How can we combine two platforms to design a career exploration app for veterans?
Role
Lead Designer
Project Type
Web Design
Project Type
Figma, FigJam, Notion
Overview
🔎 Problem
Student Veterans of America (SVA) needed a better way to connect their members with job opportunities from partner organizations. The challenge was finding a platform that could combine the detailed, military-specific insights from CareerPath Decide with the modern, easy-to-use design of Exponential Pathways (XP). CareerPath Decide (CPD) had the data but felt overwhelming and outdated, while Exponential Pathways was more user-friendly but didn’t fully meet the needs of veterans.
☝🏽 My Approach
I began by looking at both XP and CPD to identify what worked well and what didn’t, noting important features to incorporate into the APEX platform. I led the design process, scheduling weekly meetings to ensure everyone stayed aligned with the goal. By integrating the best features from each platform and balancing detailed insights with an easy-to-navigate design, we created a solution that really fit the needs of veterans transitioning to civilian careers.
⚡️ Impact
The new platform launched for 750,000 SVA members and quickly became an essential tool, with 75% of members adopting it and 100% of SVA Career Coaches using it. This widespread use led to meaningful changes in how veterans explore careers and connect with opportunities. Counselors felt that the platform made it much easier to understand members' career interests and guide them toward education and job options that truly fit their skills. The platform’s success also led to a 60% increase in employer partnerships, giving SVA members even more opportunities to explore. These outcomes reinforced our design approach and helped secure an extended partnership with SVA, setting the stage for continued growth and new enhancements that will keep serving the veteran community.
"APEX has allowed us to understand our members' career interests and to better match them with educational opportunities that align with their skills, as well as jobs that are a good fit for them. My coaching sessions are now much more efficient and effective."
— SVA Career Coach
My Process
Background
Student Veterans of America (SVA) came to our team with a clear goal: to build a platform that supports veterans in their transition to civilian careers. They needed a tool that could combine the military-specific insights of CareerPath Decide (CPD) with the modern, user-friendly design of Exponential Pathways (XP). Our job was to develop a solution that not only guided veterans in exploring career paths but also provided personalized job matches from SVA’s partner organizations. The challenge was to integrate the best features of both systems while addressing unmet needs within the veteran community, all under a tight deadline and high expectations.
As we moved into prototyping, we used Figma to create the initial mockups of the platform. Our main goal was to ensure the interface was intuitive and user-friendly, particularly for veterans with different levels of tech experience. To keep the design flexible for future updates, I standardized the color system across the application. This approach helped streamline the design process and allowed for quicker adjustments as we refined the platform.
Throughout this phase, I had weekly—sometimes twice-weekly—meetings with the SVA team, including members of our user group, to make sure the designs stayed aligned with both the organization’s and users' goals. Each iteration was refined based on this feedback, resulting in a final product that not only met veterans’ needs in functionality but also integrated seamlessly into SVA’s existing systems.
Results
Tight deadlines pushed us to learn and innovate quickly, especially when it came to mastering new Figma functionalities right when we needed them. By keeping our design files organized from the start, we streamlined the process, saving time on updates and ensuring efficiency across the board. However, the real success came from our focus on collaboration and user experience. By working closely with experts and incorporating user feedback, we created a platform that exceeded expectations and truly resonated with veterans. The redesigned platform led to an 80% increase in email clicks, showing that users found the content more engaging and relevant. Users also reported having a clearer sense of their progress within the program, which was a significant improvement. This boost in clarity and engagement made a real difference in the overall user experience, validating our design approach and demonstrating the power of teamwork in creating a product that meets the needs of its users. After working so closely with the veteran community, I saw an opportunity to expand how we could serve this population beyond just career exploration. I recognized that APEX had the potential to grow into something bigger—a comprehensive community hub for veterans. This insight led to a successful pitch for an expanded partnership with SVA, opening the door for future growth and long-term impact.
Evolution of the Design
💭 Takeaways
Getting to know our users and working closely with them was vital to creating a platform that really resonated with the veteran community. This project showed me just how important it is to involve users at every step—not just to meet their needs, but to find new ways to serve them better. Sometimes, that kind of connection opens up new opportunities for everyone involved.
