Career — खोज: a UX/UI case study

Published in

Bootcamp

7 min readJul 6, 2023

This case study takes you through my in-depth research process for solving users’ problems, and it showcases how I developed simple and user-centered designs aimed at helping people find better career options that align with their abilities and interests.

Career — खोज(English: Search, German: Suche, Italian: Ricerca, Russian: Поиск (Poisk), Chinese (Simplified): 搜索 (Sōusuǒ), Japanese: 検索 (Kensaku)).

The story behind this case study

On a rainy day, I remember a special moment with my friend Kaustubh. We sat together, talking about life and all sorts of things. His mom kindly gave us hot milk to sip.

Kaustubh then said,

“Hey bro, remember when we were younger and dreamed of going abroad at 22 to start our own company? But things are different now. I’m about to open my own gym, and you’re facing career struggles too.”

We felt a mix of emotions, and after a few days, I had a simple and heartfelt idea.

I researched and found out that a lot of engineers — about 80% — end up in jobs that don’t fit them. It made me curious about this problem. So, I talked to some students and decided to create something meaningful.

That’s how I came up with “Career-खोज.”

It’s an app that helps people discover career options that match their interests and talents. It’s like a guiding light, showing the way to a fulfilling path. I want to make a difference and help others find happiness and success in their chosen careers.

Problem Statement

Many students in India struggle to choose a career due to a lack of guidance and support, leading to confusion, poor choices, and dissatisfaction with their paths.

Initial Research

In my initial research, I discovered that students in India, as well as worldwide, often face difficulties when it comes to choosing a career path.

A national survey conducted by the Indian Government’s Ministry of Human Resource Development revealed that around 58% of college students in India felt unsure about their career choices.
This uncertainty was particularly high among students in the arts and humanities stream, with 69% reporting uncertainty. Factors contributing to this struggle include a lack of awareness about career options, pressure from parents and peers, and a dearth of guidance and support from educational institutions.

UX Research insights

As part of a comprehensive UX research process, conducting in-depth interviews revealed a notable finding:

Approximately 90% of students are struggling with a significant level of uncertainty when it comes to making informed career choices. This valuable insight underscores the urgent need to address the root causes behind this confusion and develop effective solutions that empower students to navigate their career paths with confidence and clarity.

UX Research Data — Visit the Figma file to explore research data in detail.

People who impacted by this issue

Recent graduates: Students who have just finished their education and are entering the workforce may struggle to find a career that aligns with their interests and values.
Mid-career professionals: Individuals who have been working for several years may find themselves feeling unfulfilled in their current role and considering a career change.
Individuals in career transition: People who have experienced a job loss or are looking to make a major career change may be looking for guidance and support in choosing a new path.
Parents and caregivers: Individuals who are responsible for supporting others (such as children or elderly relatives) may feel limited in their career options and struggle to find a balance between their personal and professional lives.
People in underrepresented groups: Certain groups of people, such as women, people of color, and individuals with disabilities, may face additional barriers and discrimination in the job market, making it harder for them to find a fulfilling career.

Analyzing Themes through thematic analysis and User-Focused Solutions

By examining and categorizing qualitative data, significant patterns, and user challenges were identified. This crucial analysis guided the development of practical solutions that helped to address the specific needs and concerns of the users.

How Might We helped me to create user-centered solutions through UX design in a creative way

Affinity Mapping

Using affinity mapping, I was able to group similar items & organize data, such as Goals, Motivations, Pain Points, User Statements, Personality traits, Feelings, and Recommendations, and Feels, into similar categories.

Empathy Mapping

To gain a clear understanding of my target users, I created an empathy map using the interview responses, which helped me in learning more about them.
It helped me understand what users say, think, feel, and do in response to their problems.

User Persona

By conducting user research, I gained a deeper understanding of the target audience.
A user persona helped me answer the question “Who are we designing for? ”, By understanding the user’s expectations, concerns, and motivations of target users. it’s possible to design a product that will satisfy users’ needs and therefore be successful.

User Flow

User flows help me visualize and optimize the journey users take to discover the app, ensuring a seamless and user-centric experience in the app.

Information Architecture

Using information architecture, I was able to organize visual representations of the product & features, the overall hierarchy of the product.

Storyboarding

Wireframing

UI Kit

Blue is used in the Career Khoj app and branding to evoke professionalism, trustworthiness, and communication among users. It conveys a sense of dependability and promotes networking within the career exploration community. The color white is employed to emphasize simplicity and ease of use, important for a platform focused on professional purposes. Additionally, black and gray are utilized to enhance the app’s professional image and authority in the job market. The color theme overall aims to create a cohesive and professional impression, fostering trust and facilitating connections among users of Career Khoj.

Lato font is used in the career khoj because it Lato font conveys a sense of modernity, professionalism, and readability.

High-Fidelity Visual Designs

After gathering feedback from several users and design professionals, I refined and iterated on the design to arrive at the final version, incorporating valuable insights and improvements along the way.

Figma Case study link — Career — खोज

Conclusion

Throughout the design process of Career Khoj, I learned the importance of empathizing with users and implementing design principles to create a high-quality product. By incorporating continuous feedback and iterating on the designs, I was able to develop clean and polished interfaces, reinforcing my understanding of the value of feedback in design projects. Employing a user-centered design approach, I immersed myself in the users’ perspective, resulting in a product that offers a clear and concise user experience. Conducting user research interviews with a well-crafted set of questions allowed me to uncover valuable insights into users’ pain points, goals, and motivations, which played a vital role in shaping design decisions and ensuring that Career Khoj effectively meets the needs and aspirations of its users.

References

About me

Hi, I’m Krishna a passionate UI/UX Designer👋🏻.

I’m based in Pune Maharashtra, India. I am currently looking for UI/UX design-related opportunities & I may not know everything, but I have a fiery energy, and a strong determination to learn and apply new knowledge to our projects.

You can reach out to me through Email: Krishnakakade77@gmail.com Or on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krishnakakade/

Thanks for reading my case study🙏🏻.
Please comment below with any feedback you may have.