RiseGen
Help First-Gen Rise and Shine
This project was for my Google UX Certificate. The objective of the course was to prepare us with readiness for UX design jobs. I completed the course, and learned an incredible amount of user design knowledge and strategy. The project is also inspired by my background as a non-US citizen. Having chances meeting many first-gen immigrants, I empathize a lot with the difficulties they suffer.
Tools used: Illustrator, Photoshop, XD, pen and paper
My role: UX researcher and designer
Tools used: Illustrator, Photoshop, XD, pen and paper
My role: UX researcher and designer
Current product offerings
︎
Career Center
Career centers are places people go for career assistance and advice. They will communicate with people and help them find something to start working with.Job Searching Websites
Job searching websites are currently a more prevalent and efficient way to search. There is a variety of websites offering similar functions.Problems
︎
Career Center
Getting an appointment in the career centers might be challenging, and communicating effectively in English can be intimidating to some first-gen immigrants.
Career Center
Getting an appointment in the career centers might be challenging, and communicating effectively in English can be intimidating to some first-gen immigrants.Job Searching Websites
These websites usually require strong technology literacy; in other words, they can be complicated to maneuver since their functions are so rich. For many first-gen immigrants, it can be tricky.
Job Searching Websites
These websites usually require strong technology literacy; in other words, they can be complicated to maneuver since their functions are so rich. For many first-gen immigrants, it can be tricky.Hypothesis
First-gen immigrants wish to start a more competitive and fulfilling career, pursuing a better life.
By utilizing resources and a first-gen immigrant network, RiseGen helps them increase their career readiness as well as build a community.
Research
︎
Persona
Meet Mamu, a first-gen immigrant. His English is not very good, and he does not have lots of professional training as well. He was waiting tables before, but he wants to start a new career since the cost for the whole family has been increasing a lot. He wants to provide his family with a better life.Language
Languages are critical issues for immigrants. Many immigrants show their uncomfortableness using English and their eagerness to improve. Hence, the application needs to support various languages and make language learning a major function.Invisible barriers
Many invisible barriers exist for first-gen immigrants to land jobs, such as technology literacy, education, and cultural differences. User journey map
Goal: Have a career consulting in the job center
Make appointments can be hard due to high demands and COVIDAudit
Comparing Career Center, Indeed, LinkedIn, and Google to identify the failures as well as successesFace-to-face meetings, but the process can be low-efficient.
Indeed
Director Competitor
Great job searching site. Straightforward homepage.
LinkedIn
Director Competitor
Great networking website but can be intimidating for immigrants.
Google
Indirector Competitor
The information is a lot but it is sometimes hard to select useful ones.
Ideation
︎
Sketching
Header + Body + Footer
Sketched the major user flow: booking a workshop for career developmentLow-fi prototype
Affinity mapping & insights
- Based on the theme that: users might want to cancel their appointment, an insight is: to provide an action center where users could act their appointment.
- Based on the theme that: users' intimidation with the word "class," an insight is: to replace "class" with "workshop" and use inclusive language.
- Based on the theme that: users need some critical features of the class at first, an insight is: to add the time, location, and price of the course to the search result page.
- Based on the theme that: users need search suggestions, an insight is: to offer some research keywords for users to choose.
High-fi prototype
Several changes are made based on user research.
userflow showcase
XD design review
Product solution
︎
Features
︎
Takeaways
︎
This app can be handy for first-gen immigrants if developed. I shared this app with a Chinese restaurant chef I know. He was excited but sad since he could not have something like this years ago.
For many immigrants, it is more challenging to know what they should or could do. Career consulting is the cornerstone for job searching. The app should incorporate this function as well. Furthermore, providing multi-language does not mean simply translate everything.