Course project · 2026 · Mobile app design
Connecting designers with the right opportunities.
I designed DesignLink to simplify how designers discover opportunities, showcase their work, and connect with the right recruiters through a focused mobile experience.
Overview
The idea behind DesignLink
DesignLink was created to simplify the way designers discover opportunities and connect with the right people. The platform brings job discovery, portfolios, and professional connections into one seamless experience.
Problem
Where design talent meets the right opportunity.
Traditional job platforms often focus on resumes and job listings, making it difficult for designers to showcase their portfolios and find opportunities that match their skills. At the same time, recruiters need a better way to discover and evaluate creative talent beyond a resume.
Research
Understanding the people behind the problem
I interviewed 10 participants, including designers and hiring managers, to understand how they search for opportunities, showcase experience, evaluate candidates, and navigate the hiring process.The conversations helped me identify recurring frustrations and expectations from both sides of the hiring experience.
From Pain Points to Patterns
After the interviews, I grouped recurring pain points and identified common patterns across designers and hiring managers. I then mapped their experiences into a user journey to understand where users faced friction, uncertainty, and opportunities for improvement throughout the hiring process.
Ideation
From insights to ideas
With the key pain points identified, I explored different ideas to make opportunity discovery more relevant, improve portfolio visibility, and create a smoother connection between designers and recruiters.
Testing interaction flows early
Before moving into high-fidelity designs, I tested early user flows and wireframes to understand how easily users could discover opportunities, explore portfolios, and move through the hiring journey. These iterations helped refine the structure and interactions before moving into the final UI.
Designs
Building the final product
The final design focused on making opportunity discovery simpler, portfolio browsing clearer, and connections more direct. I refined the layout, navigation, and interactions to help designers move through the experience easily and find the information they need.
A clearer view of job matches, applications, and hiring activity designed to help designers and recruiters make faster decisions.
Lessons
Designing with structure, feedback, and purpose
This project taught me how to manage a design project from research to final delivery. I learned to organise ideas, prioritise feedback, iterate on designs, and make decisions without losing sight of the user’s needs. It also helped me understand how to communicate design decisions clearly and confidently while working towards a final product.
