"Beyond Design: UX Lessons for Projects Without a Map”
UX/UI Design, Sketch, Design Thinking
2024
Lead Designer
Context
The team: We consisted of four members: PM, CO, UX, and Analyst. As the UX/UI Designer, I moderated workshops, designed the sitemap, developed wireframes and mockups, proposed content structures, and maintained direct client contact to align expectations and address concerns.
Project Type: Professional (Avature)
Saks OFF 5TH needed a customized career portal to attract talent, with a strong focus on its Employer Branding. The idea emerged from a new interdisciplinary work dynamic to create more flexible portals within Avature's products.
Business Objectives
Unify the job search experience across different areas (stores, digital, distribution).
Strengthen the brand's value proposition as an employer.
Facilitate portal management and updates from the portal content editor.
Design a flexible, accessible portal aligned with the brand's rebranding.
Reduction in drop-off in the application process.
Improved time to implementation.
Key Learning Point
How a great idea found its limits and we learned to navigate between expectations and realities.
Sometimes, the biggest challenge isn't designing the perfect solution, but rather understanding in a timely manner what obstacles are beyond our control, elevating them to the appropriate person, and redesigning expectations.
It's always key: define roles, tasks, and boundaries before starting. And rely on the team to enhance an interdisciplinary perspective.
Solution Definition
We took the standard base portal and adapted it to their real needs, negotiating between what they wanted and what was feasible without expanding the scope. We prioritized a clear design, a coherent structure, useful filters, and an aesthetic aligned with the branding.
Key Features
Content pages with a modular design (based on the DEIB page).
Advanced filters by location, function, modality, and job type.
Differentiation between searches by Team and Location.
Job listing cards with a responsive and minimalist design.
Job Detail Pages with clear information, social sharing, and breadcrumbs.
Solution
The experience begins with a simple yet visual homepage, with direct access to key areas. From there, you can access searches filtered by location or team. Content pages reinforce the organization's branding and culture. All designed to be easily maintained from the CMS.
Impact
On the user side: A clearer and more consistent experience, with useful filters and simplified navigation.
On the business: A functional prototype was created, allowing the portal to be validated without waiting for the final rebranding assets. This accelerated the testing process.
Conclusion
Challenges
Content and branding definitions delayed by the ongoing rebranding.
Project scope misunderstood by the client at the outset.
Many screens lacking a clear definition from the start (e.g., duplicate search).
The need to make decisions without having all the assets or the client's answers.
Learnings
Detecting blockers early is vital to getting the project back on track.
A good workshop can align many things, but it doesn't replace a clear SOW.
Design with flexibility: create structures that can be turned on or off based on the client's progress.
Document each step and decision to avoid misunderstandings and facilitate iterations.