Redefining how users find community and opportunities on an early-stage hiring platform through clearer, simpler widgets.
Redefining how users find community and opportunities on an early-stage hiring platform through clearer, simpler widgets.
Role
Product Designer
Scope
UI/UX, UXR
Timeline
May – August 2025
Type
Shipped
Overview
Overview
The widgets weren’t working for users
The widgets weren’t working for users
As a Product Design Intern at a start-up, I redesigned the Group and Event widgets, two key tools that help users discover work opportunities and connect with professional communities. Before the redesign, users frequently dropped off mid-way through actions like RSVPing to events (73% drop-off rate) revealing deeper issues in how information was structured across both widgets. These started to change post my re-design.
As a Product Design Intern at a start-up, I redesigned the Group and Event widgets, two key tools that help users discover work opportunities and connect with professional communities. Before the redesign, users frequently dropped off mid-way through actions like RSVPing to events (73% drop-off rate) revealing deeper issues in how information was structured across both widgets. These started to change post my re-design.
Higher Conversions
9% increase in conversion rates from 41% to 50% after surfacing key details.
Reduced Drop-offs
12% reduction in user drop-off rates after flow & nav improvements.
Greater Accessibility
10% increase in task success rates from 78% to 88% after redesign.
Reduced Drop-offs
12% reduction in drop offs (measured over 30 days post launch vs. previous quarter).
Greater Accessibility
10% increase in task success rates (comparing 50 users in an A/B test over two weeks).
Higher Conversions
9% increase in conversion rates (comparing 50 users in an A/B test over two weeks).
Hypothesis
Hypothesis
Why users weren’t engaging
Why users weren’t engaging
On a hiring platform built around connection and community, the Group and Event widgets should have been key engagement drivers yet the low conversion rates suggested that users weren’t finding value in them. I thus hypothesized that if the event and group details were surfaced earlier and the user flows were simplified, more users would complete actions like joining or RSVPing, leading to higher engagement.
On a hiring platform built around connection and community, the Group and Event widgets should have been key engagement drivers yet the low conversion rates suggested that users weren’t finding value in them. I thus hypothesized that if the event and group details were surfaced earlier and the user flows were simplified, more users would complete actions like joining or RSVPing, leading to higher engagement.
Research Questions
Research Questions
Where the experience broke down
Where the experience broke down
I developed three research questions aimed at uncovering why users struggled to engage with the Group and Event widgets. The goal was to explore issues around navigation and clarity, identify usability barriers within current flows, and understand what would encourage adoption and successful task completion.
I developed three research questions aimed at uncovering why users struggled to engage with the Group and Event widgets. The goal was to explore issues around navigation and clarity, identify usability barriers within current flows, and understand what would encourage adoption and successful task completion.
What prevents current users from finding key information?
Navigation and Clarity issues
How do current user flows impact user engagement?
Current Usability Barriers
What changes would drive use of groups and events?
Adoption and Task success
What prevents current users from finding key information?
Navigation and Clarity issues
How do current user flows impact user engagement?
Process and Usability Barriers
What changes would drive use of groups and events?
Adoption and Task success
TARGET USERS
TARGET USERS
Defining the target users segments
Defining the target users segments
I focused on users who actively relied on the Group and Event widgets so their feedback captured real pain points, usage habits, and expectations. To encourage participation and gather insights, a free membership upgrade was offered to those who took part in the study which likely also attracted more dedicated users.
I focused on users who actively relied on the Group and Event widgets so their feedback captured real pain points, usage habits, and expectations. To encourage participation and gather insights, a free membership upgrade was offered to those who took part in the study which likely also attracted more dedicated users.
First Segment Behaviour
Checks 5-10x daily for postings, spends <30 seconds per visit.
Users seeking to network
Staying up to date, quickly identify what's new/relevant since last visit.
Second Segment Behaviour
Checks 5-10x weekly for join RSVPs, <20 minutes per session.
Professionals hosting events
Checking to see who is attending so that they can make necessary arrangements.
Third Segment Behaviour
Checks 5-10x weekly for join requests, <10 minutes per session.
Professionals managing groups
Checking to accept group join requests, alongside any opportunities or updates.
First Segment Behaviour
Checks 5-10x daily for new postings, spends <30 seconds per visit.
Users seeking to network
Staying up to date, quickly identify what's new/relevant since last visit.
Second Segment Behaviour
Weekly deep-dives, 20-30 minutes per session, opens multiple tabs.
Professionals hosting events
Checking to see who is attending so that they can make necessary arrangements.
Third Segment Behaviour
Checks 5-10x weekly for join requests, 10-20 minutes per session.
Professionals managing groups
Checking to accept group join requests, alongside any opportunities or updates.
Users from the three defined segments would be asked a different set of questions to better understand their unique experience. This approach ensured the research addressed key themes from earlier questions while also capturing insights from multiple user types to better uncover their distinct challenges and needs.
Users from the three defined segments would be asked a different set of questions to better understand their unique experience. This approach ensured the research addressed key themes from earlier questions while also capturing insights from multiple user types to better uncover their distinct challenges and needs.
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
How I approached the research
How I approached the research
I conducted a survey with 22 users mainly from the first customer segment. Out of the three user segments, this group engaged most frequently with the widgets, making them the best fit to evaluate usability. Results showed that while users saw clear potential in the widgets, many struggled with the navigation and clarity.
I conducted a survey with 22 users mainly from the first customer segment. Out of the three user segments, this group engaged most frequently with the widgets, making them the best fit to evaluate usability. Results showed that while users saw clear potential in the widgets, many struggled with the navigation and clarity.
Unclear Design
86% of surveyed users said current layouts were confusing and hard to understand.
Confusing Flows
81% of surveyed users found the widgets useful but struggled to use them effectively.
Buried Details
73% of surveyed users said they’d use the widgets more if details were easier to find.
Unclear Design
86% of surveyed users said current layouts were confusing and hard to understand.
Confusing Flows
81% of surveyed users found the widgets useful but struggled to use them effectively.
Buried Details
73% of surveyed users said they’d use the widgets more if details were easier to find.
TASK FLOW
TASK FLOW
Mapping Friction Points
Mapping Friction Points
I mapped the current user paths to identify where the friction occurred and how it aligned with survey feedback. The flow revealed that key details and CTAs were buried, making it difficult evaluate or act on groups and events. This confirmed survey findings and pinpointed what needed to be redesigned.
I mapped the current user paths to identify where the friction occurred and how it aligned with survey feedback. The flow revealed that key details and CTAs were buried, making it difficult evaluate or act on groups and events. This confirmed survey findings and pinpointed what needed to be redesigned.
Login
Home
Events
Groups
Filter
Widgets
Expanded Widget
Details
CTA
Buried information in this part loses engagement
The current task flows hides key details behind extra steps, leading to early exits as users abandon the task or click back before reaching the CTA.
This part works exactly as intended
Navigation from login to Groups and Events worked well but engagement dropped drastically afterward.
Login
Home
Events
Groups
Filter
Widgets
Expanded Widget
Details
CTA
Buried information in this part loses engagement
The current task flow hides key details behind extra steps, leading to early exits as users abandon the task or click back before reaching the CTA.
This part works exactly as intended
Navigation from login to Groups and Events worked well but engagement dropped drastically afterward.
This aligned with findings from the survey, including how users said they would use the widgets more if details were easier to find. This confirmed that users wanted to engage but couldn’t access key details quickly, confirming that usability, not interest, was the main barrier and guiding the focus of the redesign.
This aligned with findings from the survey, including how users said they would use the widgets more if details were easier to find. This confirmed that users wanted to engage but couldn’t access key details quickly, confirming that usability, not interest, was the main barrier and guiding the focus of the redesign.
HEURISTIC EVALUATION
HEURISTIC EVALUATION
Exposing points of friction
Exposing points of friction
Collaborating with the design team became a key strength in this phase, allowing us to combine different perspectives while dissecting the current widgets. Together, we carried out a heuristic evaluation that strengthened alignment across the team and clarified how we could improve the overall experience.
Collaborating with the design team became a key strength in this phase, allowing us to combine different perspectives while dissecting the current widgets. Together, we carried out a heuristic evaluation that strengthened alignment across the team and clarified how we could improve the overall experience.
Details are hidden and tags are inconsistent
Key details are buried behind expansion, reducing overall scannability. The tags are crowded with no hierarchy, and inconsistent styles weaken clarity.
Poor affordances, what does arrow button do?
Users expressed confusion about what expanding would reveal, leaving many unsure if it was worth clicking. This added unnecessary friction.
A weak hierarchy
Key details like date and location are visually downplayed.
Legacy event widget
Lacks clarity, which of these is the title?
The group name, role, and description are cut off, creating confusion about hierarchy and meaning. This thus showed how unclear structure made it difficult to interpret the content.
Context behind icons?
Users were unsure of what the icons and badges meant. Users ignored them entirely during testing.
Weak CTA design, easily missed + hard to find
“Join” button is small and muted in color. This made it easy to miss despite being the primary action.
Legacy group widget
The details are hidden and the tags are inconsistent
Key details are buried behind expansion, reducing overall scannability. The tags are crowded with no hierarchy, and inconsistent styles weaken clarity.
Poor affordances, what does this arrow button do?
Users expressed confusion about what expanding would reveal, leaving many unsure if it was worth clicking. This complicated navigation and added unnecessary friction.
A weak hierarchy
Several Important details sidelined, cramped. Date and location are visually downplayed.
Legacy event widget
This section lacks clarity, which of these is the title?
The group name, role, and description are cut off, creating confusion about hierarchy and meaning. During testing, one user asked, “Wait, which one is the name?”. This thus showed how unclear structure made it difficult to interpret the content.
Context behind these icons?
Users were unsure of what the icons and badges meant. Users ignored them entirely during testing.
Weak CTA design, easily missed and hard to find
The “+ Join” button is small and muted in color. This made it easy to miss despite being the primary action.
Legacy group widget
RESEARCH INSIGHTS
RESEARCH INSIGHTS
Framing core problems
Framing core problems
All the research conducted thus far has revealed that low engagement stemmed from a mismatch between user expectations and how the widgets presented information. Users were accustomed to clear, predictable layouts with visible CTAs and quick context, but the existing designs forced extra effort to find key details. This showed that the issue wasn’t low interest, but friction caused by breaking familiar interaction patterns.
All the research conducted thus far has revealed that low engagement stemmed from a mismatch between user expectations and how the widgets presented information. Users were accustomed to clear, predictable layouts with visible CTAs and quick context, but the existing designs forced extra effort to find key details. This showed that the issue wasn’t low interest, but friction caused by breaking familiar interaction patterns.
Hidden CTAs
The join and expand actions blended into the interface and were often missed.
Hard to Scan
Key details like time and location were buried, making events harder to evaluate.
Broken Hierarchy
Poor hierarchy blurred the difference between content, leading users to skip groups.
Hidden CTAs
The join and expand actions blended into the interface and were often missed.
Hard to Scan
Key details like time were buried, making events harder to evaluate.
Broken Hierarchy
Poor hierarchy blurred the difference between content, leading users to skip groups.
HMW Statement
HMW Statement
Breaking the cycle
Breaking the cycle
I initially opted to explored several directions, including “How might we balance information density with scannability?” and “How might we make calls to action feel more intuitive for first time users?” before I settled on “How might we help users quickly decide whether a group or event is worth joining without overwhelming them?” as this best addressed the hesitation and cognitive load observed during testing.
I initially opted to explored several directions, including “How might we balance information density with scannability?” and “How might we make calls to action feel more intuitive for first time users?” before I settled on “How might we help users quickly decide whether a group or event is worth joining without overwhelming them?” as this best addressed the hesitation and cognitive load observed during testing.
IDEATION
IDEATION
Workshopping the solutions
Workshopping the solutions
I led a 90 minute cross functional workshop with design, QA, two engineers, and a product manager. We mapped the current join and RSVP journeys, and did a timed Crazy 8s sketch round to generate options. The Engineers listed technical constraints and the QAs contributed failure cases so concepts stayed feasible.
I led a 90 minute cross functional workshop with design, QA, two engineers, and a product manager. We mapped the current join and RSVP journeys, and did a timed Crazy 8s sketch round to generate options. The Engineers listed technical constraints and the QAs contributed failure cases so concepts stayed feasible.
We clustered sketches, used an impact versus effort matrix, and dot voted to set priorities. The plan focused on surfacing key details above the fold, creating a one step join and RSVP path, and standardizing headers and info hierarchy across both widgets. The lower impact ideas like rich media carousels, smart recommendations, and in flow chat were parked due to scope, feasibility and ultimately privacy limits.
We clustered sketches, used an impact versus effort matrix, and dot voted to set priorities. The plan focused on surfacing key details above the fold, creating a one step join and RSVP path, and standardizing headers and info hierarchy across both widgets. The lower impact ideas like rich media carousels, smart recommendations, and in flow chat were parked due to scope, feasibility and ultimately privacy limits.
Design Principles
Design Principles
Guiding the Redesign
Guiding the Redesign
During the workshop, several of the proposed solutions were too ambitious or not feasible within current constraints. For example, a full onboarding flow for events was cut due to bandwidth limits, shifting focus to improving the existing widgets instead. To stay focused, I set three design principles to filter every idea.
During the workshop, several of the proposed solutions were too ambitious or not feasible within current constraints. For example, a full onboarding flow for events was cut due to bandwidth limits, shifting focus to improving the existing widgets instead. To stay focused, I set three design principles to filter every idea.
Quick Clarity
Surface key details upfront so events and groups are always easy to scan.
Consistent Flow
Create a unified structure and visual language so content is always clear.
Easy Action
Highlight key CTAs like joining and expanding so engagement is effortless.
Quick Clarity
Surface essential details upfront so events and groups are always easy to scan.
Consistent Flow
Create a unified structure and visual language so content is always clear.
Easy Action
Highlight key CTAs like joining and expanding so engagement is effortless.
Solutions
Solutions
Everything in view
Everything in view
The updated widgets focus on reducing friction and making key information easier to access. A new clearer structure and simplified interactions create a smoother flow, while stronger visual cues guide users toward taking action. These improvements encourage consistent engagement through improved accessibility.
The updated widgets focus on reducing friction and making key information easier to access. A new clearer structure and simplified interactions create a smoother flow, while stronger visual cues guide users toward taking action. These improvements encourage consistent engagement through improved accessibility.
Updated event widget
Clarity in content hierarchy
Event title, host, and description are separated by both scale and spacing, improving comprehension and cutting scan time by 35%.
A far stronger first impression
Larger image makes the widget far more noticeable, helping users recognize events 40% faster during testing.
Key details surfaced upfront
Key details like time and location are visible at a glance, while the nav bar adapts to collapsible sections on mobile breakpoint.
Updated group widget
Updated hierarchy for content
Group name, tags, and CTAs are now better organized, thus helping users quickly identify content.
Clearer Group Identity
Verification badge and color-coded tags were added, making groups feel 68% more credible in testing.
Richer context and navigation
Concise description and new tabbed layout reduced task time by 25%.
Updated event widget
Clarity in the content hierarchy
Event title, host, and description are separated by both scale and spacing, improving comprehension and cutting scan time by 35%.
A far stronger first impression
The larger image makes the widget far more noticeable, helping users recognize events 40% faster during testing.
Key details surfaced upfront
Key details like time and location are visible at a glance, while the nav bar adapts to collapsible sections on mobile to maintain usability.
Updated group widget
Clear hierarchy for titles and tags
Group name, tags, and CTAs are now clearly organized, thus helping users quickly identify what the group is and how to engage.
Clearer identity and trust signals
User feedback showed confusion about authenticity, so a verification badge and color-coded tags were added, making groups feel 68% more credible in testing.
Richer context and navigation
Concise description and new tabbed layout reduced task time by 25%.
Key Learning Moment
Key Learning Moment
Putting It to the test
Putting It to the test
Due to timeline constraints, I ran moderated task-based tests with the QA team to validate the redesign, conducting six sessions with 18 participants. Each participant completed core tasks like joining a group, RSVPing to an event, and locating key details. The goal was to confirm that users could find information faster and that the redesigned widgets made these actions clearer and easier.
Due to timeline constraints, I ran moderated task-based tests with the QA team to validate the redesign, conducting six sessions with 18 participants. Each participant completed core tasks like joining a group, RSVPing to an event, and locating key details. The goal was to confirm that users could find information faster and that the redesigned widgets made these actions clearer and easier.
Testing Outcomes
Testing Outcomes
Widget usability in practice
Widget usability in practice
Testing with 18 participants revealed clear gains in clarity and task completion, but also exposed areas for improvement. While users moved through the redesigned widgets with greater ease, some still hesitated to expand groups or overlooked secondary CTAs, suggesting that visual cues and feedback patterns needed refinement. These findings informed the next iteration, strengthening affordances and clarifying interaction.
Testing with 18 participants revealed clear gains in clarity and task completion, but also exposed areas for improvement. While users moved through the redesigned widgets with greater ease, some still hesitated to expand groups or overlooked secondary CTAs, suggesting that visual cues and feedback patterns needed refinement. These findings informed the next iteration, strengthening affordances and clarifying interaction.
Improved Discovery
77% described group purpose accurately vs. 58% before in a 10-second test.
Faster Completion
Users found event time and location in 11s vs. 20s before during a timed task.
Improved Usability
SUS usability scores improved from 59 to 83, showing a strong boost in experience.
Improved Discovery
77% described group purpose accurately vs. 58% before in a 10-second test.
Faster Completion
Users found event time and location in 11s vs. 20s before during a timed task.
Improved Usability
SUS scores improved from 59 to 83, showing boost in experience.
Measuring the Impact
Measuring the Impact
Results through clarity
Results through clarity
Two months after launch, task success rates increased by 10% showing measurable improvement in how users engaged with the widgets. Engineering constraints prevented a full navigation redesign, which likely limited the overall impact, but the results validated the effectiveness of the implemented changes.
Two months after launch, task success rates increased by 10% showing measurable improvement in how users engaged with the widgets. Engineering constraints prevented a full navigation redesign, which likely limited the overall impact, but the results validated the effectiveness of the implemented changes.
Reflection
Reflection
More isn't better
More isn't better
This project ultimately taught me that constraints can sharpen creativity rather than limit it. I initially planned ambitious ideas like dynamic event recommendations and custom onboarding, but time and technical constraints forced me to focus on clarity. What actually surprised me was how cutting features ended up actually improving usability by keeping attention on what mattered most.
This project ultimately taught me that constraints can sharpen creativity rather than limit it. I initially planned ambitious ideas like dynamic event recommendations and custom onboarding, but time and technical constraints forced me to focus on clarity. What actually surprised me was how cutting features ended up actually improving usability by keeping attention on what mattered most.
Fin.
Fin.
Role
Sole Designer
Scope
Product Design
Timeline
May - June 2025
Type
Conceptual
Under Construction
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