NetST
UX and UI Design | Case study
- Role
- UX and UI Designer
- Responsibilities
- Conduct user research, conduct interviews, user journey mapping, conduct usability research, wireframing, low and high fidelity prototyping, design iteration.
Unlocking a world of aces
NetST is a social media platform that aims to increase students' chances of getting a job while they are still studying. Allowing students to connect with employers, mentors, and other resources to help them find suitable job opportunities that align with their skills and interests.
The goal
To create a user-friendly, intuitive, and interactive interface that allows students to create an account and explore other profiles for expanding their network.
User research
Summary
Based on the research conducted, it was found that the main audience for the platform was undergraduate students aged between 18-22 yearsintrigued by the platform's potential to offer networking opportunities and employment prospects while they were still studying. The study indicated that users were seeking a platform that was easy to use, with a simple and intuitive navigation, and most importantly, a secure platform that would protect their data.
Design Process
For the design of NetST, I used the "desktop first" philosophy because user research showed that potential users are more interested in networking and searching for jobs on a larger screen, as that search will take them longer and they want the ability to easily access different tabs to compare different options.
During this process, I created high-fidelity mockups and prototypes based on low-fidelity wireframes. These mockups and prototypes were designed to accurately represent the user interface and demonstrate how users would interact with the social networking platform. Initially, I focused on the login process, general profile management, and visiting other users' profiles.
For that, I created the following mockups in Figma, which were later turned into a prototype.
Accessibility
Made sure the interface is compatible with screen readers so that people with visual impairments can use the platform easily.
Provided clear and concise instructions for how to navigate the interface and user flow of NetST, as well as using language that is accessible to all users.
Developed a mobile version of the interface of NetST, with optimized features for all platforms.
Conclusion
Next steps
Design the user flow intended for students to find job opportunities
NetST has two main objectives: networking and job search for students. To achieve these objectives, it is necessary to create a flow for users to find job opportunities that best suit their interests and skills.
Design for different types of users
In this case study, I designed NetST to meet the needs of students. However, this social platform has other types of users (such as recruiters), so I need to design and test interfaces for other roles.
Takeaways
Being a student myself, I understand the significance of creating a platform like NetST, because I can relate to students who are searching for job opportunities such as internships, as I have been through the same situation. This experience taught me the importance of conducting user research, as other users can provide valuable insights that can assist in the process of designing an idea.
