Hi, I'm Lauryn.

Background

Studied Art Direction

Undergrad

Experience Design

Grad School

Product Design

Vantage Point Consulting

My Design Approach

👯

I solve problems through inclusive and thoughtful design.

🔎

I prioritize understanding the real needs of users to create solutions that truly make an impact.

🤝

I believe building together benefits everyone.

Case Study

Case Study

Case Study

Designing Under Pressure: Adapting and Iterating APEX for Veterans

Designing Under Pressure: Adapting and Iterating APEX for Veterans

Designing Under Pressure: Adapting and Iterating APEX for Veterans

What is APEX?

APEX is a career exploration platform designed to help service members transitioning from military to civilian careers.

Background

September of 2023, a client needed a career exploration platform created specifically for veterans and service members transitioning to civilian careers. Existing tools were too generic and didn’t address the unique challenges these users face, nor did they personalize the information for each service member.

Problem

Veterans lacked a dedicated platform to help them navigate the civilian job market. They struggled to understand how their military skills translated into civilian careers, and existing platforms didn’t provide the tailored guidance they needed to make informed decisions.

The Challenge

Create an intuitive, accessible, and veteran-focused platform that could bridge this gap and provide a seamless experience for users exploring their career options. In time for their national conference in January.

What This Meant for Me: Getting Scrappy and Resourceful
👍

The Good

I could leverage previous research and user insights from prior work with service members

The Bad

👎

The tight timeline meant no room for deep dives or customization, and the existing design wasn’t ready for a quick reskin

💡

The Opportunity

I could build a scalable design system and platform that would set up APEX and future projects for success.

My Toolkit

Leveraging Past Research

Relying on previous research from a similar project, I adapted insights to meet the needs of veterans transitioning into civilian careers. This gave me a baseline understanding of user challenges, even without dedicated time for research.

Competitive Analysis

A quick competitive analysis of veteran-focused platforms and educational applications helped define core functionality and visual direction. This ensured we were not starting from scratch and that APEX's design stood out while being familiar to veterans.

Simplified User Flow

Despite the lack of in depth research in Phase 1, I prioritized minimizing friction in the design. I created a simplified user flow that allowed veterans to begin exploring their educational and career opportunities immediately after landing on the dashboard.

Final Designs

Dashboard
Interest Assessment
Skills Assessment
Veteran Focused School Information
Live Job Search
Guiding Users Through the Application

To enhance navigation and usability, we incorporated toasts and onboarding hints that serve as real-time feedback and navigation tools. Some toasts are strategically placed on the dashboard above important sections, guiding users as they explore pathways, jobs, and other content. This helps users stay oriented without feeling overwhelmed, ensuring they always know the next step in their journey.

Design System

With no existing design system from SVA beyond an outdated brand guide, I had to develop one. I built this system using their existing colors and imagery, and supplemented it with a cohesive approach to typography and visual elements.

Color Palette

I expanded the clients brand’s color palette to align with APEX’s goals and create a familiar yet professional tone that veterans could resonate with.

Iconography

I chose to use Material Design Sharp icons because they have a professional look that complements the sharp corners and clean lines the client uses throughout their website. These icons help maintain visual consistency and reinforce the platform's modern, cohesive feel.

Typography

There were no clear typography guidelines from the client beyond a general recommendation to use Arial. To build a more cohesive design system, I opted for Arial for readability and accessibility, while expanding on the usage guidelines to ensure consistency across all screens and devices.

Present Day: Iterating for Phase 2

The need to speak directly with veterans and Career Coaches was a major takeaway from Phase 1. After gathering feedback, we made significant improvements based on what veterans told us they were missing.

Improvements:
  1. Shifting the Focus from Job Placement to Self Exploration:

While users recognize the importance of career opportunities, many aren’t yet ready to focus on job placement currently. Instead, they need a system that guides them through exploring their options and self-assessment, enabling them to make more informed decisions before diving into job applications.

  1. Onboarding Process:

Step 1: Understand where they are—their skills, education, and experience.

Step 2: Where they want to go—whether it's upskilling, earning a certification, or pursuing a specific career path.

Step 3: How they can get there—with personalized recommendations guiding their next steps.

The onboarding process was designed to help users and career coaches better understand their progress and goals, ultimately providing a more tailored experience right from the start.

  1. Simplified Language:

During Phase 2, we also focused on using less jargon and simplifying the language to make the platform more accessible. For example, rather than asking users to complete a "skills assessment," we now ask about their work experience and education experience and preferences, helping them reflect on their journey in a more relatable way.

  1. Improved Matching Results

We also learned that users benefited more from quality over quantity in terms of search results. Instead of presenting every possible result, we focus on aligning options that are most relevant to their specific goals and interests. The emphasis shifted from searching for everything available to presenting curated results that reflect who they are and what they want.

Takeaways

Speed vs. Quality

One of the biggest lessons from Phase 1 was how to balance speed with quality. Working under the constraints of a tight deadline pushed me to rapidly iterate and deliver a product quickly. While we successfully launched within the timeline, it also became clear that certain elements—like a deeper focus on veterans’ educational needs—could only be addressed with more time and research. This reinforced the value of knowing when to push forward and when to pause for better outcomes.

The Importance of User Research

A major takeaway from this project was the importance of advocating for user research. In Phase 1, we didn’t have the opportunity to speak to users directly, and while we still delivered a functional platform, there were critical needs we only discovered after talking to veterans in Phase 2. For example, veterans valued education pathways more than we initially anticipated. This experience reinforced my belief that design should be shaped by users’ real experiences, not assumptions.

Advocacy for Design

Working on APEX highlighted the importance of design advocacy, especially when time and resources are limited. Throughout the process, I advocated for thoughtful design decisions, even in a fast-paced environment. By sticking to the fundamentals of good design—like clear navigation and visual consistency—I ensured that the final product was user-friendly and scalable for future updates. This experience reinforced how essential it is to advocate for design thinking, even under pressure.

Adapting to Constraints

Another key learning was how to adapt when circumstances aren’t ideal. Phase 1 was full of constraints, from a tight timeline to working with limited brand guidelines. Rather than seeing these as roadblocks, I embraced them as opportunities to get creative with my resources and processes. By being scrappy and resourceful, I was able to deliver a solid product while also laying the groundwork for Phase 2 improvements.

Iterating on Feedback

As we moved into Phase 2, I learned how vital it is to stay open to feedback and iterate on solutions. The feedback we received from veterans and career coaches in Phase 2 helped me improve APEX significantly. It taught me that great design isn’t static—it evolves based on real-world use and continuous improvement.

Reflecting

This project challenged me to balance creativity, practicality, and speed, while also reinforcing the value of advocacy for users and thoughtful design. I’ve learned to approach constraints as opportunities to be resourceful and adaptable and to prioritize user feedback to build platforms that truly serve their needs.