Evently

ROLE

UX/UI & Product Designer

Timeline

August 2023 - Present

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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?”

“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 Evently a simple, reliable way to explore opportunities without feeling overwhelmed.

Evently 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.

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 Evently a simple, reliable way to explore opportunities without feeling overwhelmed.

Evently 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.

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 Preview

Through in-depth UX research, user interviews, and multiple design iterations, I created Evently 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, Evently helps users take charge of their professional growth with confidence.

Through in-depth UX research, user interviews, and multiple design iterations, I created Evently 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, Evently helps users take charge of their professional growth with confidence.

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

😬🌀

Understanding the Existing Market

By studying existing platforms, I identified common strengths and recurring user frustrations in event discovery. This gave me a clear starting point for improving the experience through Evently.

By studying existing platforms, I identified common strengths and recurring user frustrations in event discovery. This gave me a clear starting point for improving the experience through Evently.

User Surveys & Interviews Findings

To understand how students and early-career professionals find and engage with career events, I conducted online surveys and 1:1 interviews with international students, fresh graduates, and young professionals.

To understand how students and early-career professionals find and engage with career events, I conducted online surveys and 1:1 interviews with international students, fresh graduates, and young professionals.

The research revealed how users currently search for events, what motivates them to attend, and the key barriers they face including scattered event information, confidence issues, and discovery friction.

The research revealed how users currently search for events, what motivates them to attend, and the key barriers they face including scattered event information, confidence issues, and discovery friction.

Interview Goal 01
Interview Goal 01

Understand who the users are (student/professional background + goals)

Understand who the users are (student/professional background + goals)

Interview Goal 02
Interview Goal 02

Explore how users currently discover events + what tools they rely on

Explore how users currently discover events + what tools they rely on

Interview Goal 03
Interview Goal 03

Learn how confident they feel attending events or networking, especially alone

Learn how confident they feel attending events or networking, especially alone

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 Evently.

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 Evently.

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

Before beginning UI exploration, I first mapped the first-time user flow for Evently to understand the complete journey from onboarding to event registration. This helped me visualize how a new user discovers the platform, signs up, explores events, completes payment, and later manages their tickets and profile with ease.

Before beginning UI exploration, I first mapped the first-time user flow for Evently to understand the complete journey from onboarding to event registration. This helped me visualize how a new user discovers the platform, signs up, explores events, completes payment, and later manages their tickets and profile with ease.

Wireframing + Lo-Fi Prototyping

Wireframing + Lo-Fi Prototyping

In the ideation phase of Evently, 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 Evently, 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.

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.

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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.

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Design System

The Evently Design system 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 Evently Design system 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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Design System

The Evently Design System 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 Evently brand. Every screen was refined through multiple design iterations and user feedback sessions.

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Refined Event Discovery Experience

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

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.

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Informative and Action-Driven Event Page

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

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:

  • 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:

  • Fixing small button redirection issues.

  • Improving contrast and spacing for better accessibility.

Overall, testers found Evently easy to use and visually engaging.

Reflection

Evently 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.

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.

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.

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.

Overall, testers found Evently easy to use and visually engaging.

Reflection

Evently 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.

Don't be a stranger

Don't be a stranger

Don't be a stranger

Have an idea, opportunity, or just want to chat design? Let’s talk.

Have an idea, opportunity, or just want to chat design? Let’s talk.

Have an idea, opportunity, or just want to chat design? Let’s talk.

Made with ☕️, 🎶, & ♥️ @ Sai Surya Karthik

Made with ☕️, 🎶, & ♥️ @ Sai Surya Karthik