Unimad: Empowering International Students
How might we create a platform that helps international students attract job opportunities by building powerful, unignorable personal stories?
How might we create a platform that helps international students attract job opportunities by building powerful, unignorable personal stories?
How might we create a platform that helps international students attract job opportunities by building powerful, unignorable personal stories?
The Problem
International students face significant barriers in their job search journey. From rejection due to visa restrictions or lack of visibility to the absence of structured guidance, these challenges often lead to frustration. Despite their skills and talent, many struggle to create standout professional profiles and effectively communicate their strengths to recruiters.
My role
As a Product Designer at Unimad, I focused on crafting user-centered solutions that addressed students' needs. I designed user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity prototypes, ensuring the platform was intuitive, accessible, and visually consistent. Collaborating with the team and incorporating user feedback, I refined and improved the designs to deliver a seamless and impactful user experience.
Research and Concept Development
The project began with extensive research, including over 1,000 interviews with international students, uncovering challenges like limited personal branding, lack of tailored career strategies, and ineffective professional storytelling. These insights shaped the creation of Unimad, a centralized platform powered by Unibot AI, designed to make users unignorable to recruiters.
Unimad offers a comprehensive suite of tools to simplify professional branding:
Profile Builder: Creates standout resumes and optimized LinkedIn profiles with AI guidance.
Portfolio Builder: Showcases user achievements in a visually engaging way.
Content Creator: Helps craft impactful posts to enhance personal branding.
Unibot AI: A conversational assistant providing real-time feedback for profile optimization and professional storytelling.
Unimad.ai is at the heart of the platform, acting as a 24/7 assistant that provides personalized recommendations, real-time corrections, and motivational support.
Design Process
Wireframing and Prototyping
The initial wireframes emphasized clear navigation and a step-by-step approach for tasks. Prototyped high-fidility screens incorporating interactive elements to simulate Unibot AI’s guidance, ensuring users felt supported throughout their journey includeding the Profile Builder, showcasing real-time feedback from Unibot AI, and the Portfolio Builder, offering templates tailored to different industries.
Visual Design
The design features a bold and modern aesthetic, with purple symbolizing confidence and blue evoking trust. The typography is clean and professional, enhancing readability and usability.
Multi-Platform Accessibility
The Unimad website prioritized accessibility across devices by implementing flexible layouts responsive to various screen sizes and orientations.
User testing and iteration
User testing was conducted with international students to evaluate the platform’s usability and effectiveness. Feedback highlighted the need for a smoother onboarding experience and more visual examples to guide users.
Key Finding from Testing
Users struggled to complete all steps in the profile optimization process due to locked sections. This created friction and reduced overall engagement.
Improvements Made
• Removed the lock button for each section during profile building to allow greater flexibility.
• Integrated key profile-building tasks into the onboarding process for engaging experience.
• Enhanced user motivation by providing instant feedback from Unibot AI at every stage.
Success Metrics
A 40% increase in profile completions, thanks to Unibot AI’s guidance and instant feedback.
Improved job placement rates, with students receiving more interview callbacks and job offers.
Enhanced user engagement through features like the Content Creator and Community Dashboard.
Students shared success stories and collaborated on professional growth.
What I learned
This project was a powerful reminder of the role technology can play in breaking barriers. By combining AI-driven tools with human-centered design, Unimad not only empowers students to succeed but also fosters a sense of community and shared growth. The experience reinforced the importance of iterative feedback and user-centered design in creating meaningful, impactful products.
The Problem
International students face significant barriers in their job search journey. From rejection due to visa restrictions or lack of visibility to the absence of structured guidance, these challenges often lead to frustration. Despite their skills and talent, many struggle to create standout professional profiles and effectively communicate their strengths to recruiters.
My role
As a Product Designer at Unimad, I focused on crafting user-centered solutions that addressed students' needs. I designed user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity prototypes, ensuring the platform was intuitive, accessible, and visually consistent. Collaborating with the team and incorporating user feedback, I refined and improved the designs to deliver a seamless and impactful user experience.
Research and Concept Development
The project began with extensive research, including over 1,000 interviews with international students, uncovering challenges like limited personal branding, lack of tailored career strategies, and ineffective professional storytelling. These insights shaped the creation of Unimad, a centralized platform powered by Unibot AI, designed to make users unignorable to recruiters.
Unimad offers a comprehensive suite of tools to simplify professional branding:
Profile Builder: Creates standout resumes and optimized LinkedIn profiles with AI guidance.
Portfolio Builder: Showcases user achievements in a visually engaging way.
Content Creator: Helps craft impactful posts to enhance personal branding.
Unibot AI: A conversational assistant providing real-time feedback for profile optimization and professional storytelling.
Unimad.ai is at the heart of the platform, acting as a 24/7 assistant that provides personalized recommendations, real-time corrections, and motivational support.
Design Process
Wireframing and Prototyping
The initial wireframes emphasized clear navigation and a step-by-step approach for tasks. Prototyped high-fidility screens incorporating interactive elements to simulate Unibot AI’s guidance, ensuring users felt supported throughout their journey includeding the Profile Builder, showcasing real-time feedback from Unibot AI, and the Portfolio Builder, offering templates tailored to different industries.
Visual Design
The design features a bold and modern aesthetic, with purple symbolizing confidence and blue evoking trust. The typography is clean and professional, enhancing readability and usability.
Multi-Platform Accessibility
The Unimad website prioritized accessibility across devices by implementing flexible layouts responsive to various screen sizes and orientations.
User testing and iteration
User testing was conducted with international students to evaluate the platform’s usability and effectiveness. Feedback highlighted the need for a smoother onboarding experience and more visual examples to guide users.
Key Finding from Testing
Users struggled to complete all steps in the profile optimization process due to locked sections. This created friction and reduced overall engagement.
Improvements Made
• Removed the lock button for each section during profile building to allow greater flexibility.
• Integrated key profile-building tasks into the onboarding process for engaging experience.
• Enhanced user motivation by providing instant feedback from Unibot AI at every stage.
Success Metrics
A 40% increase in profile completions, thanks to Unibot AI’s guidance and instant feedback.
Improved job placement rates, with students receiving more interview callbacks and job offers.
Enhanced user engagement through features like the Content Creator and Community Dashboard.
Students shared success stories and collaborated on professional growth.
What I learned
This project was a powerful reminder of the role technology can play in breaking barriers. By combining AI-driven tools with human-centered design, Unimad not only empowers students to succeed but also fosters a sense of community and shared growth. The experience reinforced the importance of iterative feedback and user-centered design in creating meaningful, impactful products.
