UX-UI WEB Design

Create a More Accessible Platform for Employment

During my 2023 internship at Skill Squirrel, winner of the 2023 MaRS and CIBC Inclusive Design Challenge, I embarked on a journey to tackle various user experience challenges. Skill Squirrel, dedicated to revolutionizing skills-based hiring, emphasizes issuing non-academic Verifiable Credentials to validate individual capabilities, thereby swiftly bridging employment gaps. In this case study, I highlight key projects like Optimizing Physical Demands Analysis, User Account Interface Redesign, and Interactive Pop-Up Design, demonstrating my contributions towards enhancing user experiences and addressing the dynamic challenges of the tech and design industry.

ROLE
Research
UX Design
UI Design
Copy Write
TOOLS
XD
Illustrations
TIMELINE
May - Aug 2023

“Li has the ability to pay extraordinary attention to detail. Her work is thoughtful and thorough. It has been a great pleasure to have Li with us this summer. She has worked collaboratively with her teammates, and she has been a very productive worker. Her dedication to her work will serve her well on her chosen career path.”

— Kathleen Webb President at Skill Squirrel

Due to confidentiality agreements, specific details and visuals of these projects cannot be publicly shared. If you're interested in learning more, please contact me directly to obtain a password for access.

01

Digitalizing Physical Demand Analysis Form

Challenge

A Physical Demands Analysis (PDA) defines crucial job tasks and is typically carried out by a healthcare expert. However, on the Skill Squrill platform which prioritizes accessibility, we find that users face complexity and delays when dealing with the PDA process (downloading, inputting, and uploading), impeding their seamless job posting and browsing experience.

Research & Insights

To simplify the operation process in this section and facilitate meaningful connections between employers and job seekers, I embarked on a research first aimed at understanding their challenges and goals.

Solution Development

Informed by research and insights, I developed interactive PDA interfaces tailored for both employers and job seekers. They emphasize direct access to PDAs on the platform, intuitive navigation, efficient access to relevant information, and effortless transitions between viewing and editing PDAs.

For Employers
1. Activate the PDA feature
automatically when selecting
the “disabled” tag
while creating job posts.
2. Provide a step-by-step,
user-friendly process to
fill out and submit
the PDA form online.
3. Edit or delete existing
PDAs easily, adapting to
employers’ changing
requirements.
4. Review and edit PDAs
directly from the Post
Creation Board for a
more efficient workflow.
For Job Seekers
1. See a dedicated “PDA”
button on employer postings,
and access the PDA form
directly from the posting itself.
2. Provide a complete view of
the PDA requirements, along with
the flexibility to select and focus on
specific sections of interest.

Outcome

The solution significantly improved the PDA experience. Employers benefited from the streamlined form and guided workflow, while job seekers enjoyed enhanced accessibility and concise information presentation.

02

Optimization of Account Page

Challenge in Original Design

The initial user account interface on Skill Squirrel was hampered by unclear categories and inconsistent layouts, leading to user confusion and dissatisfaction. Key challenges included disorder in integrating multiple features, and inefficient access to information, which collectively detracted from the overall user experience.

Objectives of Redesign

The main objective of the redesign is to refine the account page interface for clarity, efficiency, and enhanced functionality, creating a well-organized user experience that is both intuitive and feature-rich.

Solutions for Improvement

  • Logical Organization: I reorganized the content into well-defined categories with a uniform tab, simplified the layout and minimized user confusion.
  • Enhanced Search Functionality: I introduced a powerful search feature to the account page, allowing users to quickly locate specific information.
  • Integration of New Features: Based on stakeholders' new needs, I integrated external link credentials and recommendations, aligning them with the existing design system for a cohesive user experience.

03

Interactive Pop-up Design

Challenge

This project goal is to effectively showcase Skill Squirrel's values and core features, providing users with a clear and comprehensive understanding of the platform, enhancing the initial user experience and encouraging visitors to convert into customers. In this collaborative effort, I focused on articulating the platform's value and key functionalities, while my teammate complemented this concept through a squirrel mascot illustration.

Research & Insights

In my analysis of Skill Squirrel’s website, I identified three distinct user categories interacting with the same features in one interface sometimes, leading to some confusion. I also noted the under-emphasized yet crucial feature of Digital Credentials. To address these issues, I developed a pop-up design strategy aimed at clarifying the platform's offerings and benefits for each user group, enhancing user understanding and engagement.

First Version - Highlighting User Benefits

The first artboard highlights Skill Squirrel's mission, target audience, and fundamental value proposition. Subsequent artboards focus on the specific benefits for three principal user groups, demonstrating how they can effectively engage with the platform's services and solutions. The final artboard wraps up by summarizing the key advantages, fostering motivation for user engagement.

Iteration - Focusing on Core Features

After talking with stakeholders, I got feedback about new expectations. Hence, the iteration pop-up design aims to immediately showcase Skill Squirrel’s essential features – Community Widgets, Posts, Profiles, and Digital Credentials – right at the user's initial site interaction, while still trying to tell users how to use key features and get the benefits.

04

Reflection

Empathy & Innovation

Each project was a lesson in empathy, teaching me to put myself in the users' shoes: Simplifying the PDA process taught me the importance of accessibility and efficiency in design; Redesigning the user account interface taught me the value of clarity and consistency in creating intuitive user experiences; Interactive pop-up design project was a testament to the power of engaging visuals and succinct messaging in capturing user attention.

Collaboration & Career Growth

Collaborating with skilled teammates, I enhanced my communication, teamwork, and creative problem-solving abilities. Contributing to an inclusive platform deepened my appreciation for impactful design and user-centric solutions. This invaluable experience has refined my design approach, preparing me for future challenges in tech and design.