The assesment
During my internship at RB-Media, I led a transformative project - redesigning a recruitment website. We shifted focus from services to engaging job vacancies. Our aim was clear: a dynamic platform for job seekers and employers. I revamped the site using creativity and technical skills, crafting user-centric designs that highlighted diverse job openings. Colleague feedback fine-tuned the final design, resulting in a modern, purpose-driven website that bridges job seekers and employers, fostering connections for professional success.
my goal: creating a user-centric recruitment website that efficiently connects IT job seekers with employers seeking skilled IT professionals.
" Marissa's hunger for feedback cultivated a remarkable work approach. She seamlessly integrated, led projects, and channeled customer feedback into valuable solutions."
Eric Houtepen - UX designer
Research
As part of my internship, I conducted thorough desk research on previous recruitment websites designed by our company. This exploration allowed me to gain insightful perspectives on our past approaches and strategies. By examining these former websites, I was able to identify trends, successes, and areas for improvement. This valuable analysis provided a solid foundation for my own redesign project, enabling me to leverage past experiences to create a more impactful and user-focused website.
Sketch
To kickstart the process of redesigning the website, I began by sketching out the key pages that would form the foundation of the new design. This initial step allowed me to visually map out the essential content and structure required for the project.
By sketching the important pages, I gained a deeper understanding of how different elements would interact and flow within the user experience. This approach helped me identify the necessary components such as job listings, search filters, and user-friendly navigation.
These sketches acted as a blueprint, guiding me in determining the optimal placement of content and the overall user journey. As I refined and iterated upon these sketches, I was able to envision a cohesive and engaging website that would effectively showcase job vacancies while catering to the needs of both job seekers and employers.
Sketch one homepage
sketch two employee & employer pages
Wireframes
To ensure a comprehensive and well-structured design for the website, I proceeded to create wireframes for all the pages. Wireframes served as the backbone of the design process, allowing me to visually outline the layout and placement of essential content and features.
By crafting these wireframes, I aimed to prevent any crucial elements from being overlooked. Each page was meticulously planned, ensuring that every bit of necessary information, such as job listings, and search functionalities, was strategically incorporated.
Wireframes also enabled me to assess the userflow and interactions within the website. This step helped to identify any potential bottlenecks or usability issues early in the design phase. By visually mapping out the user journey, I could fine-tune the navigation and overall user experience, ensuring a seamless and intuitive interaction with the website.
In essence, creating wireframes provided a clear roadmap, ensuring that no crucial content or feature was omitted and guaranteeing that the final design catered comprehensively to the needs of both job seekers and employers.
Feedback
After completing the wireframe process, I recognized the importance of gaining valuable insights before proceeding further. Taking a moment to step back and assess the wireframes, I sought feedback from colleagues and stakeholders. This collaborative approach allowed me to ensure that no crucial functionalities had been overlooked in the design.
Through this feedback loop, I discovered an opportunity to enhance the website's visibility. By integrating SEO (SearchEngine Optimization) text strategically across the platform, we aimed to improve the website's discoverability on search engines like Google.
By inviting input and perspective at this stage, I was able to refine the wireframes and make informed decisions that contributed to a more robust and user-friendly design. This iterative process not only enriched the project but also highlighted the value of collective insights in creating an effective and well-rounded website.
Design iteration
Embarking on the visual design phase, I began by focusing on the homepage as the anchor point. Through a process of iterative exploration, I tested various design concepts to find the perfect fit. While experimenting with different styles, I remained mindful of the existing website's aesthetic to maintain brand coherence. This approach allowed me to align the new design with the company's established visual identity while infusing fresh and engaging elements.
Visual design
Transitioning from iterations, I entered the final visual design phase, where I transformed refined concepts into a cohesive user interface.
Throughout the visual design process, I actively collaborated with colleagues, using their feedback to fine-tune elements like colors, typography, and hierarchy. This collaborative approach ensured the design resonated with both my vision and the team's preferences.
By integrating feedback, I improved the user experience and addressed design gaps. This iterative loop aligned our design more closely with our target audience's expectations.
The journey from iteration to full design was a blend of creativity and refinement. Through collaboration and thoughtful consideration, I turned initial concepts into a polished, user-centered website, seamlessly incorporating insights from my colleagues.
Responsive design
After finalizing the desktop visual design, I seamlessly transitioned to crafting a responsive mobile design. Our design approach prioritized starting with the desktop version, as our skilled development team excels in adapting designs to smaller dimensions.
In this instance, focusing on the mobile design was paramount. By creating a dedicated mobile version, I ensured that the right design choices were made to maintain a consistent user experience across different devices. This process allowed me to carefully assess and adjust the user flow, ensuring that the website's navigation and interactions remained intuitive and effective, just as they were on the desktop version.
Designing the responsive mobile layout not only highlighted the adaptability of the design elements but also facilitated a holistic understanding of the user journey. This step-by-step methodology ultimately guaranteed a seamless transition from desktop to mobile, resulting in a user-friendly experience that catered to the diverse needs of our audience.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the design process involved a strategic evolution from conceptualization to implementation. Beginning with meticulous research and iterative development, the design journey embraced collaboration and adaptation. By prioritizing user experience and brand coherency, I successfully transformed a vision into a visually captivating and responsive website, ensuring a seamless transition between desktop and mobile platforms. This holistic approach culminated in a user-centered design that not only met objectives but also exceeded expectations.
Reflection
Throughout this design process, I've taken significant strides in my design journey by crafting a more refined and effective design pathway. Notably, I've gained valuable insights into my own visual design capabilities, identifying areas for improvement such as addressing inconsistencies and enhancing brand coherency.
While I utilized the knowledge from the previous recruitment website as a guiding light, I recognize that an even more robust user-centered approach would have been ideal. Given the opportunity, I would have conducted extensive user-centered research to uncover novel ways to enhance the user flow and optimize the overall experience. It's clear that there's always room for innovation and improvement, and this realization underscores the importance of continuously pushing the boundaries of design to create a truly exceptional user journey.
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