Post Grad
The app for real-world projects and career growth.
Background
PostGrad connects users with hands-on projects, mentorship, and networking, while helping employers find talent and provide mentorship.
Problem
Users face challenges in showcasing their skills in a competitive job market due to a lack of access to practical, industry-relevant projects, meaningful mentorship, and guidance for career development.
Target Audience
Recent graduates, career switchers, and professionals seeking hands-on experience, as well as employers looking to discover untapped talent.
Why It Matters
Individuals need opportunities to build portfolios, and employers need innovative hiring solutions.
Impact
The app empowers users with project-based experience, mentorship, and networking, while providing employers a streamlined way to connect with innovative talent.
High-Fidelity Prototype
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PostGrad app
Research & Planning
To build an impactful and user-centered product, we need insights into what users expect from a platform like this, what challenges they face in gaining practical experience, and what would encourage them to engage with and return to Post Grad.
Methods
Key Insights
Gap Between Training and Real-World Practice:
Users struggle to bridge the gap between theoretical training and industry demands due to a lack of structured collaboration, real-world projects, and feedback opportunities.
Need for Practical, Business-Relevant Projects:
Participants emphasized the importance of working on structured, measurable projects to stand out in competitive markets.
Mentorship and Networking:
A preference for one-on-one feedback and meaningful mentorship emerged as a top priority for users navigating career transitions.
Community and Collaboration:
Users value interactive communities where they can collaborate on project briefs, share feedback, and engage in skill-building challenges.
Data Points
100% of participants highlighted the value of project-based learning and mentorship for career growth.
80% expressed a need for user-friendly tools to build portfolios that align with industry expectations.
70% identified networking and professional connections as critical to advancing their careers.80% stressed the importance of user-friendly portfolio-building tools.
User 1
"I need real-world projects to gain experience and prove my skills, so I can land a job as a career switcher."
User 2
"I need a platform to connect with others, work on real projects, and gain confidence as I transition into a new career."
User 3
"I want project briefs that feel real, showcase my abilities, and help recruiters see what I bring to the table."
Define
Synthesized research to define user needs, created POV statements, explored solutions with "How Might We" questions, and prioritized features to address pain points.
Synthesis
Created user personas to understand diverse needs.
POV Statements
Ethan, Priya, and Ben seek hands-on projects and mentorship to bridge knowledge gaps and build industry-ready skills for their career transitions.
How Might We…?
How might we offer users hands-on projects, real-world scenarios, and industry connections to build portfolios, bridge skills gaps, and transition careers?
Feature Priorities
Project Marketplace: Access real-world projects to build industry-aligned portfolios.
Mentorship and Feedback: Connect with experts for personalized guidance and growth.
Portfolio Builder: Showcase completed projects and skills directly on the platform.
Design
Developed user flows, cohesive branding, and wireframes refined into high-fidelity prototypes, delivering screens for onboarding, project submission, and mentorship.
Decisions
Flows: Designed intuitive pathways for onboarding, project submission, and mentorship.
Sitemap: Designed a clear, intuitive navigation for PostGrad, optimizing access to jobs, mentorship, networking, portfolios, and project collaboration.
Branding: Created a unique logo and cohesive visual identity.
Wireframes: Created low-fidelity wireframes and refined them into high-fidelity designs using Figma.
Deliverables
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Style Template
The PostGrad style template defines typography, color palette, and UI components to ensure consistency and clarity across all design elements.
post Grad Logo
The PostGrad logo features a clean, bold design in blue, with adaptable icon and text variations for versatile use.
Ui kit
The PostGrad UI kit ensures consistent design with typography, colors, buttons, icons, and layouts.
Test
Testing was crucial to identify usability issues, gather user feedback, and refine the design to ensure an intuitive and accessible user experience.
Methods
Conducted unmoderated usability tests with 5 participants on both low and high-fidelity wireframes.
Key Findings
Navigation & Design:
Interface was intuitive but had minor text readability issues on mobile
Clean design received praise, though color consistency needed improvement
All tasks achieved 100% success rate despite some small button sizing issues
User Feedback:
Positive reception with suggestions for button prominence and accessibility
Implemented Changes
Enhanced button visibility and standardized colors
Improved spacing and text readability
Task #1
Sign-up Process:
Tap the PostGrad app icon, view the onboarding screen, and complete the sign-up or login process to access the app's feed.
Task #2
Exploring Case Studies:
Scroll through the feed, locate Miles Harrington's Google Pay case study post, and click "View Project" to explore the details.
Task #3
Profile and Notifications Navigation:
Review a case study, navigate to the profile page, and check the notifications section to stay updated on project activity.
Results
The PostGrad app bridges education and professional experience, prioritizing mentorship, intuitive navigation, and streamlined tools to deliver value to users.
Challenges
Balancing user and employer needs on the same platform.
Creating an engaging onboarding experience.
Lessons
Iterative testing refines features to align with user needs.
Simplified processes drive usability and engagement.
Future Goals
Develop advanced analytics for project evaluations.
Expand mentorship to include real-time chat and video options.
Takeaways
User-centered design leads to impactful solutions.
Iteration ensures alignment with both user needs and business objectives.