouth. This leads to missed opportunities, confusion, and limited professional growth.
Students and early-career professionals struggle to find relevant career events because information is scattered across university boards, social media, and word of mouth. This leads to missed opportunities, confusion, and limited professional growth.
There is no centralized platform that curates location-based, goal-aligned events such as career fairs, tech talks, and workshops. Existing event tools often prioritize entertainment or large conferences, overlooking the smaller, high-impact events users actually need.
There is no centralized platform that curates location-based, goal-aligned events such as career fairs, tech talks, and workshops. Existing event tools often prioritize entertainment or large conferences, overlooking the smaller, high-impact events users actually need.
Without a reliable system to discover and evaluate meaningful opportunities, users lack the confidence, clarity, and support needed to grow their network and advance their careers.
Without a reliable system to discover and evaluate meaningful opportunities, users lack the confidence, clarity, and support needed to grow their network and advance their careers.
Solution
Solution
Through in-depth UX research, user interviews, and multiple design iterations, I created CareerCompass to bridge the disconnect between career seekers and professional opportunities. The platform unifies career fairs, workshops, and networking events into one intuitive space, enabling users to seamlessly discover, register, and connect with industry experts. By prioritizing accessibility, simplicity, and engagement, CareerCompass helps users take charge of their professional growth with confidence.
Through in-depth UX research, user interviews, and multiple design iterations, I created CareerCompass to bridge the disconnect between career seekers and professional opportunities. The platform unifies career fairs, workshops, and networking events into one intuitive space, enabling users to seamlessly discover, register, and connect with industry experts. By prioritizing accessibility, simplicity, and engagement, CareerCompass helps users take charge of their professional growth with confidence.
SMART LOGIN ACCESS
A simple and secure login that lets users quickly access their personalized dashboard using credentials or Google sign-in.
EASY ACCOUNT CREATION
A quick and effortless signup process helps users get started instantly, using email or Google.
PERSONALIZED DASHBOARD
Discover upcoming career fairs, workshops, and events tailored to your location and interests.
SMART DISCOVERY
Easily explore career events, workshops, and learning sessions through curated categories and trending searches tailored to your goals.
YOUR FAVORITES
Keep track of your favorite events and workshops in one place, making it easy to revisit and register when you're ready.
EVENT INSIGHTS
Get complete details about upcoming career events - from schedules and organizers to locations.
EVENT PASSES
View your registered events and access ticket details easily.
USER PROFILE
Manage your personal details, track verification status, and access support.
SMART LOGIN ACCESS
A simple and secure login that lets users quickly access their personalized dashboard using credentials or Google sign-in.
EASY ACCOUNT CREATION
A quick and effortless signup process helps users get started instantly, using email or Google.
PERSONALIZED DASHBOARD
Discover upcoming career fairs, workshops, and events tailored to your location and interests.
SMART DISCOVERY
Easily explore career events, workshops, and learning sessions through curated categories and trending searches tailored to your goals.
YOUR FAVORITES
Keep track of your favorite events and workshops in one place, making it easy to revisit and register when you're ready.
EVENT INSIGHTS
Get complete details about upcoming career events - from schedules and organizers to locations.
EVENT PASSES
View your registered events and access ticket details easily.
USER PROFILE
Manage your personal details, track verification status, and access support.
Understanding User Motivation & Event Behavior
Understanding User Motivation & Event Behavior
While exploring the challenges around career event discovery, I wanted to understand why students and early-career professionals often hesitate to attend events even when they want to grow their careers. I noticed a pattern among international students and new graduates: they wanted opportunities, but felt unsure about where to begin, how to evaluate an event’s value, or whether they would fit in socially or professionally.
While exploring the challenges around career event discovery, I wanted to understand why students and early-career professionals often hesitate to attend events even when they want to grow their careers. I noticed a pattern among international students and new graduates: they wanted opportunities, but felt unsure about where to begin, how to evaluate an event’s value, or whether they would fit in socially or professionally.
This led me to investigate deeper into the behavioral barriers behind event participation:
This led me to investigate deeper into the behavioral barriers behind event participation:
Lack of confidence in networking
😬🌀
Anxiety about attending alone
🫥🚶🏻
confusion caused by scattered information!!
🤔💭
confusion caused by scattered information!!
🤔💭
Hesitation due to unclear benefits
🧐❓
Hesitation due to unclear benefits
🧐❓
Anxiety about attending alone
🫥🚶🏻
confusion caused by scattered information!!
🤔💭
Hesitation due to unclear benefits
🧐❓
🫥🚶🏻
Anxiety about attending alone
Lack of confidence in networking
😬🌀
User Surveys & Interviews
User Surveys & Interviews
To gain a deeper understanding of how students and early-career professionals discover and engage with career events, I conducted online surveys and one-on-one interviews with international students, recent graduates, and young professionals across different fields.
By combining digital surveys, informal conversations, and virtual interviews, I gathered both quantitative data and qualitative insights that informed the direction of CareerCompass. The research highlighted users’ frustrations with scattered event information, lack of clarity, and social anxiety surrounding networking.
Interview Goal 01
Who is the user?
Age, student/professional status, background, goals.
Interview Goal 02
How do they currently find career events and opportunities?
Interview Goal 03
How confident do they feel about networking or attending events alone?
[01] User Research
Conducted user interviews with 15 participants to understand their frustrations and preferences.
Analyzed user behavior data to pinpoint where users dropped off in the process.
Benchmarked against competitors to identify best practices for checkout flows.
[01] User Research
Conducted user interviews with 15 participants to understand their frustrations and preferences.
Analyzed user behavior data to pinpoint where users dropped off in the process.
Benchmarked against competitors to identify best practices for checkout flows.
[01] User Research
Conducted user interviews with 15 participants to understand their frustrations and preferences.
Analyzed user behavior data to pinpoint where users dropped off in the process.
Benchmarked against competitors to identify best practices for checkout flows.
[02] Key Insights
Users prefer events that match their skills or interests (UX, AI, engineering, etc.).
Users want clear benefits: speaker info, takeaways, difficulty level, and outcomes.
Social anxiety is a major barrier: users hesitate to attend alone without context or support.
[02] Key Insights
Users prefer events that match their skills or interests (UX, AI, engineering, etc.).
Users want clear benefits: speaker info, takeaways, difficulty level, and outcomes.
Social anxiety is a major barrier: users hesitate to attend alone without context or support.
[02] Key Insights
Users prefer events that match their skills or interests (UX, AI, engineering, etc.).
Users want clear benefits: speaker info, takeaways, difficulty level, and outcomes.
Social anxiety is a major barrier: users hesitate to attend alone without context or support.
[03] Research-Driven Opportunities
Create a centralized platform that aggregates relevant, trustworthy events.
Design features that help users feel supported, such as showing “who else is attending.”
Offer personalized recommendations to reduce overwhelm and improve relevance.
[03] Research-Driven Opportunities
Create a centralized platform that aggregates relevant, trustworthy events.
Design features that help users feel supported, such as showing “who else is attending.”
Offer personalized recommendations to reduce overwhelm and improve relevance.
[03] Research-Driven Opportunities
Create a centralized platform that aggregates relevant, trustworthy events.
Design features that help users feel supported, such as showing “who else is attending.”
Offer personalized recommendations to reduce overwhelm and improve relevance.
[04] Testing & Iteration Focus
Test which event details users consider most valuable before attending.
Conduct usability tests on event discovery flow to reduce friction and cognitive load.
Iterate on reminders, calendar integration, and event-follow-up experiences based on user feedback.
[04] Testing & Iteration Focus
Test which event details users consider most valuable before attending.
Conduct usability tests on event discovery flow to reduce friction and cognitive load.
Iterate on reminders, calendar integration, and event-follow-up experiences based on user feedback.
[04] Testing & Iteration Focus
Test which event details users consider most valuable before attending.
Conduct usability tests on event discovery flow to reduce friction and cognitive load.
Iterate on reminders, calendar integration, and event-follow-up experiences based on user feedback.
I interviewed 6 participants a mix of international students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals aged 20 to 29. Most were actively seeking opportunities but struggled with confidence, clarity, and event discovery, reinforcing the need for a centralized, supportive career-event platform like CareerCompass.
I interviewed 6 participants a mix of international students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals aged 20 to 29. Most were actively seeking opportunities but struggled with confidence, clarity, and event discovery, reinforcing the need for a centralized, supportive career-event platform like CareerCompass.
User Persona
User Persona
To translate the insights gathered from user research into actionable design decisions, I created personas that represent the experiences of students and early-career professionals actively seeking opportunities for growth. Grounded in both qualitative and quantitative data, these personas served as empathetic reference points - keeping users’ goals, frustrations, and motivations at the core of every design decision made for CareerCompass.
To translate the insights gathered from user research into actionable design decisions, I created personas that represent the experiences of students and early-career professionals actively seeking opportunities for growth. Grounded in both qualitative and quantitative data, these personas served as empathetic reference points - keeping users’ goals, frustrations, and motivations at the core of every design decision made for CareerCompass.
To better understand user needs across different career stages, I developed two personas - Andrea, a student seeking structured event access, and Ethan, a graduate focused on building professional connections and referral pathways.
To better understand user needs across different career stages, I developed two personas - Andrea, a student seeking structured event access, and Ethan, a graduate focused on building professional connections and referral pathways.
User Flow
User Flow
Before diving into design iterations, I created a structured user flow to visualize the end-to-end experience within CareerCompass. The goal was to simplify navigation and clearly map how users move from discovering the platform to registering for events and managing their profiles.
Before diving into design iterations, I created a structured user flow to visualize the end-to-end experience within CareerCompass. The goal was to simplify navigation and clearly map how users move from discovering the platform to registering for events and managing their profiles.
This flow became a guiding reference that helped refine screen priorities, ensuring that every interaction felt intentional and user-friendly.
This flow became a guiding reference that helped refine screen priorities, ensuring that every interaction felt intentional and user-friendly.
Wireframing + Lo-Fi Prototyping
Wireframing + Lo-Fi Prototyping
In the ideation phase of CareerCompass, I translated user insights into structured design concepts that addressed key needs such as event discovery, registration flow, and personalized recommendations. The goal was to design a clean, intuitive experience where users could easily find, save, and manage career-related events all in one place.
In the ideation phase of CareerCompass, I translated user insights into structured design concepts that addressed key needs such as event discovery, registration flow, and personalized recommendations. The goal was to design a clean, intuitive experience where users could easily find, save, and manage career-related events all in one place.
Focusing on clarity and accessibility, I mapped out the information architecture and defined the app’s primary sections — Home, Search, Favorites, Tickets, and Profile. Each section was designed to guide users seamlessly through their journey, from discovering events to confirming their registrations.
Focusing on clarity and accessibility, I mapped out the information architecture and defined the app’s primary sections — Home, Search, Favorites, Tickets, and Profile. Each section was designed to guide users seamlessly through their journey, from discovering events to confirming their registrations.
These wireframes served as the blueprint for usability testing, helping validate the navigation structure and flow before moving into high-fidelity design. By maintaining a minimal layout and consistent hierarchy, I ensured that every element contributed to a frictionless event discovery experience.
These wireframes served as the blueprint for usability testing, helping validate the navigation structure and flow before moving into high-fidelity design. By maintaining a minimal layout and consistent hierarchy, I ensured that every element contributed to a frictionless event discovery experience.
Style Guide
Style Guide
The CareerCompass Style Guide was created to bring clarity, consistency, and scalability to the app. It reflects the brand’s purpose of guiding early-career professionals through a clean, approachable, and optimistic visual language. Each element - from color and typography to buttons and navigation — was crafted to ensure a cohesive and human-centered experience.
The CareerCompass Style Guide was created to bring clarity, consistency, and scalability to the app. It reflects the brand’s purpose of guiding early-career professionals through a clean, approachable, and optimistic visual language. Each element - from color and typography to buttons and navigation — was crafted to ensure a cohesive and human-centered experience.
Style Guide
The CareerCompass Style Guide was created to bring clarity, consistency, and scalability to the app. It reflects the brand’s purpose of guiding early-career professionals through a clean, approachable, and optimistic visual language. Each element - from color and typography to buttons and navigation — was crafted to ensure a cohesive and human-centered experience.
Hi-Fi Prototyping
Transitioning from low-fidelity wireframes to polished, interactive designs, I focused on creating a cohesive visual language that aligned with the CareerCompass brand. Every screen was refined through multiple design iterations and user feedback sessions.
Refined Event Discovery Experience
Enhanced visual hierarchy with event images and card layouts.
Introduced “Upcoming” and “Recommended” sections based on user preferences.
Applied consistent brand colors and typography for clarity and familiarity.
Streamlined Search and Filters
Added quick category chips for easy event browsing.
Optimized spacing and contrast to improve readability.
Simplified icon placement for smoother navigation.
Informative and Action-Driven Event Page
Included high-quality banners and structured content blocks.
Emphasized clear CTAs (“Register Now”) for accessibility.
Balanced visuals and whitespace to guide user attention.
Hi-Fi Prototyping
Transitioning from low-fidelity wireframes to polished, interactive designs, I focused on creating a cohesive visual language that aligned with the CareerCompass brand. Every screen was refined through multiple design iterations and user feedback sessions.
Refined Event Discovery Experience
Enhanced visual hierarchy with event images and card layouts.
Introduced “Upcoming” and “Recommended” sections based on user preferences.
Applied consistent brand colors and typography for clarity and familiarity.
Streamlined Search and Filters
Added quick category chips for easy event browsing.
Optimized spacing and contrast to improve readability.
Simplified icon placement for smoother navigation.
Informative and Action-Driven Event Page
Included high-quality banners and structured content blocks.
Emphasized clear CTAs (“Register Now”) for accessibility.
Balanced visuals and whitespace to guide user attention.
User Testing
User Testing
After developing the high-fidelity prototype, I conducted user testing sessions with students and professionals to gather feedback on usability and visual clarity.
After developing the high-fidelity prototype, I conducted user testing sessions with students and professionals to gather feedback on usability and visual clarity.
From the first round, a few key improvements were made:
From the first round, a few key improvements were made:
Simplified navigation on the Home and Search screens.
Adjusted event details layout for better readability and clearer CTAs.
Enhanced visual hierarchy on Favorites and Tickets screens.
Simplified navigation on the Home and Search screens.
Adjusted event details layout for better readability and clearer CTAs.
Enhanced visual hierarchy on Favorites and Tickets screens.
A follow-up testing round showed positive responses, noting smoother flow and stronger visual consistency. Minor tweaks included:
A follow-up testing round showed positive responses, noting smoother flow and stronger visual consistency. Minor tweaks included:
Fixing small button redirection issues.
Improving contrast and spacing for better accessibility.
Fixing small button redirection issues.
Improving contrast and spacing for better accessibility.
Overall, testers found CareerCompass easy to use and visually engaging.
Overall, testers found CareerCompass easy to use and visually engaging.
Reflection
Reflection
CareerCompass has been a journey of exploration and growth, transforming from an idea into a user-focused platform that connects individuals with career events and networking opportunities. The process taught me how research-driven design can bridge gaps between intention and user impact.
CareerCompass has been a journey of exploration and growth, transforming from an idea into a user-focused platform that connects individuals with career events and networking opportunities. The process taught me how research-driven design can bridge gaps between intention and user impact.
Embracing user-centered design helped me prioritize clarity, accessibility, and engagement at every stage. Understanding user needs and behaviors shaped not only the interface but also my perspective on creating meaningful, purpose-driven digital experiences.
Embracing user-centered design helped me prioritize clarity, accessibility, and engagement at every stage. Understanding user needs and behaviors shaped not only the interface but also my perspective on creating meaningful, purpose-driven digital experiences.